From $86K SXSW Audience Award Winner to $10M Sony Pictures Film | Jessica M Thompson

The Only Option When Rejection Hits

Rejection is part of filmmaking. But what happens when it actually breaks you? In this solo episode, I get candid about a heartbreaking rejection I experienced just last week for my next feature— and what it took to come out the other side. This isn't a polished "here's the lesson I learned years ago" story. I'm still in it. But I'm forging ahead. Because when rejection hits in this industry, you really only have two options: give up or keep going. And giving up was never an option. We dive into: * The casting rejection that stopped me in my tracks— and why it still ended up being a win * Why I couldn't hear that little voice telling me "something better is coming" and what changed * How losing my dream cast for Escaping Ohio led to something even better * How a "no" from my favorite author in 2019 eventually led to us co-writing a film together * The short film that fell apart over a creative disagreement, and how it became the foundation for my next feature * Why you should never protect yourself from caring too much about your work * The mindset shift that makes rejection survivable Rejection doesn't get easier. What matters is what you do next. The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature, documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcastFor partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.com Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. Produced by Casey Geraghty

What Directing 4 Features Taught Her | Mercedes Bryce Morgan

What does it actually take to direct four indie features— and land Awkwafina, Anthony Ramos, and Ken Jeong for your most ambitious one yet? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with Mercedes Bryce Morgan, a director whose career spans horror, erotic thriller, and now surrealist dark comedy. Mercedes just wrapped her 4th feature 'Kaet Might Die' and this is the first interview she gets to talk about it. We also dig into 'Bone Lake', her erotic thriller from Bleecker Street, which debuted on the Top 10 when it hit Netflix, and all the lessons she's learned along the way. Whether you're making your first, second, or third feature, trying to level up, or figuring out how to evolve your voice across genres— this conversation is packed with honest, unfiltered insight from a filmmaker who has built her career entirely on her own terms. We dive into: • How she cast Awkwafina, Anthony Ramos, Ken Jeong & more in an indie surrealist dark comedy • What changed in her prep and directing process after four features • Why she stopped over-storyboarding — and what she does instead • Shooting Bone Lake as an erotic thriller and navigating that genre as a female director • The "shoot the inserts later" method that transformed how she works on set • Why she scheduled the hardest scene on day one • How she found her reps— and kept them for 9 years • Her advice for indie directors coming up The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis. New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast For partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.com Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. Produced by Casey Geraghty. Support The Next Film: If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

From Actress to Award-Winning DP | Ksusha Genenfeld on Shooting Indie Horror on 16mm

What does it actually take to shoot your first feature on 16mm film, get nominated for cinematography alongside Hoyte van Hoytema, and build a career as one of indie horror's most distinctive visual voices? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with cinematographer Ksusha Genenfeld, whose work on the Shudder horror film 'A Wounded Fawn' earned her a cinematography nomination alongside some of the biggest DPs working today— on her very first feature. She's since shot 'Perfect' (SXSW 2026, starring Julia Fox) and 'Motherland' (starring Tony-winner Miriam Silverman) and has seven features under her belt— all while championing 16mm film, all-women camera departments, and a deeply actor-informed approach to cinematography. Whether you're a director trying to understand how to work with your DP, a filmmaker considering shooting on film for the first time, or someone just trying to make something bold on a limited budget, this conversation is packed with honest, craft-level insight from someone doing it at the highest level of indie film. We dive into: • How she got hired to shoot 'A Wounded Fawn' on 16mm— on her very first feature • The visual "rules" she creates for every film • Why she lets actors move first and lights around them • The DP-director relationship• Shooting 'Perfect' and premiering at SXSW 2026 • How color grading can make or break your film— and why she puts it in her contract • Advocating for women behind the camera • Her shooting ratio advice for indie films on 16mm • The tip most indie filmmakers don't know • Why going bold on set beats playing it safe • Her key takeaways from shooting 7 features The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast For partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.com Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. Produced by Casey Geraghty Support The Next Film: If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

The Youngest Filmmaker Ever Signed to a Major Studio | Wesley Wang

What happens when your short film goes viral, sparks a four-studio bidding war, Darren Aronofsky sends you a cold email, and you become the youngest filmmaker ever signed to a major studio— and then the film doesn't get greenlit? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with Wesley Wang, 21-yr-old writer/director, Harvard student, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. His short film 'nothing, except everything' made during his senior year of high school, amassed over 9 million views on YouTube, led to a deal with Sony Tristar produced by Darren Aronofsky, and made him the youngest filmmaker ever to have a project set up at a major studio. Now, he's building his own creative company, developing a Lionsgate series for his YouTube channel, and betting on self-distribution as the future of indie film.Whether you're making your first short, navigating the studio system for the first time, or figuring out how to build an audience and own your distribution— this conversation is packed with honest, unfiltered insight from someone who has already been through it all at 21. We dive into: • How Nothing Except Everything went viral with 9M+ views • The four-studio bidding war and how Darren Aronofsky came on board as producer• What it's really like developing a film inside the studio system • Why the Sony Tristar project didn't get greenlit and what Wesley learned after • How he's now building his own creative company and self-distributing • His upcoming Lionsgate series going straight to his YouTube channel • The power of building your own audience • Being selected for Ari Aster's first Square Peg Social • His advice for anyone navigating their first studio deal The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis @jessicamichaeldavis New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast For partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.com Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

From $86K SXSW Audience Award Winner to $10M Sony Pictures Film | Jessica M Thompson

What does it actually take to write, direct, produce, and edit your debut feature for $86,000 — win the SXSW Audience Award — and then leap to a $10 million Sony Pictures studio film that opens at #1 at the box office? In this episode of The Next Film, we sit down with Emmy-nominated Australian filmmaker Jessica M. Thompson, whose journey from scrappy indies to Hollywood studio director is as honest and hard-won as they come. She wrote, directed, produced, and edited 'The Light of the Moon', which premiered at SXSW 2017 and won the Audience Award on just a $86K budget — then made the jump to 'The Invitation' at Sony Pictures, which opened at #1 at the box office and hit #2 on Netflix. She's now on her next two films, shooting later this year — American Paradise, shooting in Spain on 35mm, and Natural Selection, which she also wrote. Whether you're writing your first feature, trying to scale up your filmmaking career, or figuring out how to stay true to your vision at every budget level — this conversation is packed with the kind of unfiltered, craft-focused insight that only comes from someone who has done it at every level. We dive into: • How she made her first feature by calling in every favor • What actually changes going from $86K to $10 million (and what doesn't) • How editing shaped her entire approach to directing • Directing the Showtime series 'The End' • Shadowing on 'The Handmaid's Tale'• Why she never sacrifices rehearsal time — and how to fight for it • Her intimacy coordinator training and how it informs her work • The real cost of film festival circuits that no one talks about • How to sustain a career in today's industry • Staying true to yourself above all else The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis @jessicamichaeldavis New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast For partnership inquiries, please contact: TheNextFilmpodcast@gmail.comLet us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next. 🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty 🎧 Episode presented by Executive Producer Mark Bazil Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu.https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/