The Film Situation

Jeff Deverett joins The Film Situation for a deep dive into the business side of filmmaking, from his decades in distribution to ultimately stepping behind the camera to direct his own films. We get into how movies are actually financed, why most indie films struggle to make money, and the realities of selling a film in today’s market. Jeff breaks down the myth of pre-sales, explains how high net worth individuals fund independent films, and shares practical insight on what investors actually care about when you’re pitching a project. We also talk about his transition from a long career in distribution into directing, what he learned from working with companies tied to Roger Corman, and how understanding the business side gave him a major advantage as a filmmaker. This is a candid, no-BS conversation about the intersection of art and commerce, and what it really takes to get a film made and seen. Hosted by Zef Cota Produced by Cole Howard  

Writer and director Richard Schenkman joins THE FILM SITUATION for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the earliest days of MTV to the making of his cult classic THE MAN FROM EARTH. Richard shares how he became one of the first people hired at MTV before it even launched, what it was like building something from scratch, and how a James Bond fan club unexpectedly helped him land the job. From there, we get into his path as a filmmaker and the long journey behind bringing THE MAN FROM EARTH to life from a screenplay written by Jerome Bixby on his deathbed. We go deep on micro-budget filmmaking, including how Richard raised just over $100K, assembled a strong cast led by Tony Todd, and shot the film in eight days under extreme limitations with no water, no power, and a dust storm hitting on the final night. He also breaks down working with actors, the importance of rehearsal, and why 12 ANGRY MEN was a key influence on the film’s structure. This is a great conversation about persistence, creative problem solving, and finding a way to make the film you believe in, even when nothing goes according to plan.   Hosted by Zef Cota  Produced by Cole Howard (c) 2026 - The Film Situation   

Zef & Cole discuss the 2026 Academy Awards.

Director Nick Gomez joins us for a deep dive into his path from punk and underground art into filmmaking, and how that raw energy shaped his early features. We talk about making LAWS OF GRAVITY on a shoestring, the rise of The Shooting Gallery in pre-gentrified Williamsburg, and what it took to build momentum as an indie director before stepping into high-pressure episodic television such as The Sopranos, Dexter, Ray Donovan, Daredevil. Nick also breaks down his directing process, including rehearsal, improvisation, overlapping dialogue, and why he prefers to keep things simple on set and get it in a few takes. We get into the shift from indie freedom to the realities of bigger productions, plus stories from his work across film and TV. Hosted by Zef Cota

In this episode of THE FILM SITUATION, Zef Cota is joined by Cole Howard for a tribute to the legendary Robert Duvall. They dig into what made Duvall such a singular screen presence, from quiet restraint to explosive intensity, and why he remains one of the great American character actors. The conversation highlights key performances including TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, THE GODFATHER, FALLING DOWN, APOCALYPSE NOW, and TENDER MERCIES, plus a filmmaker-to-filmmaker discussion about directing styles, take counts, and what it takes to get truthful performances on camera. A heartfelt film-nerd salute to a true heavyweight.   Hosted by Zef Cota & Cole Howard