Filmmaker Mixer

How does a screenwriter move from film into comics and children's books? On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, author and Oak Tree Comics founder Josh Oaktree talks about his journey from earning an MFA in screenwriting at the American Film Institute to creating books including Thorn the Unicorn, The Weird Animal Hour, and the Art & Oakie Ask series.
Josh also discusses character development, visual storytelling, writing for younger audiences, and the creative decisions involved in building stories across different mediums. Filmmakers and writers will get practical insight into adapting ideas, developing characters, and recognizing the right medium for a story.

What happens when a classic Western showdown turns into an absurd comedy about two men who can't escape each other? Writer and director Nicholas Arioli joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss The Stalemate, his feature directorial debut starring Ben Foster, Manny Jacinto, Fiona Shaw, and an outstanding ensemble cast.We explore the creative decisions behind reinventing the Western, developing visual comedy, directing first-time feature productions, working with accomplished actors, and balancing absurd humor with the emotional themes of loneliness, friendship, and people caught in larger systems. Nicholas shares insights into translating a distinctive screenplay into a feature film and discovering his voice as a director.
The Stalemate made its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 9:30 PM at the State Theatre.Subscribe to Filmmaker Mixer for conversations with the filmmakers, writers, directors, cinematographers, editors, and creative professionals who bring movies to life.

Director Rebecca J. Matthews joins the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast to discuss Wuthering Heights: House of the Damned, her supernatural horror reimagining of Emily Brontë’s classic novel. We talk about transforming Catherine and Heathcliff’s obsessive relationship into a horror story, creating the mythology of Catherine’s vengeful ghost, and building the isolated, storm-battered world of Wuthering Heights.
Rebecca also takes us behind the filmmaking process—from adapting recognizable source material and directing performances to creating atmosphere, controlling suspense, and solving the practical challenges of bringing gothic horror to the screen. Filmmakers will get an inside look at the creative decisions behind the film and the realities of making an ambitious genre adaptation.
Wuthering Heights: House of the Damned is available on Digital and On Demand October 16, 2026 from Saban Films.

How do you shoot a short film in New York and finish it in Brazil? On this episode of the Filmmaker Mixer Podcast, Brazilian filmmakers Niccola and Maximilion Civita break down the creative and technical journey behind PLAN B, a 17-minute period dark comedy set in late-1990s New York.
The filmmakers discuss creating a story about a small-time mushroom dealer and his pregnant girlfriend, balancing comedy with impending parenthood, and collaborating with Pródigo Filmes, Confraria de Sons e Charutos, and composer João Erbetta during post-production in São Paulo. 
PLAN B has its world premiere at the 33rd Austin Film Festival, screening Sunday, November 1 at 12:50 PM and Wednesday, November 4 at 3:00 PM at Galaxy Theater. Filmmakers will learn about cross-border collaboration, camera department experience, creative problem-solving, and the realities of bringing an independent film from production through post.

What does it take to shoot a fight sequence on Super 16 film in Tokyo? On this episode of Filmmaker Mixer, co-directors James Beaufort and Sean Walker take us behind the scenes of They Loved Us the Most, a 14-minute action thriller filmed with a three-person camera unit and Japanese stunt team.
James Beaufort, co-writer of Netflix's War Machine, and Sean Walker, a veteran video operator whose credits include Mad Max: Fury Road, Rogue Nation, and Solo, discuss choreographing action around short film rolls, managing takes and slates, collaborating across languages, and balancing cinematic ambition with practical production constraints. Learn what independent filmmakers can take away from their approach—and why they would consider shooting action on film again.
They Loved Us the Most has its U.S. premiere at the 2026 Austin Film Festival, screening in Shorts Program 7 on November 1 and November 3. Check the festival schedule for screening details.