With the original plan to pursue a career as a musical theater composer still in his back pocket, Paris has created a life for himself as a “coordinator of brilliance”. Paris Barclay is an award winning Director and Producer, known for “Dahmer”, “Sons of Anarchy”, “The West Wing”, “NYPD Blue” and the list goes on. He's also a two-term former president of the DGA and is currently Emmy-nominated for his work on "Dahmer". In this episode, Paris shares with Pete what he looks for when hiring Directo...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In between takes of “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”, Charlie would spend his time writing and rewriting what would be his directorial debut, "Fool's Paradise". In this episode, Charlie and Pete dive into the realities of filmmaking from script to screen, the importance of discovering a character's wants and needs, lessons learned from the making of “Fool’s Paradise”, taking risks to tell the stories that don't get told, and more… (00:00:00 - 00:05:25) -- Podcast Intro (00:05:25 - 00:09:30) -...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 29 min
Anton Cropper is a director and producer known for ’Monk’, ‘Black-ish’, ’Suits’, and his recent feature film ‘Fantasy Football’. In this episode, Anton joins Pete to discuss the role of the Stage Manager, directing actors and applying writer's notes, the importance of relationships, creating new worlds when directing pilots, pitch deck preparation, and more… (00:00:00 - 00:05:45) -- Podcast Intro (00:05:45 - 00:14:00) -- First Story To Have An Impact (00:14:00 - 00:17:45) -- Getting His Start In...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 37 min
During a time when there was no clear blueprint for becoming a filmmaker in Hollywood, Charles Murray devoted his youth to educating himself via self-help handbooks from his local libraries. Charles is a writer, director, and producer best known for ’Sons of Anarchy’, ‘Luke Cage’, ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’, and ‘Tales of Jedi’. He serves as showrunner on season two of Amazon Studios' 'Outer Range'. In this episode, Charles and Pete discuss the importance of doing your own research and understa...
May 24, 2023•1 hr 58 min
To avoid having to write a final paper for a Philosophy and Religion Studies course, Brian put his creativity to the test and presented a short film. Now an Emmy-nominated VFX supervisor, Brian Kubovcik is the Head of Studio for FuseFX and known for “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law”, “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”, and “Criminal Minds”. In this episode, Brian and Pete enter the world of visual effects as they explore the process from making a bid to working in post, the importance of understanding camera an...
May 17, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Shiri Appleby began her acting journey at age 5, working on the set of numerous television shows and commercials. An actress and director born in Calabasas, California, Shiri is best known for her breakout roles in “Roswell” and “Life Unexpected”, and her directorial work on “Grown-ish” and “UnPrisoned”. In this episode, Shiri and Pete discuss the performance of the Director, good vs. bad notes to give an actor, the importance of prepping and how it is your protection, adjusting to the new “Ever...
May 10, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Writing and selling a screenplay about a lawyer while working at a law firm is how Ellen became a writer best known for ‘Desperados’, ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’, and her hit series ’Minx’. In this episode, Ellen and Pete discuss her transition into storytelling, how she discovered and developed the story of “Minx”, the process of pitching a story to a studio and network, her experience directing for the first time, running the show, and more… (00:00:00 - 00:07:25) -- Podcast Intro (00:07:25 - 00...
May 03, 2023•1 hr 9 min
On this special episode, Pete combines previous podcast conversations with a variety of actors to spotlight their perspectives. Join us as we revisit why Issa Rae enjoys the writers room, the first story that impacted Dorian Missick, the best note Keith Powell gave to an actor, how Aya Cash prepares for character roles vs. personal interviews, Kaley Cuoco’s introduction to acting, and more… Complete Guest List: Issa Rae, Keith Powell, Aya Cash, Simone Missick, Spencer Garrett, Dorian Missick, Ro...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 17 min
Shannon Baker Davis is an award-winning television and film editor best known for ‘Grown-ish’, ‘Queen Sugar’, ’Top Chef’, ‘The Photograph’, and “Prom Pact”. In this episode, Pete gains access to the mind of an editor as Shannon describes what she looks for when navigating through various cuts, her transition from reality tv to scripted editing, the importance of pacing in a scene, and more… (00:00:00 - 00:05:00) -- Podcast Intro (00:03:45 - 00:10:30) -- How Did You Get Your Start? (00:10:30 - 00...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 21 min
Valerie Weiss is an award-winning director and scientist known for “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”, “Outer Banks” and “Chicago Med”. In this episode, Valerie and Pete discuss the future of filmmaking as they explore the benefits of using volume technology and Scriptation, the importance of allowing your life experiences to influence your perspective, being comfortable with uncertainty, marrying her love of science with her love for directing, and more… (00:00:00 - 00:03:45) -- Podcast Intro (00:...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 31 min
Showing up to set as an intern in your Sunday’s Best is not your average story, but the impression certainly impacted his journey. Jeff Byrd is a Director known for "Star Trek: Discovery", "Black Lightning”, and the 7 Emmy award nominated show, “Yellowjackets”. Tune in as Jeff joins the discussion, sharing how he transitioned from music video directing to film and television, guerrilla filmmaking vs. doing the “right” thing, the time he shared a New York alley location with F. Gary Gray, his pro...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr 48 min
After almost a year-long hiatus, Pete welcomes you back with Episode 40 of Let's Shoot With Pete Chatmon . Join Pete as he goes from 0-100, revisiting just what he's been up to, diving into some mail bag questions submitted by listeners like you, and sharing a sneek peek of what to expect this "season", including a list of upcoming podcast guests... (00:00 - 03:40) -- Podcast Intro (03:40 - 13:05) -- Eleven Things Pete’s Been Up To (13:05 - 14:50) -- What’s Next For Pete? (14:50 - 15:50) -- "Tra...
Mar 29, 2023•38 min
This week we have a special crossover podcast with the good folks over at JUST SHOOT IT. Pete sat down with Matt Enlow and Oren Kaplan for a second time to chat episodic directing television and how he's been bringing his unique vision to projects since they last talked in August of 2020. When three directors get together things go super in depth, up, down, and sideways. Enjoy! SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:03:45) -- Pete's Intro (00:03:45- 00:15:30) — Directing “Mythic Quest” & “It’s Always Sun...
Jul 08, 2022•1 hr 26 min
Kaley Cuoco is an actress, best known for her work in "8 Simple Rules", "Charmed", and "The Big Bang Theory". After discovering the unreleased novel while scrolling through Amazon, "The Flight Attendant" became Cuoco’s first project as a producer. In this episode, Kaley joins Pete to discuss the lessons learned from working with John Ritter, landing her role as “Penny Hofstadter” in ‘The Big Bang Theory’, transitioning out of sitcoms, mastering the art of multitasking, and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:...
May 06, 2022•1 hr 23 min
On this special craft episode, Pete highlights the importance of “blocking” when shooting scenes for television. Pete talks in depth about understanding which character has the most important entrance, identifying which angle provides the most meaningful coverage for the characters, how blocking can help communicate the subtext of a scene, doing your research on a show’s “typical” style, and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:03:30) -- Pete's Intro (00:03:30- 00:05:35) — What Separates A “Good” Dir...
Mar 16, 2022•38 min
Sera Gamble is a writer and producer, best known for her work on "Supernatural", "The Magicians", and Netflix’s hit series "You". In this episode, Sera sits down with Pete to talk about her 10,000 hour long journey from poetry to screenplays, television screenwriting's chain of command, writing a story through the eyes of Joe Goldberg, social media’s influence on storytelling and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:05:30) — Pete's Intro (00:05:30- 00:8:05) — From Cincinnati To California (00:8:05- 0...
Mar 02, 2022•1 hr 3 min
On this special Craft Episode, Pete answers a handful of questions given to him by listeners like you. Pete discusses the importance of blocking a scene in preparation for rehearsals, redefining your expectations when executing a project, the benefits of putting together a web-series, directing actors, and more. The episode concludes with a live reading from the “Introduction” of his new book, “Transitions: A Director's Journey And Motivational Handbook”, available now... SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- ...
Feb 23, 2022•49 min
Kelly Edwards has made her mark at more than a dozen studios and production companies over her 30 year journey. From inside the network ranks to her recent producing deal with HBO, Kelly is currently living out her dream as a writer on Fox's “Our Kind Of People”. On this episode, Kelly joins Pete to talk about the importance of having a support system and fighting fear, overseeing emerging artist diversity programs, developing HBO access, the creation of her book “The Executive Chair: A Writer's...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 45 min
Crystle C. Roberson is best known for her work on OWN’s ‘Greenleaf’, ‘All American’ on the CW, and ABC’s ‘Queens’. Inspired by a scene from Spielberg’s ‘The Color Purple’, Crystle went from photography to producing director. On this episode, Crystle joins Pete to talk about merging photography with motion picture, shooting short films over the weekends, the do’s and don'ts of directing television, a day in the life as a producing director, and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:05:16) -- Pete's Int...
Feb 09, 2022•1 hr 33 min
Geeta Gandbhir got her start working as an Assistant Editor for Spike Lee films like “Malcolm X”, “Clockers”, and “Bamboozled”. It wasn’t until post 9/11 that she transitioned from narrative films to documentaries. On this episode, Geeta joins Pete to talk about the role of an editor and what makes them good, her process when it comes to selecting scenes in post, her transition into directing, and the making of her HBO miniseries “Black and Missing”… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:05:11) -- Petes Int...
Feb 02, 2022•1 hr 17 min
DGA Award-winning Dan Attias is one of the most accomplished and respected Directors working in television today. You've likely marveled at his creative choices on episodes of "Homeland", "Billions", "The Wire", "The Americans", "The Sopranos", and more. He's also written the book, "Directing Great Television: Inside TV's Golden Age". On this episode, Dan joins Pete to talk about facing the blank page, taking responsibility for being the storyteller, acknowledging the many ways you can approach ...
Jan 26, 2022•1 hr 35 min
Our last episode was in May of 2021 but we're back to update you on a helluva year and just what Pete's been up to. We've also got the complete breakdown on Pete's new book, "Transitions: A Director's Journey + Motivational Handbook." Get Your Copy Of TRANSITIONS: https://www.amazon.com/Transitions-Directors-Journey-Motivational-Handbook/dp/161593331X Season 2 will continue with new episodes coming soon!...
Jan 03, 2022•13 min
Writing "The Russian Specialist" for Dolph Lundgren was a great break, but it wasn’t until Bryan began writing novels and comics like "7 Days From Hell", "Batman and The Outsiders", and ‘Chariot’ that his career took off. Just this week came the announcement of his "Bitter Root" adaptation, to be directed by Regina King. On this episode, Bryan joins Pete to talk about the challenge that came with being a Black man breaking into screenplay writing, the importance of rebranding and understanding t...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 28 min
Spencer Garrett may have “grown up in the green room” but he is still perfecting his craft with each new performance from "Star Trek" and "Insecure" to "Once Upon a Time In Hollywood". On this episode, Spencer joins Pete to discuss his most memorable turning points, the challenge of manufacturing moments when auditioning, why you should always be over-prepared, the “breakdown” process and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:10:45) -- Pete’s Intro (00:10:45- 00:13:20) -- Defining Your Job As An Actor...
May 05, 2021•1 hr 41 min
On this special Craft Episode, Pete reviews a presentation he put together in 2011 that describes the five stages of production and their guiding principals. With commentary based on what he's learned over the past ten years, Pete discusses the demands on Directors, being honest and using motivation driven direction with talent, recommended readings, and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:04:20) -- Pete’s Intro (00:04:20- 00:06:40) -- Figuring Out Your “Why” (00:06:40- 00:10:22) -- Types Of Directo...
May 01, 2021•56 min
Originally from Chicago, Carl Seaton learned lessons as an indie filmmaker that have become his biggest superpower as a television Director ("Snowfall", "Batwoman", "The Chi", and more.) On this episode, Carl and Pete get together to discuss their most memorable Murphy’s Law moments, the keys to shadowing a Director on set, the importance of reinvestment, being an eternal student and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:07:15) -- Pete’s Intro And Updates (00:07:15- 00:11:15) -- Introducing Carl Seato...
Apr 21, 2021•1 hr 21 min
In an industry built upon long hours and cramped quarters, one of the most important things you can do to prepare for your career is to become the ultimate “dinner guest.” On this episode, Mike joins Pete to talk about how he got his first credit as a cinematographer (in the days before "Mythic Quest" and "You're The Worst",) the logistics that go into shooting with a crane, the difference between working on an already established show vs. a pilot, and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:03:25) -- P...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Directing may seem like a simple task at first glance, but understanding the behind the scenes work that goes into mastering a creative position is a major step when it comes to success in the craft. In this special Business Episode, Pete Chatmon discusses what Directors make, the expenses Directors incur in order to present themselves professionally, a day in the life of a Director, and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:05:40) -- Pete’s Intro (00:05:40- 00:11:30) -- Understanding Directing And Sh...
Apr 07, 2021•49 min
After putting together fun family performances at a young age, it didn’t take long for Nzingha Stewart to realize that she could turn her favorite pastime into a full-time career. On this episode, Nzingha sits down with Pete to discuss how she got her start as a music video director for artists including Jay-Z, the importance of not only branding yourself but also doing the work, going from guest director to producing director in television, breaking into feature films, and more… SHOW NOTES: (00...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 16 min
After spending three seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver, Matthew was able to identify the skills learned, and apply them throughout his journey into the entertainment industry. In this episode, Matthew A. Cherry joins Pete to discuss the time he used his lunch breaks to write over 120 music video treatments, being mentored by three of the biggest Directors in the game, the creation of his Oscar award winning animation “Hair Love”, and more… SHOW NOTES: (00:00:00- 00:06:15) -- Pete’s Intro (00...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 1 min
