The Filmmakers Podcast

In this episode, host Giles Alderson (The Dare) sits down with acclaimed director Corin Hardy for an in-depth conversation about craft, career trajectory, and working within the horror genre.

Corin Hardy is an award-winning filmmaker, illustrator, sculptor, and writer known for a striking visual style that blends the macabre with the epic and the beautiful. After studying theatre design at Wimbledon School of Art, Hardy created the award-winning stop-motion short Butterfly (2004), which launched his directing career. He went on to direct acclaimed music videos for major artists, before making his feature debut with The Hallow, which premiered at Sundance and won multiple international awards.

He later directed the global horror hit The Nun, part of The Conjuring Universe, and most recently completed his latest feature Whistle.

In this episode, we discuss:

Corin’s early creative upbringing and DIY beginnings in practical FX

Transitioning from shorts and music videos into feature filmmaking

The making and impact of his debut feature The Hallow

How he landed the directing role on The Nun

Working within major studio franchises vs independent filmmaking

His newest feature Whistle and what audiences can expect

Crafting visual storytelling through storyboarding

...and so much more!

A must-listen episode for directors, horror fans, and anyone interested in the intersection of visual design, genre storytelling, and career progression in the film industry.

WHISTLE is out NOW! | TRAILER

FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.

A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the veganlifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take amoment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review& every comment helps us share the film’s important message withmore people. Your support makes a difference!

Help us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify,or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast. Thank you!

PODCAST MERCH

Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

 

COURSES

Want to learn how to finish your film?

Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

 

PATREON

Big thank you to:

Serena Gardner

Mark Hammett

Lee Hutchings

Marli J Monroe

Karen Newman

Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

 

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

 

CREDITS

The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson

Edited by @tobiasvees

Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative 

Theme Music by John J. Harvey
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Filmmakers Podcast!Filmmakers, today is a massive double-header. We are taking a deep dive into the survival horror sensation that everyone is talking about: Send Help.In the first half, we are joined by the architectural minds behind the film. First, he is a man who needs no introduction — the architect of modern horror and the superhero blockbuster. From the cabin in the woods of Evil Dead to the original Spider-Man trilogy and the madness of Doctor Strange, please welcome the legendary Sam Raimi!He is joined by his powerhouse producing partner and the President of Raimi Productions, Zainab Azizi. Zainab has been the driving force behind a string of recent hits, including the high-concept thriller 65, the Netflix hit Don't Move, and the upcoming Locked. Together, they break down how they navigated a grueling 11-week shoot in Australia and Thailand to bring this visceral story to life.Then, in part two, we sit down with the film’s co-lead. He’s an actor who has evolved from a YA icon in The Maze Runner into one of the most versatile performers working today — shining in everything from Love and Monsters to playing Dan Aykroyd in Saturday Night and his award-winning turn in Twinless. He is here to talk about playing the boss-from-hell turned helpless survivor: Dylan O’Brien!Grab your notebooks... let’s welcome Sam Raimi, Zainab Azizi, and Dylan O’Brien!

SEND HELP is out in cinemas NOW! | TRAILER

FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.

A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the veganlifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take amoment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review& every comment helps us share the film’s important message withmore people. Your support makes a difference!

Help us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify,or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast. Thank you!

PODCAST MERCH

Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

 

COURSES

Want to learn how to finish your film?

Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

 

PATREON

Big thank you to:

Serena Gardner

Mark Hammett

Lee Hutchings

Marli J Monroe

Karen Newman

Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

 

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

 

CREDITS

The Filmmakers Podcast is written and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson

Edited by @tobiasvees

Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative 

Theme Music by John J. Harvey
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, we go behind the scenes of the 6-time BAFTA-nominated film I Swear (2026) with the filmmaking team!

In Part 1, Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir sit down with producers Piers Tempest (The Wife, William Tell) and Georgia Bayliff (Paradise Highway) from Tempo Productions. They discuss the reality of financing independent British drama in 2026, how they packaged a film about Tourette’s syndrome as a crowd-pleasing theatrical event, and the role of a producer during a busy awards season.

In Part 2, Giles and Dom are joined by writer/director Kirk Jones (Waking Ned, Nanny McPhee, Everybody’s Fine). Kirk reveals why he returned to his indie roots for this passion project, the challenge of directing Robert Aramayo's transformative performance (nominated for Best Actor), and how he raised finance and balanced humor with the gritty reality of the true story.

I Swear is OUT NOW on PRIME VIDEO

Links

FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.

A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the veganlifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take amoment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review& every comment helps us share the film’s important message withmore people. Your support makes a difference!

Help us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast. Thank you!

PODCAST MERCH

Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

 

COURSES

Want to learn how to finish your film?

Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

 

PATREON

Big thank you to:

Serena Gardner

Mark Hammett

Lee Hutchings

Marli J Monroe

Karen Newman

Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

 

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

 

CREDITS

The Filmmakers Podcast is written, produced and edited by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson

Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative 

Theme Music by John J. Harvey
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The reigning Academy Award winner for Best Picture joins the show! Legendary producer Charles "Chuck" Roven (Oppenheimer, The Dark Knight Trilogy) sits down with Giles Alderson to discuss his pulsing new sci-fi thriller, Mercy (starring Chris Pratt & Rebecca Ferguson).

In this masterclass on producing, Chuck breaks down his unique career path from stuntman to the founder of Atlas Entertainment. He reveals how he packages massive films independently (like American Hustle and 12 Monkeys), the challenges of producing for visionary directors like Christopher Nolan and Timur Bekmambetov, and why he believes Mercy's concept of an "AI Judge" is a terrifying glimpse into our future.

We discuss:


The Mercy Reunion: Bringing Chris Pratt and director Timur Bekmambetov back together 18 years after Wanted.


The "Atlas" Model: How to develop and package blockbuster IP outside of the studio system.


The Oppenheimer Journey: Lessons learned from producing the Best Picture winner and working with Cillian Murphy.


Managing Visionaries: How to support directors like David O. Russell and Zack Snyder while protecting the budget.


The Stuntman Roots: How his early days on Hawaii Five-O shaped his approach to action safety.

Mercy is in CINEMAS NOW

Links

FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.

A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the veganlifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take amoment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review& every comment helps us share the film’s important message withmore people. Your support makes a difference!

Help us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast. Thank you!

PODCAST MERCH

Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

 

COURSES

Want to learn how to finish your film?

Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

 

PATREON

Big thank you to:

Serena Gardner

Mark Hammett

Lee Hutchings

Marli J Monroe

Karen Newman

Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

 

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

 

CREDITS

The Filmmakers Podcast is written, produced and edited by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson

Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative 

Theme Music by John J. Harvey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, host (and Executive Producer!) Giles Alderson sits down with actor/producer Tony Cook (Dune: Part Two) and director Zak Fenning to break down the making of their new British crime-comedy, A Gangster's Life.

Joined by fellow filmmakers Dom Lenoir the team reveals exactly how they pulled off a low-budget feature film that spans two countries (London and Greece) without breaking the bank. They discuss the "hustle" behind casting rising stars like Jonny Weldon (One Day, House of the Dragon) and Rina Lipa (in her feature debut), and the challenges of self-distributing a genre film in 2026.

We discuss:


The "Two-Country" Shoot: Logistics of moving a low-budget crew from London to Greece.


Casting Coups: How to attach big names (Rina Lipa, Jonny Weldon) to an indie project.


Actor to Producer: Tony Cook on taking lessons from the set of Dune: Part Two into indie producing.


Visual Style: How Zak used his background as a DoP to give the film a "high budget" look.


The Reality of Release: Navigating the UK digital market and finding an audience.

A Gangster's Life is out now on Digital Platforms.

Links

FOOD FOR THOUGHT documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE HERE.

A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the veganlifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take amoment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review& every comment helps us share the film’s important message withmore people. Your support makes a difference!

Help us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast. Thank you!

PODCAST MERCH

Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more MERCH. https://my-store-11604768.creator-spring.com/

 

COURSES

Want to learn how to finish your film?

Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE https://cuttingroom.info/post-production-demystified/

 

PATREON

Big thank you to:

Serena Gardner

Mark Hammett

Lee Hutchings

Marli J Monroe

Karen Newman

Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects!

 

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

 

CREDITS

The Filmmakers Podcast is written, produced and edited by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson

Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative 

Theme Music by John J. Harvey
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices