Crew Call

Today, we're talking with Deborah Liebling. Debbie has been a significant comedy tastemaker in film and TV both as an executive and as a producer. She is currently partnered with renowned film director Sam Raimi, under a first-look deal with WIIP. Under their POD 3 Banner. they have set up dark drama series, MALDICIÓN- from the Blair Witch team- at APPLE. They have a comedy at TBS, THE WORST PLANET and they are in pre-production on SEASON 2 of horror anthology 50 STATES OF FRIGHT at QUIBI. Deborah continues to produce independently in comedy. She is EXECUTIVE PRODUCER of HULU’s Emmy-nominated comedy, PEN 15. On the feature side, Deborah most recently produced PLUS ONE, starring Maya Erskine and Jack Quaid, which won the Audience Award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and continues to stream on HULU.  On our show, Debbie talks about the early days of Comedy central, developing original comedy series, and what she expects from a good assistant. To hear the full interview, subscribe on our Patreon page: http://

Here's our discussion with Line Producer Jason Roberts. He’s been working in the industry for over three decades, most recently as the Line Producer of Fox’s Filthy Rich, and UPM on Hulu’s The Orville. He also has a long career as an AD, going as far back as being a DGA trainee on Seinfeld, with many, many movies and TV shows in between. If you want to know how to climb the ladder from PA to producer, Jason is definitely someone to hear from. To hear the full interview, subscribe on our Patreon page: http://bit.ly/tapatreon

Today we're talking with Academy Award-nominated writer/director/raconteur Billy Ray! Mr. Ray takes us through his entire career, from assistant to producer/showrunner. He gives not only great advice, but inspiration for aspiring writers everywhere. And, of course, we discuss COVID, because how could we not? To hear the full interview, subscribe on our Patreon page: http://bit.ly/tapatreon

This is it you guys! It’s the season finale of Crew Call. I’ve been holding on to this one because it’s one of my favorites we’ve done in this new batch and I wanted it to sit somewhere special. So this week, on the season finale of Crew Call, I have the great pleasure to air this interview with the Incredible Kate Lupo of EntryLevelHollywood.com. Who is this person, you may ask? Kate Lupo is a speaker and career coach here in Los Angeles, but she is not just any speaker or career coach. Kate is an expert in helping students and recent grads land job and internships in the business and development side of Hollywood. So. If your dream is to become a producer, or a writer, or an exective, or, or, etc in this crazy town I call home, you may have already run into the fact that it can be extremely hard to get your foot in the door, or to, really, even know which door to get your foot in. That’s where Kate comes in. Through in-person workshops, online webinars, Interview and career coaching and more, Kate has helpe

In this episode, Neil Daly gives us an in-depth look at a little known job in the entertainment industry. He’s one of the guys in charge of getting the honest opinions out of an audience before a movie is even finished, but there’s a lot more to it that just collecting survey cards. Tune in and learn all about that gig, and grab some incredibly good tips on how to keep your eyes open to unique opportunities as you build your career in entertainment. Enjoy!

It’s that time of year again. When you work in the entertainment business, the space between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day can be a mess of canceled gigs, no work, and unpredictable finances. In this episode the producers and host of Crew Call sat down to talk about what and why the holiday slump happens, how they get through it, and how to stay positive while you wait for the phone to start ringing again. So happy New Year, everyone! And don’t worry, those jobs will start rolling in any day now.

Christmas is creeping up, so we’re taking a brief rest this week to pause, reflect, and polish up the last few episodes of Season One of Crew Call. This episode is here just to thank all you wonderful people for listening, and offer up a little nugget of wisdom from one of the best authors around. Give it a listen, and we’ll see you next year!

If you’re a new filmmaker, the thought of working with a composer may not even have entered your brain yet…but without a score, a movie is just a bunch of people talking about stuff and running away from explosions like regular folk. No excitement. No drama. Just some guy running for his life against a backdrop of birds chirping and cars passing by, like a chump. And that’s where people like Composer Benjamin Young come in–because a film without a score just isn’t quite done. We sat down and talked about what goes into that process, logistically, philosophically, and technically, and how to talk to a composer in a way that will get you what you want for your movie. There’s a ton of good stuff in here, especially if you’re as into sound and music as I am. Enjoy!

Adult Entertainment can be one of those ‘barely acknowledged, rarely mentioned’ corners of the entertainment industry, but have you ever wondered what actually goes into working in porn? Turns out, it’s a lot more than you might think. We sat down with director, producer, makeup artist, and actress Nicki Hunter to dig into the process and particulars of the adult film industry, from logistics, to on-set etiquette, to how the industry has changed over the years as technology advances. And as if that wasn’t enough, she also shares with us her incredible story of surviving Leukemia, getting into Leadership training, and retiring from the industry. (Definitely NSFW. Unless you work in porn. Or in your own home office. In which case, you’re probably fine.)

This week on the show, it’s a crossover episode! Virginia Anzengruber of Super Hungry the Podcast and Chris Henry of Crew Call interview each other about moving to LA, what to do when you land here if you don’t have a job lined up, and ways to make the hustle work. But also…what about if you decide to leave Los Angeles? What then? And what about all the stuff that happens in between? We talk about the pressures of the question “so what do you do?” and how that can affect your outlook, for better or worse. And a bunch of gems about finding work, living in a big city, how I got my legs under me and how she did the same. It’s a little slice of the hustle from two different perspectives, and I think you’re really going to like it.

This week on the show Art Director/Prop Assistant Heidi Koleto joins us for a brief discussion about what an art director is, what they do, and how she ended up doing it—and then we move into an incredibly illuminating discussion about Heidi’s experience joining IATSE Local 44, what it means to be on a show that “Flips”, and how long you might have to work before the option to join a Union becomes open to you. And a quick announcement! Next week on the show, we’ve got a super-fun crossover with Super Hungry the Podcast! Tune in to hear Virginia Anzengruber and I discover the oddness that is a mutual interview as we talk about what it means to leave Los Angeles. And thanks SO MUCH, as always, for listening!

You see all sorts of different versions of the title “Producer” kicking around, and it’s one of the more nebulous titles in the business. Brandon Heitkamp, producer of movies like Bad Frank and Valley of Bones, sat down with us and went through what the job of a workaday producer is, what he looks for in a script, and what he looks for in the people he hires to make his movies. If you’re curious about how to make a movie, how to get a job in film, or just what the heck a Producer’s job actually is, then this episode is 100% for you. Enjoy!

Ever hear about actor stand-ins? Think the job is as simple as “existing” and “looking like someone else”? Prepare to be corrected in a pleasant and informative way! This interview with Stand-in Clay Chamberlin will fill you in on the whole deal, and give you some truly fantastic career advice in the process. Short. Simple. Sweet. Enjoy!

This is actually the very first interview we recorded for the new season of Crew Call, and it’s FULL of fantastic advice for anyone who’s maybe already been working a different kind of career and is thinking about making the switch to The Industry, or even for you younger folks just about to finish film school. There’s no specific industry shop talk here, but if you’re thinking of making the leap and don’t know what your next step is, then this is a fantastic place to start thinking about stepping outside your comfort zone and taking the next big step in your career.

Some of us will be fortunate enough to grow our careers to the point where we’ve got *more than one* crazy-big project in the works at all times, and it’s those times that you’ll be glad you listened to this interview with Michael Price. The Co-Creator and Showrunner of Netflix’s “F is for Family” and longtime staff writer on The Simpsons talks about starting out as a workaday writer, getting up earlier than everyone else, and the finer points of managing two gigantic animated comedy projects. (Yes, technically this isn’t a ‘below the line’ position, but Michael’s perspective is too valuable to ignore. After all, if he doesn’t write it, then there’s nothing for any of the rest of us to make!)

New to the Industry? Thinking of starting a career in entertainment? Chances are, you’re going to start as a PA. And chances are, someone like 1st AD Sushi Garciaparra is going to be your boss. Listen as we go through the basics of a day on a film set, the responsibilities of a 1st Assistant Director, and how to make sure you keep getting hired when you’re just starting out. We also talk about some of the realities of making a living when you’re a new professional in the field. Hope you like sleeping on couches!

Everyone wants to get their movie made. This interview with Matthew T Price—Director and co-writer of the indie horror thriller “Other Halves”—is your starter-guide to the whole process. If you’ve ever wondered about the considerations and costs that go into ANY film, then listen all the way through. From how to find funding, to writing to fit your location, to the naked realities of marketing your finished film, we dig through the making of Other Halves from inception to completion in this inaugural episode of Crew Call 2.0!

Crew Call is back! We’ve got a brand-new season of in-depth below-the-line interviews headed your way, and with Shortwave Radio founder and former Crew Call producer Chris Henry taking over as host, we couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this show back to the airwaves. (Internet-waves?) For the uninitiated: Crew Call is produced now in association with the Anonymous Production Assistant, and features interviews with the people who work behind the scenes to make your favorite movies and serials happen. Each episode we’ll hear from about another position from the panoply of jobs it’s possible to have in the entertainment business. So if you’re in school, just starting out in the business, or want a Way-Behind-The-Scenes look at how the film and entertainment business works, then you’re in the right place. We’ve got you covered.