Filmmaker Mixer

From forgotten homesteads to treasured family heirlooms, Matthew and Katie Avant believe history lives in the objects we choose to keep.
In this episode, we sit down with Nashville-based, award-winning director Matthew Avant and producer Katie Avant, creators of the documentary adventure series ROOTS & RELICS. Matthew and Katie take us behind the scenes of the show, where host JD Hart travels across America uncovering powerful, often surprising stories hidden inside rare artifacts and deeply personal relics.
The filmmakers share how ROOTS & RELICS blends documentary filmmaking, archival research, cinematic reenactments, and hands-on discovery to reveal stories of ancestry, ranching culture, lost homesteads, and American identity. 
More than a conversation about filmmaking, this episode explores why personal history matters, how objects become storytellers, and what it takes to turn real-world artifacts into emotionally resonant cinema.
Whether you’re a documentary filmmaker, history buff, or storyteller searching for meaning beneath the surface, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

Composer Geoff Zanelli joins Filmmaker Mixer to break down his bold, experimental score for Gore Verbinski’s Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, opening February 13. From punk and Zappa influences to orchestral chaos, this score was designed to be anything—and everything. Zanelli dives into his collaborative process with Verbinski, recording nearly 100 musicians, transforming cello into new sonic textures, and building a “nine-headed monster” of a score using handmade guitars, synths, and absurdist choir Latin. Filmmakers will learn how creative freedom shapes bold musical choices and how unconventional workflows can elevate a film.

What does it take to scare an audience with music?
In this episode, we sit down with composers Stuart Roslyn and Chris Elmslie, creators of the chilling score for Nightmares of Nature. Together, they break down how cinematic music is crafted to manipulate emotion, build dread, and elevate storytelling—especially in documentary and genre filmmaking.
From experimenting with organic and unnatural sound textures to navigating composer–producer partnerships, Stuart and Chris reveal how music becomes a narrative force. They also dive into the business side of composing: collaboration models, creative trust, and building long-term careers in film music.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, composer, or producer, this episode explores how sound design and score can transform your film—and your creative life.

Writer and co-director Shaun Wu joins Filmmaker Mixer to unpack the making of HENRY BY THE HOUR, an inventive indie series about a 30-something Asian man who rents himself out as a friend—spending one hour each with five different clients.
Shaun breaks down how the film’s high-concept premise shaped the screenplay, how to write multiple characters through a single protagonist, and what it takes to co-direct a personal, performance-driven story on an indie scale. The conversation dives into building empathy without sentimentality, using structure as storytelling, and navigating representation without reducing a character to identity.
This episode is a must-listen for filmmakers interested in concept-driven indies, character studies, and stories about modern loneliness and human connection.

Step inside the eerie, enchanting world of The Littles with writer/director Andrew Duplessie and head of animation Anthony Scott. In this episode, we break down the creative process behind the visually haunting and emotionally powerful animated film.
The film follows 11-year-old Juliet, who stubs her toe on a loose floorboard—only to witness a mysterious glow and unsettling noises coming from beneath. What begins as childlike curiosity spirals into an unforgettable, otherworldly encounter.
Andrew and Anthony reveal how they balanced innocence and fear, built a world that feels both nostalgic and unsettling, and crafted animation that elevates suspense rather than softens it. Whether you’re a filmmaker, animator, storyteller, or fan of dark fantasy adventures, this conversation is packed with inspiration and behind-the-scenes magic.