P.I. Filmmaker Podcast

#21: “Ask for Forgiveness, Not Permission” | Guerrilla Filmmaking

In this episode, I explore approaches to guerrilla filmmaking after spotting a group of filmmakers shooting a short film in a town square. Drawing on experiences from my features films X, Blurred Lines and Notion, I discuss filming in public spaces, working with limited resources, and how adapting to real-world locations can shape both the creative process and the finished film. Along the way, I reflect on the work of filmmakers including Werner Herzog, Christopher Nolan and Sean Baker, and consider where the line lies between creative freedom, practicality and responsibility.

#20: Walter Murch & Return to Oz (with Q&A)

After recently attending a special 70mm screening of Return to Oz (1985), this episode explores the career and work of legendary editor, sound designer and filmmaker Walter Murch. I discuss Murch’s collaborations with George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, including The Godfather, American Graffiti, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now, before looking at his influential approach to editing and his “Rule of Six”. The episode concludes with an excerpt from Walter Murch’s introduction and the full Q&A from the screening, where he discusses the making of Return to Oz and the challenges of directing his first feature film.

#19: No Prior Experience Needed

Independent filmmakers spend years creating work, pay to submit to festivals and hope someone decides their film deserves a platform. But what happens when the people controlling those opportunities become the filmmakers seeking financial support? After seeing that a festival director was crowdfunding their first short film, I explore the uncomfortable questions this raises about power, access and who really benefits from the independent film ecosystem. From “no prior experience needed” selection panels to gatekeepers using established platforms to support their own projects, I discuss transparency, fairness and whether the systems created to champion independent film always serve the filmmakers who keep them alive.

#18: When Is A Film Finished?

As my third feature ‘Notion’ moves closer to completion, I reflect on the often unseen final stages of independent filmmaking - the long process that continues after the cameras stop rolling. I discuss the reality of finishing a micro-budget feature: refining the edit, solving technical issues, stabilising shots, visual effects, colour grading, sound work and the difficult decisions around what needs fixing and what imperfections are simply part of the filmmaking process. I also reflect on the years spent completing both ‘Notion’ and ‘X’, including filming at Abbey Road around the same time Danny Boyle’s ‘Yesterday’ was announced and released, and how independent filmmaking often operates on a very different timeline. Along the way I discuss Werner Herzog’s ‘Fitzcarraldo’, ‘Festen’, Dogme 95, the changing expectations of audiences and why finishing a film is often the hardest part of making one. Ultimately, it’s a conversation about persistence, compromise and learning when to finally let go.

#17: Heather Elise Nelson - The Actor’s Life & The Heavy Pencil

For this episode, I caught up with actor, writer and director Heather Elise Nelson. Heather talks about her journey into acting, her experiences working across short films and features, and the opportunities and challenges that come with building a career in the film industry. We also chat about working together on ‘Blurred Lines’, where Heather played Olivia, an unprepared and argumentative actor, opening up a wider discussion about the relationship between actors and directors and what crosses the line of acceptable behaviour for a performer. The conversation then turns to Heather writing and directing her own work - from collaborating with actors and cinematographers, to the challenges of creating films within the constraints of micro-budget filmmaking. Finally, Heather discusses her short film ‘The Heavy Pencil’ - a drama inspired by her experiences pursuing acting and navigating the film industry. The short has played at a number of festivals, including the BIFA-qualifying ‘Women X’. youtube.com/@heatherelisenelson3262 [https://www.youtube.com/@heatherelisenelson3262]