Episodes

  • Documentary filmmaker Amy Nicholson gets personal with her latest film, "Happy Campers"
    Sep 15 2024

    This week on No Script No Problem, I talk to documentary filmmaker Amy Nicholson about her new feature doc “Happy Campers,” which chronicles the final days at a waterfront Virginia trailer park that welcomes all with a smile… until developers come in, buy up the property, and kick the folks who've loved the place for generations out.

    Listen as Amy explains how she lived in the trailer park during production and how she felt when capitalism collided with this loving community. Amy also explains how she got the film made, which was not easy, and gives some advice for young filmmakers. You can watch "Happy Campers" via video on demand on platforms like Apple TV+ and Amazon. Here's the trailer.

    Listen to NSNP anywhere you listen to podcasts and watch the show on YouTube. Thanks!

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    38 mins
  • "Quiet on Set" filmmakers discuss their shocking, Emmy-nominated docuseries about child actors at Nickelodeon
    Aug 26 2024

    This week I chat with award-winning filmmakers Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz to discuss their Emmy-nominated, critically acclaimed, and hugely popular MAX and Discovery ID docuseries - "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV," which sheds light on the troubling experiences of child actors in the entertainment industry, particularly those who worked on popular Nickelodeon shows produced by powerful showrunner Dan Schneider. Emma and Mary explain how they brought the project together and the keys to getting this very sensitive information from folks who were hesitant to talk. We also discuss why these types of projects are so important.

    The groundbreaking series set the internet ablaze with revelations of a toxic environment on set that included a voice coach getting arrested for sexually abusing one of the young stars. Dozens of former child stars have spoken out both during the series and since causing a reckoning in Hollywood and forcing the industry to make changes.

    Afterwards, I discuss the recent slew of insane announcements in entertainment, including a famous chicken restaurant entering the streaming wars and journalists declaring cable TV dead.

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    30 mins
  • Executive Producer Barry Levy discusses his new superhero Apple TV+ series "ME," White dudes zoom for Harris, and Reality TV struggles
    Aug 5 2024

    This week I'm joined by Barry L. Levy, the creator, showrunner and executive producer of the new Apple TV+ original coming-of-age superhero series, “ME”. The show revolves around 12-year-old Ben Vasani, who is struggling at a new school with his new blended family when his life gets even more complicated. Ben discovers that he can transform into anyone he meets. As a shapeshifter, Ben must figure out who he is and who he wants to be.

    We get into how he sold an original series in the time where IP is everything and platforms are hesitant to buy new ideas. We also talk about his visions of an "Apple Cinematic Universe" and how he crafted the characters based on people he knows in real life. Plus, I get into the struggles in reality TV and the industry at large. Listen to the episode anywhere you get your podcasts and check out "ME" on Apple TV+. You can find the trailer below along with my website. Thanks!

    ME Trailer

    My Website

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    52 mins
  • Horror author Chris Panatier and hip-hop filmmaker Sacha Jenkins
    Jun 27 2024

    A little horror and a little hip-hop in this two-interview episode of No Script No Problem. I'm joined by award-winning documentary filmmaker SACHA JENKINS to discuss his amazing film, "ALL UP IN THE BIZ," about the late rapper BIZ MARKIE, and I talk to author CHRIS PANATIER about his riveting new horror novel, "THE REDEMPTION OF MORGAN BRIGHT." Check out the All Up in the Biz Trailer and watch the documentary on Showtime or Paramount +. Or maybe it's Paramount + with Showtime. Something like that. Biz's hit "Just a Friend" is one of the top 100 greatest hip-hop songs of all time, and his humor was groundbreaking to the genre. I talk to Sacha about the legacy Biz leaves behind and his influence on hip-hop.

    Chris talks about his evolution as an author and his attraction to the horror genre. His journey from civil litigator to full-time writer is inspiring and definitely worth hearing. The book is scary and gripping. If you like thrillers or horror, this is for you. You can buy The Redemption of Morgan Bright on Amazon here.

    Send any questions you have here: NoScriptNoProblemPodcast@gmail.com

    Thanks!

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Netflix's Dan Rather Documentary; Unscripted Struggles; the Chiefs' Kicker Controversy; and the WNBA Season Tips Off
    May 22 2024

    In this episode, I chat with Jeff Hasler, executive producer of the new NETFLIX documentary, "RATHER," which chronicles the career and life of the legendary newsman, DAN RATHER. We discuss the 4-year process to get the film made and how Dan changed journalism during his long tenure at CBS. Jeff and I also break down some of the struggles producers and production companies face right now in the unscripted TV industry, and he reveals how Original Productions' new FAST Channel is a way his company is pivoting during these challenging times.

    I also talk to sports reporter EMILY BICKS of Heavy Sports about the controversial commencement speech by Harrison Butker, the kicker of the Kansas City Chiefs. Bicks covers the Chiefs and provides some critical insight on the issue. We also chat about Caitlin Clark's first week in the WNBA, which was a bit bumpy, and what kind of a marriage Netflix and the NFL will have on Christmas Day.

    Thanks for listening. Send any questions you have here: NoScriptNoProblemPodcast@gmail.com and you can find me on social media here

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Sports writer Emily Bicks talks NFL draft; Plus, the battle for NBA broadcast rights and Paramount's predicament
    May 3 2024

    In this episode, I chat with sports reporter Emily Bicks of Heavy Sports about the NFL draft and the surprises and decisions that have fans, players and insiders talking. We break down the Atlanta Falcons' selection of Michael Penix Jr., the New York Giants' choice of Malik Nabers, and the trade between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, which has given Patrick Mahomes a potentially dangerous weapon in Xavier Worthy.

    Emily Bicks covers the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs for Heavy Sports and has interviewed some of the biggest stars in sports, including Shaquille O'Neal, Jerry Rice, and Stefon Diggs. With a passion for delivering breaking news and in-depth analysis, Emily provides readers with the latest updates on player performances, team dynamics, and off-field controversies. Her expertise and experience make her a valuable voice in the world of sports journalism. Check out her reporting on Heavy Sports in the link below.

    Emily Bicks - Heavy Sports

    I also examine the chaos at Paramount Global as they deal with the firing of Bob Bakish and the uncertainty of a merger or buyout. And finally, I share my thoughts on the battle for NBA broadcast rights, as Amazon emerges with streaming rights.

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    25 mins
  • Filmmakers Rachael Dyer and Scott Ruderman Talk "Pay or Die," and Hollywood Faces a Harsh Reality
    Apr 25 2024

    I chat with filmmakers Rachael Dyer and Scott Ruderman about their PARAMOUNT + documentary "Pay or Die," which explores the skyrocketing prices of insulin in the United States and the impact on individuals and families. The co-directors discuss the genesis of the project and Scott's deeply personal connection to the issue. They highlight the stranglehold of the pharmaceutical companies on insulin prices and prescription medications as a whole. We also discuss the challenges of making and selling impact and issue-based documentaries today. Lastly, Scott and Rachael offer some advice for aspiring doc filmmakers. You can watch the trailer in the link below and see the film on Paramount +.

    Pay or Die Trailer

    Pay or Die Film on Paramount +

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    46 mins
  • Director Eva Orner Tackles Controversial Fashion Brand "Brandy Melville" in new HBO Documentary
    Apr 12 2024

    Academy Award winning filmmaker Eva Orner joins the show to discuss her riveting new HBO documentary, "Brandy Hellville and the Cult of Fast Fashion," which is streaming now on MAX. She discusses the challenges of exposing a global, popular and successful... but extremely toxic fashion brand like Brandy Melville and the role of social media in its success. Eva also addresses the lack of accountability from the CEO of Brandy Melville and the responsibility of parents in supporting their young daughters, whom make up a majority of the Brandy Melville employees.

    Eva also delves into the fast fashion industry as a whole and the exploitation and environmental damage it causes. She further highlights the importance of consumer awareness and the need to buy less. Additionally, we discuss how she became interested in documentaries and the power they have to bring about change. Lastly, Eva teases her upcoming documentary on the Ohio State wrestling scandal, which is executive produced by George Clooney.

    Find the trailer to "Brandy Hellville and the Cult of Fast Fashion" below. Watch the film on HBO or MAX and listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

    Brandy Hellville Trailer

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    34 mins