The Film Situation

077 - Richard Schenkman - Director - THE MAN FROM EARTH

Writer and director Richard Schenkman joins THE FILM SITUATION for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the earliest days of MTV to the making of his cult classic THE MAN FROM EARTH. Richard shares how he became one of the first people hired at MTV before it even launched, what it was like building something from scratch, and how a James Bond fan club unexpectedly helped him land the job. From there, we get into his path as a filmmaker and the long journey behind bringing THE MAN FROM EARTH to life from a screenplay written by Jerome Bixby on his deathbed. We go deep on micro-budget filmmaking, including how Richard raised just over $100K, assembled a strong cast led by Tony Todd, and shot the film in eight days under extreme limitations with no water, no power, and a dust storm hitting on the final night. He also breaks down working with actors, the importance of rehearsal, and why 12 ANGRY MEN was a key influence on the film’s structure. This is a great conversation about persistence, creative problem solving, and finding a way to make the film you believe in, even when nothing goes according to plan.   Hosted by Zef Cota  Produced by Cole Howard (c) 2026 - The Film Situation

076 - Oscars Recap w/ Cole Howard

Zef & Cole discuss the 2026 Academy Awards.

075 - Nick Gomez - Director, THE LAWS OF GRAVITY, NEW JERSEY DRIVE, Sopranos

Director Nick Gomez joins us for a deep dive into his path from punk and underground art into filmmaking, and how that raw energy shaped his early features. We talk about making LAWS OF GRAVITY on a shoestring, the rise of The Shooting Gallery in pre-gentrified Williamsburg, and what it took to build momentum as an indie director before stepping into high-pressure episodic television such as The Sopranos, Dexter, Ray Donovan, Daredevil. Nick also breaks down his directing process, including rehearsal, improvisation, overlapping dialogue, and why he prefers to keep things simple on set and get it in a few takes. We get into the shift from indie freedom to the realities of bigger productions, plus stories from his work across film and TV. Hosted by Zef Cota

074 - A Tribute to Robert Duvall

In this episode of THE FILM SITUATION, Zef Cota is joined by Cole Howard for a tribute to the legendary Robert Duvall. They dig into what made Duvall such a singular screen presence, from quiet restraint to explosive intensity, and why he remains one of the great American character actors. The conversation highlights key performances including TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, THE GODFATHER, FALLING DOWN, APOCALYPSE NOW, and TENDER MERCIES, plus a filmmaker-to-filmmaker discussion about directing styles, take counts, and what it takes to get truthful performances on camera. A heartfelt film-nerd salute to a true heavyweight.   Hosted by Zef Cota & Cole Howard

073 - Bethany Lauren James - Acting: Craft, Accountability, Momentum

Actress and acting coach Bethany Lauren James stops by The Film Situation Podcast for a wide-ranging talk that lives at the intersection of craft, career, and the daily discipline of staying in motion. We revisit how we first met through my early scene-work sessions, then zoom out into Bethany’s philosophy of presence in performance, where listening is the whole game.   From there we get concrete: building accountability systems, learning how to generate your own opportunities, and how one student-film booking helped lead to a feature in New Orleans opposite Erika Christensen in THE FOLLOWER. We also talk momentum swings in the industry, including booking FBI and BLUE BLOODS, and how to keep going when the ground shifts under you.   Finally, we dig into the “noise vs signal” idea: focusing each day on the few actions that actually move your larger goals forward. If you want to follow Bethany and her coaching work, she’s on Instagram and at Actors Forum, NYC.   If you want, paste your preferred option and tell me your final episode title and I’ll tailor the first line to match it (and keep it extra clickable for Spotify search).