What is “Darren & Josh Make a Movie?”

A podcast that chronicles the real-time journey of two seasoned filmmakers as they develop, produce, and release a feature film from scratch. The show will be a bit “behind-the-scenes diary” and a bit “filmmaking 101”.

When does the podcast launch?

We’re eyeing a late June 2025 launch, Episodes will drop once a week, on Tuesday mornings, and will be 50-60 minutes long.

What movie are you making?

We don’t know yet. We won’t know what the film is until we get started. But you’ll know when we know. But please weigh in… your comments will definitely help us develop the movie!

Is this exclusively for horror fans?

Absolutely not! While we WILL be making a horror film, 95% of what we cover is for anyone who loves movies or dreams about a career in the entertainment industry.

How is this just not another film podcast?

We LOVE film podcasts and we listen to a bunch of ‘em. Hell, some of our best friends have film podcasts. But this will be about making a specific, real movie, from soup to nuts. Think of this as a “special features” on the Bluray, but you get it in advance… and it’ll be 60 hours long instead of 83 minutes.

Where can I listen to your show?

The boring answer is… “on all the major platforms, from Spotify to Apple Podcasts to more.” But your question should possibly be “Where can I WATCH your show?” We’re filmmakers… and we plan to create an experience that is also visual.

Will listeners be able too see the final film?

That’s the plan! Obviously, we’ll share the details on the release later down the line (most likely with an episode where we meet with the distributor). The whole point of this podcast is to document making a feature film. And you’ll be along for the ride.

Are their opportunities for fans to be involved in the film.

YES! Please! We’ll be talking about those opportunities as the show progresses. But right from the start, we’ll be including listeners into the process, from getting real-time feedback on the film idea we plan to make, to doing focus groups during the show for test screenings.

Is this going to cost me?

NO! Our weekly one-hour show will be completely free to all listeners. We WILL be starting up some kind of subscription tier for people who want more access, such as a monthly “Zoom Town Hall” with Darren & Josh, quarterly fun events like “Horror Trivia Night”, getting your names in the credits of the final movie, and virtual (and REAL) set visits as we shoot. There will also be a private Discord Server community for family members. This tier will help us pay for our AMAZING producer (Addison Marshall) and also help pay for fun locations we plan to shoot from. This is NOT a “talking heads” podcast and we’ll need a little production budget to elevate the experience for all of us. But all that being said… the show will be free to everyone along the way.

Will you share technical details about filmmaking?

Yes, definitely, we’re hoping to not only imspire emerging filmmakers but also share insights from (between Josh and Darren) over 60 years of filmmaking experience. Josh can’t wait to get Darren to spill the beans on how he does all those insanely cool scene transitions from the Saw movies.

Are industry guests featured on the podcast?

Are there?!? Hell yes!!!! We’ll be bringing dozens and dozens of incredible guests over the course of the show. And we’ll be as excited as you to learn from their experience.

Will this just be a “rah-rah even YOU can make a movie” show?

Sure, we want to encourage listeners to get out there and MAKE a film themselves. But for us, transparency is KEY. We’ll cover the good, the bad and the ugly of film production, offering a realistic view of the process. If you know Darren, he doesn’t pull his punches, and the hope is to help YOU avoid some of the pitfalls that we’ve been guilty of.

Wait! The subscription tier isn’t available yet! How can I support the podcast?

Listening, subscribing and sharing are great starts. And offering a few 5-Star reviews on the various platforms certainly wouldn’t hurt. But only if you’re feeling it! Even if you don’t join the subscription level, we are SOOOOOOO excited that you’re joining us on this journey. YOU are the reason we’re doing this! So to quote the great Jerry Maguire… “Help me help you!”

Can listeners suggest ideas or ask questions?

We’re counting on it! We want to hear from you! We want this to be an interactive endeavor. You can reach us on most social media platforms (@DJMakeAMovie) and through our show’s email: DJMakeAMovie@gmail.com.

Will you offer resources for aspiring filmmakers?

100% Alongside the podcast, as we talk about certain industry software, tricks of the trade, etc., we’ll be providing templates, checklists and other tools to aid in the filmmaking journey. All of those will appear on this webpage as we discuss them. We also plan to offer a bunch of free giveaways along the way, like screenwriting download codes and special discounts with indie filmmaking resources.

Is the podcast suitable for all audiences?

That depends on your definition of “ALL”. The guys won’t be censoring their discussions at all… you can expect a fair number of F-bombs thrown… and we’ll definitely be discussing films that are R-rated (and even unrated). So earmuffs for the little ones. But we hope the show will feel inclusive and something that everyone can enjoy.

How will you handle spoilers?

If you follow the show, there will DEFINITELY be spoilers for the film. But part of the fun with this show is that you’ll be along for the ride from the start, so don’t think of them as spoilers… but rather… things to look forward to seeing in the finished film. There will be SOME things we may hold back (for instance, if the twist was “I see dead people", there’s a chance we may hold that back… but both us have a hard time keeping our mouths shut).

What’s the best way to stay updated?

Join our mailing list on the “Contact” page above! And follow our socials. Our username is “DJMakeAMovie” on most social medial platforms — so please follow us on X, Insta, Tik Tok, YouTube and all the others for episodes and special announcements.