Lie Your Way to the Top, FYC, Festival Purgatory & the Indies

In this episode of No Film School, host GG Hawkins and tech editor Jordan Aldridge are joined by two incredible guests: filmmaker Leah Saint Marie and award-winning director Lizzy Born. The discussion delves into the challenges of navigating the indie film world, the stress of festival notification season, and creative approaches to career-building in a competitive industry. Both guests share personal stories, practical advice, and insights on how to push boundaries in filmmaking.

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, Jordan Aldridge, Leah Saint Marie, and Lizzy Born discuss:

• Leah Saint Marie’s journey from projectionist to filmmaker and her strategies for staying resilient in “festival purgatory”
• The challenges of navigating FYC campaigns as an indie filmmaker
• Lizzy Born’s approach to directing, from Ziwe to branded content, and how she balances dark humor with social commentary
• Practical advice for emerging filmmakers, including the importance of collaboration and creating your own opportunities
• The inaugural Indies Awards, celebrating independent films outside of mainstream festival circuits

Memorable Quotes:

• “No one else is telling you no, except yourself. If you haven’t made a movie or written a script and you’re afraid to do it, do it anyway.” (39:44)
• “This job is about community. Finding your community of people who feel like they are in the same space as you is so essential.” (1:16:32)
• “Sometimes I wish I didn’t know as much... You’re going to do it in a fresh way because you don’t know what you’re referencing.” (1:19:50)

Resources:

Leah’s Podcast: Pitch! A Screenwriting Podcast

Leah on X (formerly Twitter): @leahwelch19

Leah’s IMDb:Leah Saint Marie

Lizzy’s Website: Lizzy Born

Lizzy’s Instagram: @LizzyB0rn

Read reviews of Ziwe: Variety on Ziwe

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