This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, hosts Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir chatted with producer and industry consultant Izchak Maghen – who shared a powerful dose of reality, as well as industry experience and valuable insights, for aspiring filmmakers.
Humble Beginnings
During his high school years, Izchak attended a screenwriting program, run by an Emmy-winning writer. “He pulled me out of class and said, ‘You suck at writing. Your writing is horrible.’ This probably changed my life forever.”
Instead of giving up, or trying to endlessly get better at writing, Izchak was honest with himself: whilst interning at Circle of Confusion, and reading scripts, he realised: “It wasn’t good. I can’t write 10% of what this is. So if their shit’s getting thrown in the trash — I am for sure not a writer.”
UCLA Wake Up Call
Years later, he had a different encounter that put everything into perspective for him. He described being in a film class at UCLA, chatting with one of his fellow students about their thoughts post-graduation. And he remembered being blown away by her response.
“I’m gonna be a director. I’m gonna win an Academy Award.”
At that point, he questioned whether she had “shadowed anyone? Interned? What experience do you have?’ And (she) was like, ‘I’ve taken screenwriting classes and the TAs tell me I’m incredible.’”
It was at that point that he realised that “95% of my class thinks just like she does,” he said, noting how film schools often build a false sense of readiness and confidence.
Finding His Lane
Rather than focusing on a craft that didn’t suit you, he leaned into what he was good at: the business side of filmmaking. His advice? Be really honest with yourself and don’t chase someone else’s reality. “If you’re not good at this. Go find something you are good at.”
“Sometimes you’ll meet someone who wants to be a director, but they’re just a producer because they’re great at relationships,” he says. “And then you find someone who’s a producer, but they’re a brilliant creative… they just haven’t had life experience yet.”
Encouraging False Hope
Dom mentioned that one of his biggest frustrations in the industry is that filmmakers rarely share honest feedback because “people are scared of making enemies.” Comments like ‘this isn’t for me’ can make creatives believe that a project has potential when perhaps it is not up to standard.
With Giles comparing the industry to football. “If someone takes 20 shots, but one goes in the top corner, everyone goes, you’ve still got it. Indie filmmakers keep shooting… suddenly a friend goes, ‘I can get that script to Brian Cranston and he’s reading our script. That keeps them going.”
Izchak weighed in by asking whether it would be “more beneficial in those first six months to tell the writer this doesn’t work for the marketplace? (Instead of) wasting four years.”
The “Cast Attached” Frustration
The most irritating claim, for Izchak is when filmmakers claim that a major actor is attached when they’re not. “One of the biggest pains in my ass is I go and sell a movie… Then there’s a scheduling conflict. I’ve pre-sold half a million internationally, and now I have to call the buyers and say, ‘Mads Mikkelsen isn’t in this movie anymore.’”
His thoughts? Don’t fake it… don’t lie… don’t exaggerate. What you should do? “Have a producer who has real relationships with the talent agencies.”
About Quantify
Quantify, a new venture with Nu Boyana Studios, is a “transparent model for filmmakers and producers. The idea is to reduce upfront fees and avoid inflated expectations.”
Quantify also helps filmmakers access Nu Boyana’s full-service studio in Bulgaria. “You can do all your production and post here — everything from sets to crew to stunts.”
Final Words of Wisdom
The biggest mistake filmmakers make is spending a lot of money before understanding the project’s value. “People are slowly waking up — spend a little bit now, minimise risk. Don’t wait until it’s too late to hear the truth.”
Listen and learn from the whole (honest) chat with Izchak Maghen here.