The MAKE IT Podcast

449 - Why Streamers Won’t Look at Your $100K Movie, New Federal Film Tax Credit Explained: How In...

75 views · 11h ago · 1:31:11

In this episode. the fellas are back to chop it up about a wide variety of topics! We explore how a proposed federal film incentive could affect independent production budgets and U.S. filmmaking. We debate AI contract provisions, the shrinking of acting opportunities, and the creative impact of studio consolidation. We also discuss mental health, television storytelling, and what to watch for Halloween. Enjoy!

What Does It Mean to MAKE IT?

15K views · 4d ago · 6:06

Guest: Michael Gier

We close our conversation with Michael Gier by asking the question at the heart of the MAKE IT Podcast: What does it mean to make it? We hear why success isn’t just about money or recognition. Gier shares his belief that making it means earning enough to live while enjoying the work we do each day. We reflect on the importance of doing what we love and sharing it with the people who matter to us.

A Filmmaker's Movie Night and Cheat Day Confessions

2.1K views · 1w ago · 13:23

We put filmmaker Michael Gier through a rapid-fire round of questions every movie lover can enjoy. We hear why The Princess Bride and Tombstone made his favorites list and which long-awaited movie he still hasn’t watched. We compare notes on One Battle After Another and the movies that need to win us over from the start. We also get Gier’s delightfully specific pick for a cheat-day treat.

The Three People Who Showed Us 9/11

5.8K views · 1w ago · 15:10

We trace the extraordinary stories behind some of the most important footage from 9/11. We discover how three people born outside the United States, each filming for a different reason, ended up capturing history from very different vantage points.

How Successful Creatives Reinvent Their Creative Careers

5.9K views · 1w ago · 22:32

In this edition of Filmmaker Q&A, we ask Michael Gier how creatives can recognize when it's time to change direction and how to build a career that can survive uncertainty. We discuss the business skills that help talent reach audiences, the value of producing your own work, and the importance of developing a broad skill set.

Should You Invest In Film School or Film Equipment?

4.3K views · 1w ago · 11:22

We weigh film school against learning by doing after our audience poll revealed that “just start shooting” outweighed "film school" by 77% to 23%. We discuss the value of practical experience, the people and networks that can come from school, and the difference between established craft and learning on the job. We also consider how the attention economy may have changed popular filmmaking and entertainment as a whole.

Is There a Hero Inside All of Us?

5.5K views · 1w ago · 27:30

Filmmaker Michael Gier explains why he chose to tell the story of 9/11 through the acts of heroism and resilience that followed the attacks. He describes the rescue of Will Jimeno, the passengers of Flight 93, the boat lift, and Welles Crowther’s efforts to save others. Our conversation reflects on how people respond to danger, even when they cannot know in advance what they will do.

Being a Multi-Hyphenate Can Be a Game Changer

26K views · 1w ago · 1:49:17

Michael Gier’s journey from performer to filmmaker offers an unusually candid look at career reinvention, creative business, and resilience. He explains how The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph brings forward accounts of rescue, sacrifice, and community that deserve to be remembered. His experience creating Wounded Heroes also shows how documentary filmmaking can connect people with stories and resources around post-traumatic stress.

Topics: Guest introduction and Michael’s background · The concept behind the 9/11 documentary · Rescue stories, Flight 93, and civilian heroism · Michael’s path from performing to filmmaking · Wounded Heroes and post-traumatic stress · Rejection, resilience, and career reinvention

448 - 25 Years After 9/11: The Doc Narrated by Gary Sinise | Michael Gier on Losing Everything an...

180 views · 2w ago · 1:50:52

In this episode, filmmaker and former performer Michael Gier ( explains how he made his documentary The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph ( . He shares stories of first responders, civilians, Flight 93, the boat lift, and rare footage from the Pentagon. The conversation also explores creative careers, rejection, film school, entrepreneurship, and what it means to MAKE IT.