As filmmakers, it is essential always to be learning and looking for ways to improve our craft. Or if you are looking to get into the industry, you need to start somewhere. On the way to set or a day job, a great way of doing this is listing to a podcast on the drive or walk. With this list of podcasts, we will list a few shows to add your rotation that will give advice and useful tips for the beginning or even experienced filmmaker.

These are not in any order, as some podcasts are more focused on interviewing guests while others might be more instructional based.

Diary of an Unemployed Actor

Starting this list off is the one produced by this website. But don’t let our biased opinion turn you away. Each week on “Diary of an Unemployed Actor” host Milo Denison speaks with up-and-coming actors, actresses, and filmmakers about making a career in the entertainment industry. Guests discuss success, failure, and share a few tips to inspire those of you who have a passion for the creative arts.

No Film School

From the people at nofilmschool.com this podcast has an excellent mixture of interviews with people in the industry, filmmaking news, and a segment where they make a film and talk through the steps of the process.

Film Trooper, Indie Film Hustle, and The Dave Bullis Podcast

I am going to group these three podcast as one since they are all very similar. In fact, a couple of the hosts have appeared on each other’s podcast. I would say pick one or two and go with it, or rotate between the three.

The Writers Panel

This podcast is, as the title says, about writing. They talk to writers and show runners in the television industry. Don’t let that stop you from listening. Just because this isn’t about the big screen doesn’t mean there is no lot to be learned here, especially for those working on a movie script.

Scriptnotes

This is another podcast for the writer but with more emphasis on the film industry. Not only do they talk about writing itself, they discuss other aspects of being a screenwriter. What is nice about this is the hosts are experienced writers in big Hollywood productions so they know what they are talking about.

Team Deakins

The Team Deakins podcast is an ongoing conversation between acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins and James Deakins, his collaborator, about cinematography, the film business and whatever other questions are submitted.


 

The Empire Film Podcast

The Empire Podcast is from the people who bring us Empire Magazine. Instead of the small indie folks this podcast has some big-time celebrities and filmmakers on it. Just like the indie-film podcasts teach us about the indie scene this podcast discusses the people and places most of us filmmakers want to end up in our lives.

The /Filmcast

A couple film geeks talking about movies. If I were to do a podcast, it would be this one, and since they have already done it, I don’t need to I can just listen.

Film Riot

This is for the visual learner. Film Riot puts out an excellent video series on YouTube for filmmakers. They also published the videos as podcast for anyone wanting to view them that way.

The Documentary Life

As the name says, this podcast is strictly focused on the documentary industry. I’m not a huge fan of the hosts, he seems to like the sound of his own voice a bit much. But, he does get hood guests and asks good question for anyone looking to make a documentary.