MAKING MOVIES IS HARD
but getting on their podcast is damn impossible…
“MAKING MOVIES IS HARD” is hosted by Liz and Alrik twice a week with occasional input from the show’s current producer Eric Toms… rather than let me try to describe it, here’s the show’s official BIO: Liz Manashil and Alrik Bursell discuss independent filmmaking, everything from writing, producing and directing to working as crew. But this is not just a podcast about “making it,” it’s also about struggling with rejection, self-doubt and everything else that comes with pursuing a career in film. Follow along as we forge our own way through the industry and talk to guests who are also making it happen.
That said, I was a fan of the show. I listened religiously to the interviews and guests as well as getting to know and support the hosts. Nobody owes me anything – but — I supported the Patreon for the show which doesn’t do any of the incentives they claim it does and even reached out individually to the team. The show was my religion in hard times I’d cry listening to it. Seriously, I supported Liz’s movie with enough of a contribution that you’ll hear my last name of “Chizmar!” spoken in the movie. I paid for that. As for the gentleman host/founder, I watched Alrik’s syfy movie. I wanted to support his art. I’ve also known Eric thru mutual comedian friends for about a decade and watched his reality binge tv show he hosted back in the day too. I reached out individually to all of them, and pitched why I should be a guest. Successes, awards, sales, all the reasons… None of them ever said “No” to me, each passed it off on another and I found it all very hurtful to me. Was this because I’m a body-positive nudist? Because I voted Trump and am a political conservative (I doubt that as one of the team has a conservative-leaning partner) Was it because of gossip from enemies in the industry? Some asshole comedian telling Eric I’m a jerkball for something a long time ago? I just don’t know. I don’t want to think of them as elitist or discriminatory or harbor deep resentments when i hear about them so after literally even offered to pay $$$ to be a guest and still got ignored. I’ve decided since I’m not wanted; I’m annoyed, disappointed, and dejected: Fuck it I’ll do it myself. I write a column for a nerdy pop-culture website that gets over 2mil readers a month so let’s have a little fun with this.
Sooo, This is how it would sound if I’d ever had been asked to be a guest on this elusive podcast.
Here’s the basic layout to each episode… I will choose to talk about my movie “HELL’s COMING FOR YOU!” This week they welcome filmmaker and writer TIM CHIZMAR
TIM, PLEASE GIVE US THE ELEVATOR PITCH FOR YOUR MOVIE:
For “HELL’s COMING FOR YOU!” It would be like this: Despite paralysis, Liam achieved great notoriety as an international bounty hunter. He’s also collected a handful of enemies. When he learns of a terrible betrayal, this triggers a bloody war with a group of savage misfits and old allies. Basically it’s kind of an old western vibe about a old retired disabled assassin/bounty hunter man who just can’t relax in retirement. We have layers of rich violent story around him.
HOW MANY DAYS DID YOU SHOOT? HOW LONG UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETED/RELEASED?
As you know from these past interviews it gets a little complicated when you factor in pick up shows and reshoots but the hard principal photography was around 10 days. With pickups (including amphicar shoot-outs at Lake Mead and hot air balloon stunts in Nampa Valley) it was more like a month I’d say. Post-production took a while as we attempted to field distribution offers from places like Shudder who literally wasted months of our time. Ultimately we signed with Indie Rights.
ROUGHLY MY BUDGET:
For this one we were def under $600k and we all were frustrated with post-production costs that ballooned and taught us lessons for future projects. Sometimes it’s important to say “No” even if it upsets some members of the team. We also had some asshats that were not as committed to completing as others. HR is tough in nonunion indie, that’s for damn sure.
HOW DID WE RAISE THE MONEY?
It was primarily a vanity project for the lead Dillion Dilligaf (real name Jack Spear) who had been a dabbler standup comedian for around six years (even though nobody told him he was funny) and he wanted to be an action star. Mark Savage the Director and I (Producer) agreed to be hired to write and develop something around what he had access too. It’s the same sort of tale for indie, you use what we have access too and try to make it work best we can. There was additional funds added later but mostly it was created and funded around him.
ORIGIN OF THE IDEA:
From Jack. Also in this era of inclusivity the idea of a truly disabled action hero played by someone who legit is in a mobility scooter was appealing on its uniqueness and potential for motivation. There’s an action figure of him, etc..
FILM INFLUENCES AND WHO I ADMIRE:
What brings me to the table of filmmaking are the outliers: Bloodsucking Freaks, I spit on your Grave, Xtro, The Stoned Age, Somewhere in Time, etc. i like weird and original and boundary pushing for sure. Martin is great.
CASTING:
Obviously Jack just had to be the lead which was rough was aside from him we had some great recommendations and actor friends from past projects like Samuel Culver, Trista Robinson, Jeremiah Benjamin, the well known 80s bad guy Patrick Kilpatrick and others. I myself played his second in commend and that was neat. We had bikers, wrestlers, hotties, a snotty kid, and in general tried to have fun with it all.
THE LAST 6 QUESTIONS THEY ASK EVERY GUEST…
STARTING WITH: WHAT WAS THE FIRST FILM YOU EVER MADE AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT NOW?
Oh wow – this is tough, as do i consider all the projects i made and sold but never was released? Arghhhh this business can be a kick in the ass sometimes. What immediately comes to mind is “RVD’s Extreme Championship Comedy Take-over!” as that was the first time I sold a tv show to a network (CMT) and Directed and cast it but it died on the vine. Or a super low budget indie I made myself… wrote/directed/starred in, plus it has a cult following amongst nudists “The Nudels of Nudeland” Or a fan film i cast and cowrote about a favorite DC Comics character “Constantine” fan film.. The damn many Creep Creepersin movies I was in and raised money for but weren’t released, the Full Moon movies I did.. hmmm I could keep going on but I think I’ll say this…… I once was used to cast celebs and raise money for a movie called MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT and there was many lessons I learned about lying, cheating, idiots, backstabbers, and ultimately it was never released. That film stays on my mind. I’ll say NUDELS and I’ll say that because It was my baby. Weird and odd but its on TROMA and distributed thru ALL CHANNELS and physical media. It has an aminated opening and a lot of silly fun. I’m proud of it and I’m glad I did it. Sadly I could talk more and more about lost or failed projects but that’s this stupid business for ya.
BEST FILMMAKING ADVICE YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN?
It was from the team of CARL BRADLEY a NBC Exec and BUZZ BELMONDO (RIP) an 80s sitcom regular over a business lunch at Cantor’s Deli with another comedian and I. They knew I was selling my first (of many TV pilots) at the time and they told me at some point in my career I’d have to choose between ART -or- MONEY and when that day comes …. What would I choose? I told them I expected them to tell me to choose art but I’d go for the money! They cheered and thanked me… telling me with more money you can make art but too many starving artists die with no money. That always stuck with me. Buzz was a very good man.
WORST FILMMAKING ADVICE?
From Johnny Dam, a wannabe comedian who told me my idea for CHAMPIONSHIP COMEDY (combining pro wrestling and standup comedy) was dumb and to never tell anyone if I wanted to work in this business. I’m glad I ignored him. It was the start of things like Roast Battle and Kill Tony. I was ahead of my time — never listen when someone can’t see the vision!
WHAT IS YOUR GOAL AS A FILMMAKER?
Push the envelope and make people think and question what they believe. Topics like nudism and body positivity are important to me.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF SOME ADVICE…
I would have moved to Hollywood faster instead of trying to build “my team” with others around me. I wasted so many years trying to encourage and support people who didn’t have the drive and ambitions that I do. The reason I connect and chat with folks like Clive Barker, Mike Flanagan, Max Landis, Lloyd Kaufman, Charles Band, etc are because I’m a successful risktaker and always will be.
IS MAKING MOVIES HARD?
Yes. Yes, making movies all the way through to completion and delivery and distribution… is very difficult because you have to work with a team and nobody wears a sign that says LIAR or ASSHOLE sometimes we find out the hard way! I will say though that although Making Movies Is Hard… It is not as hard as trying to get on this motherfucking podcast.
This film I just spoke to you about in this interview won BEST INDIE HORROR MOVIE of last year (2024) from AWARD THIS! which is organized by the critics put together from FilmThreat.com one of the sponsors of the AMERICAN FILM MARKET.
so that’s a big deal, and AFM is where I inked a 3-picture slate deal for the biggest money I’ve ever done. Of which we filmed the first of the three films during the recent fires of CA… so yeah. It’s called NAKED & UNASHAMED …as God Intended: the Pastor Jim Moore Story. A real life biopic on a nudist pastor!
As a movie guy who sold his first screenplay in 2005, I know what I’m doing. I can’t help but be defensive. Google me, look me up on iTunes, I’ve not only been swimming upstream for years without any big contacts but I’ve been a regular podcast guest on bigger ones like WWE / AEW wrestler Chris Jericho‘s TALK IS JERICHO. I’ve paid my dues and I believe deserved to have been respected and greeted with more of an open-door by this podcast. I jumped through every hoop possible. They hurt my feelings. That said, although I will never listen again… that’s for damn sure, if I had been on they prob would have edited up my stories anyway. If you wish to check out their podcast, go right ahead, they do offer good advice and motivation which is good to hear in times of struggle there was a time when I loved it. I was near suicidal and it talked me off many a ledge. It just would have been nice to have been invited to sit at the cool kid’s table just once. Ultimately though I’ll make my own table.
WRITERS FOLLOWUP NOTE: After this article was published I received a msg from one of the members of the team at the podcast who was demanding and hostile. I responded with honesty and humor.
Later I was given a message from another member of the team who was much more relaxed willing to listen, we communicated about the history between us. Although I will not be invited on anytime soon, it was explained that my passion for wanting to come on was seen by some as pushy at the time…
He then offered that we revisit my coming on again in the future. I told him I’d reach out in a year if I hadn’t heard back from him by then… so we shall see. ~ TC
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