My First Feature

27 - Evan Morgan made "The Kid Detective"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 15:00:00 GMT

We're back!! In this episode we chat with writer/director Evan Morgan about his first feature film "The Kid Detective" a dark comedy starring Adam Brody that Evan pitches as Encyclopedia Brown meets Chinatown. Ethan speaks with Evan about how he got Adam to be in the film, the 5 year slog of trying to get the film sold, and getting theatrical distribution in the age of Covid-19. Evan is a delight and a fantastic filmmaker!

If you can do it safely, go see "The Kid Detective" in a theater near you!

Follow Evan (@evanmorganfromgoosebumps) on Instagram and as always, the podcast is @firstfeaturepod on twitter and at myfirstfeaturepodcast@gmail.com.

26 - Oscar Rene Lozoya made "How We Met"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 17:00:04 GMT

In this episode we chat with writer/director Oscar Rene Lozoya about his first film "How We Met" an action comedy about the worst blind date ever. Ethan speaks with Oscar, an editor on Law and Order, about how we got Ice-T to narrate his film, the fun of making an ultra-low budget film with your friends, and navigating the world of distribution. A really fun chat! Follow Oscar (@rene24P) on Twitter and IG and as always, the podcast is @firstfeaturepod on twitter and at myfirstfeaturepodcast@gmail.com.

25 - Bobby Miller made "The Cleanse"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Wed, 02 May 2018 20:59:17 GMT

This week, Ethan sits down with writer/director Bobby Miller – a talented filmmaker whose first feature film “The Cleanse” premiered at SXSW in 2016 and is playing in select theaters, digital and VOD May 4. The Cleanse stars Johnny Galecki as a heartbroken man who attends a spiritual retreat to fix his life. He soon discovers his inner demons are dying to come out and play. Ethan and Bobby discuss the fun and difficulty of working with practical puppets, putting pressure on yourself to succeed, and how to balance flexibility with vision. The Cleanse is in theaters and on VOD 5/4 – follow Bobby on twitter, @BobbyMiller and go to thebobbymiller.com – and as always, the podcast is @firstfeaturepod on twitter and at myfirstfeaturepodcast@gmail.com.

21 - Splend Grandst made "The Heart Can't Find What it Wants to Want"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 01:00:00 GMT

Ethan sits down with writer/director Splend Grandst to discuss his first feature film "The Heart Can't Find What it Wants to Want", a dark drama about the human condition and psychological torment. Ethan and Splend talk about being mentored by Steven Spielberg, working with animals, and throwing away your script on day 1. This was a great chat and I'm sure you're going to learn a lot.

As always follow the podcast @firstfeaturepod and Ethan @ethancushing on Twitter and email us at firstfeaturepodcast@gmail.com ... and for no particular reason thanks to Ross Allen (happy April 1st!)

20 - Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote made "The Open House"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 02:00:00 GMT

Power couple slash directing duo Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote stop by to discuss their first feature, psychological thriller "The Open House", starring Dylan Minnette and now streaming on Netflix. They discuss what it takes to co-direct a film, how to think outside the box when courting big actors, and the thrill of becoming a "Netflix Original Film". This is a great chat and I'm so happy for my friends' success with this film. Watch "The Open House" now on Netflix, and follow Matt and Suzanne - @mattangel23 & @suzcoote on all the socials. As always, the podcast is @firstfeaturepod on twitter and our email is myfirstfeaturepodcast@gmail.com.

19 - Alex Ferrari made "This is Meg"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 02:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director/Producer Alex Ferrari calls in to chat about his first feature film, "This is Meg". The comedy is a sneak peak into the Los Angeles lifestyle of a working but not famous female actress/comedienne's point of view that is forced to shift with the social media wave.

Ethan and Alex discuss the benefits and drawbacks of film school, transitioning from editing to directing, and walking the walk of the hustle that is filmmaking. Check out Alex's site, indiefilmhustle.com, check out the film at thisismeg.com and follow Alex on twitter - @iamalexferrari - As always, we are @firstfeaturepod on Twitter and myfirstfeaturepodcast@gmail.com.

18 - David Au made "Eat With Me"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 01:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director David Au stops by to discuss his family dramedy, "Eat With Me". David and Ethan talk about cultivating your team of collaborators, location challenges, and working with George Takei! Check out the film at www.eatwithmemovie.com. As always, we are @firstfeaturepod and myfirstfeaturepodcast@gmail.com.

17 - Kelly Fremon Craig made "The Edge of Seventeen"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Kelly Fremon Craig joins Ethan to discuss her first feature, the Golden Globe and DGA Award nominated film "The Edge of Seventeen". Kelly and Ethan discuss transitioning from writing to directing, producer James L. Brooks' many pearls of wisdom, and the stressful YEAR of trying to cast the right actor for the role of Nadine.

Kelly is a delight to talk to and everyone should go on iTunes or Amazon or Walmart and buy The Edge of Seventeen. You can find Kelly on twitter - @KFremonCraig and ig - @kellyfremoncraig. As always, the podcast is @firstfeaturepod.

16 - Nick Corporon made "Retake"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Nick Corporon sits down to chat with Ethan about his first feature Retake, an emotional drama about a lonely, middle-aged man who hires a male prostitute to recreate a road trip from his past. Nick recounts what pushes him towards telling LGBT stories despite the ubiquitous difficulty of raising money, the importance of marketing, and the safety net of having your shot list memorized. Nick is also the first guest to ask Ethan what his favorite craft service item is! Find info on the film and Nick at retakethemovie.com

Check out the movie Retake on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, or Google Play.

15 - Liz Manashil made "Bread and Butter"

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 01:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Liz Manashil stops by to discuss her first feature film "Bread and Butter", a romantic comedy starring Bobby Moynihan and Christine Weatherup. Liz and Ethan discuss the kickstarting ecosystem, writing love letters to actors, what it's like to work with a predominately female crew, and much more! For more info on the film check out www.breadandbuttermovie.com - As always, we are @firstfeaturepod and myfirstfeaturepodcast@gmail.com.

14 – Duane Andersen made “Superpowerless”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director/Producer Duane Andersen calls in from Utah to talk about his directorial debut, “Superpowerless” a coming of middle-age story about a superhero who, in his early 40s, must now grapple with the loss of his powers and the question of what’s next. Duane has produced a lot of films but Superpowerless is his first feature at the director’s helm. We talk about how every actor has different needs, about life imitating art imitating life, and San Francisco’s inherent production value.

Check out the film’s journey on twitter @splmovie or facebook.com/superpowerlessmovie.

Every other week host Ethan Cushing interviews a new filmmaker about the process of directing their first feature film. Follow us on Twitter and subscribe/rate us on iTunes! Thanks for listening to the podcast!

13 – David Steinberg made “Miss Dial”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director David Steinberg has Ethan over for a chat about his experience writing and directing “Miss Dial”, a romantic comedy about a bored customer service rep looking to make a connection. David discusses writing such scripts as “Slackers” and “American Pie 2”, the frustration of letting others make your script with your input, and shares some interesting insights about international distribution.

Check out Miss Dial on Amazon Prime and follow David on twitter – @davidhsteinberg

12 – Alex Lehman made “Asperger’s Are Us”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Director Alex Lehman sits down to discuss his first feature, the documentary called “Asperger’s Are Us“, a coming of age story about the first comedy troupe comprised of all openly autistic people. Alex chats about taking the leap of faith to fly to Boston and film the group, knowing when to use your connections (and when not to), and playing to your strengths as a filmmaker.

Asperger’s Are Us debuted on Netflix in October alongside Alex’s first narrative feature “Blue Jay” starring Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson.

11 – Trevor Stevens is making “Rock Steady Row” (Part 1)

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Trevor Stevens stops by to talk about his first feature “Rock Steady Row“, a spaghetti western set in a modern day college campus. This is a special episode as at the time of recording, Trevor was 48 hours out from beginning principal photography.

Trevor discusses how his thesis film “Run” was chosen as a Vimeo Staff Pick which led to getting representation which lead to pitching his idea for Rock Steady Row. We also talk about pitching projects from the heart, what it’s like to go into production with very little rehearsal time, and how to prepare for the unexpected on set. This is a fun one!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my chat with Trevor once he wraps principal photography on his first feature.

10 – Doug Archibald made “I Love You Both”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Doug Archibald stops by to talk about his first feature “I Love You Both”, a coming of age dramedy about twin siblings who must confront their codependency when they start dating the same guy. Doug and Ethan discuss what it’s like not only directing but being one of the leads of the film, working with family, and rolling with the punches on a film set.

9 – Jeff Janke made “Highway to Havasu”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Jeff Janke calls in from the road to talk about his first feature “Highway to Havasu“, a teen road trip comedy about some teenagers who steal an RV and do spring break at Lake Havasu. Jeff and Ethan discuss writing a feature screenplay in THREE DAYS, working with your producer who also happens to be your wife, and playing to your strengths when planning a production.

8 – Barbara Stepansky made “Hurt”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Barbara Stepansky stops by to chat about her first feature “Hurt”, a thriller about a family who takes in an orphan girl who’s not what she seems. Barbara and Ethan discuss the film school that is working on Christopher Nolan’s first feature, trusting your prep material when you’re on set, and working through the first cut blues. Check out the trailer for Hurt below or head over to Amazon to watch the full film watch the full film!

7 – Will Prescott made “Feeding Mr. Baldwin”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Will Prescott calls in from Minnesota to talk about his first feature “Feeding Mr. Baldwin“. Will and Ethan discuss the “just do it” mindset required to make a movie, working with supportive friends, and the importance of having your next thing ready to pitch.

Will’s sketch group is at greatergoodcomedy.com – the film is at feedingmrbaldwin.com and find Will on twitter, @williamprescott

6 – Michael Mohan made “One Too Many Mornings”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 01:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Michael Mohan stops by to chat about his first feature, “One Too Many Mornings”, an indie coming of age dramedy about two guys who are way too old to be coming of age. Michael’s film was shot over the course of many, many weekends and ended up as a Sundance Official Selection!

Ethan and Michael discuss his success with cold calls/emails, what it’s like to go to Sundance (twice!), and the importance of specificity in one’s work.

5 – Nathan Scoggins made “The Least of These”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 01:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Nathan Scoggins stops by to talk about his first feature film “The Least of These”, a mystery about the murder of a catholic priest. Ethan and Nathan discuss the experience of winning the Doritos Superbowl contest TWICE, believing in your project, and working with the right people. Follow Nathan on Twitter here.

Every other week host Ethan Cushing interviews a new filmmaker about the process of directing their first feature film. Follow us on Twitter and subscribe/rate us on iTunes! Thanks for listening!

4 – America Young made “The Concessionaires Must Die!”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Wed, 25 May 2016 23:00:00 GMT

America Young stops by to chat about her first feature film “The Concessionaires Must Die!“, an indie comedy about a group of movie theater workers who must fight to save their theater from an evil corporation. Ethan and America talk about the necessity of being a multi-hyphenate, the benefit of shooting outside of LA, and giving each actor what he/she needs to shine.

Every other week host Ethan Cushing interviews a new filmmaker about the process of directing their first feature film. Follow us on Twitter and subscribe/rate us on iTunes! Thanks for listening!

3 – Nate Atcheson made “Herpes Boy”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Tue, 10 May 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Nathaniel Atcheson stops by to chat about his first feature film “Herpes Boy“, an indie comedy about a vlogger with an unfortunate birthmark. Nathaniel and Ethan talk about life after film school, directing big name actors, and editing your own work. You can check out Herpes Boy on iTunes and Amazon.

Every other week host Ethan Cushing interviews a new filmmaker about the process of directing their first feature film. Follow us on Twitter and subscribe/rate us on iTunes! Thanks for listening!

2 – Nick Ozeki made “Mamitas”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Nick Ozeki talks about his feature film “Mamitas” which he adapted from his student short film of the same name. Nick and Ethan discuss the long and awkward process of raising money, being honest with actors, and managing expectations upon the film’s release. You can find Mamitas on Hulu, iTunes, and Amazon.

1 - Jack Perez made “America’s Deadliest Home Video”

ethancushing@gmail.com (Ethan Cushing) — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Writer/Director Jack Perez (director of “Some Guy Who Kills People” and “Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus“) is the first guest on MFF. Right after film school in the early 90’s, Jack wrote and directed the grand-daddy of found footage films, “America’s Deadliest Home Video”. Jack and Ethan discuss the stamina required to shoot a feature, how to learn technique from the greats, and staying in the moment on set.