In this high-energy episode of the Until You Make It Podcast, Chris and Mike sit down with Vinnie Arizzo and Jesse Shea, the creative powerhouses behind New Jersey’s own Syndicate Film School. Fresh off a major production, the crew dives into the messy reality of producing high-stakes projects on impossible timelines—most notably their recent "against-all-odds" music video shoot for the All-American Rejects.

The conversation moves from the logistical chaos of building seven sets in a single week to a deep philosophical debate on the creative process. Vinnie offers a controversial take on why burnout is a necessary form of self-discovery, while Jesse breaks down the delicate balance of maintaining a "creative brain" while managing the heavy logistics of a production house. Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker or an established pro, this episode is a masterclass in the "dojo" mentality of the modern film industry.

What You’ll Discover:

• The "Impossible" Rejects Shoot: How Vinnie and Jesse pulled off a massive All-American Rejects music video after multiple production houses turned it down as "impossible".
• The Philosophy of Burnout: Vinnie Rizzo explains why hitting your absolute limit is the best tool for professional self-discovery and growth.
• Scaling via the 80% Rule: Why delegating to someone who can do the job "80% as well as you" is the secret to moving from a solo freelancer to a production studio.
• The Industry "Slop" Problem: A deep-dive rant into why modern streaming shows are losing their "essence" through lazy lighting and over-reliance on shallow depth-of-field.
• Saving the Movie Theater: Michael pitches a new "Cinema Cut" strategy to incentivize audiences to leave their couches and return to the big screen.
• Syndicate’s "Dojo" Training: How Syndicate Film School uses a belt-ranking system to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world set experience.
• The AI Humanity Debate: Why using AI in final creative products can "taint" a project and how to protect the integrity of the creative team.

Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:12 – Our Texpo "Dinky Booth"

00:30:15 – Training the next generation at Syndicate Film School

01:04:18 – Producing the All-American Rejects "Get This" video

01:21:40 – Why AI is ruining the "soul" of filmmaking

01:31:34 – Vinnie Rizzo on the necessity of Burnout

01:40:26 – How to delegate and the 80% Rule

01:53:15 – Rant: The "Hollywood Slop" epidemic

02:01:45 – Michael’s plan to fix movie theater

In this special holiday episode of Until You Make It, Chris and Mike gather with longtime friend and visual effects artist Ryan Laux for a look back at a transformative year and a look forward into the creative landscape of 2026. From Ryan’s move to full-time freelance in Los Angeles to his strategic "rise" on social media, the crew explores the delicate balance between professional polish and the "scrappy" authenticity that actually drives engagement in the creator economy.

The conversation shifts from the technical to the theatrical as Chris recounts his first true Broadway experience seeing Wicked in New York, sparking a deep dive into the differences between stage spectacle and cinematic storytelling. The guys also tackle the "dumbed down" state of modern streaming, questioning if shows are now being written specifically for distracted viewers on their phones, favoring repetitive dialogue and shallow focus over nuanced "show, don't tell" artistry.

Whether it’s debating if Die Hard is a Christmas movie, pitching a Brendan Fraser-led "Christmas Planet" sci-fi epic, or critiquing the AI-generated "munchkins" at the Las Vegas Sphere, this episode is a blend of high-level industry insight and casual holiday shop talk.

• The Power of "Scrappy" Content: Why Ryan shifted from perfectionism to TikTok-style tutorials—and how it led to a 50,000-view spike and new client leads.

• The 2026 Freelance Blueprint: Ryan shares the realities of his first full year of independent work and the transition from studio roles to the creator economy.

• Wicked on Stage vs. Screen: A breakdown of vocal performances, character framing, and why some creatives struggle with the "campy" nature of musical theater.

• The "Distraction" Epidemic in Media: How modern cinematography and writing are evolving to accommodate viewers who are multi-tasking on mobile devices.

• AI and the Las Vegas Sphere: Ryan’s firsthand account of watching the Wizard of Oz enhanced by AI and rebuilt CG sets—and where the technology fell short.

• Defining a "Christmas Movie": The crew sets strict (and not-so-strict) criteria for what qualifies as a holiday classic.

• 2026 Creative Goals: From finishing "the movie" by NAB to finding a better balance between business growth and personal health.

If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by perfectionism or wondered where the line is between "content" and "art," this episode offers a transparent look at making it in the modern visual industry.

What happens when creative grit meets a shifting digital world? In this episode of _Until You Make It, Chris and Mike sit down with illustrator and character designer Keith Glidewell to explore the real-life evolution of an artist—pivoting majors in college, discovering a voice through compulsive sketching, becoming a stay-at-home dad, and finding the fire that pushed him into professional illustration. From Instagram-driven work and band art to producing animated shorts for Cat-e-Corner, Keith shares how life, family, and discipline completely reshaped his career path.

As the conversation deepens, the crew unpacks the state of modern creativity: the rise of AI art, what it steals, what it enables, and what it risks. They dissect client expectations, the temptation of shortcuts, whether “prompt artists” count as artists, and how much of the future belongs to genuine human collaboration. It’s honest, funny, vulnerable, and full of the kind of creative shop talk most people never get to hear.

Whether you're figuring out your own artistic path, wrestling with AI fatigue, or just here to laugh at raccoon-infested punk demos and parenting revelations, this one goes deep.

What You’ll Discover:

• How a single life pivot pushed Keith to fully commit to art
• Why daily discipline matters more than “talent” in illustration and animation
• How Instagram became Keith’s main driver for paid creative work
• The inside story behind the Cat-e-Corner animated world and Keith’s role in shaping it
• Why AI art divides creatives—and where it actually fits as a tool
• The hidden emotional cost of giving up on your dreams for stability
• How family, identity, and creative purpose overlap in unexpected ways

If you care about making things—honestly, imperfectly, and with as much humanity as possible—this episode cuts right to the heart of the creative process

00:00 - Catching up 01:52 - We suck at sports 04:15 - Other life updates 14:41 - Who's our guest? 17:44 - Keith's life updates! 20:33 - Keith's incredible illustration work 34:30 - What is Ditz and Bug Rock? 39:23 - Cat-e-Corner (Animated Shorts) 45:47 - Is AI killing collaboration? 01:12:42 - Does having a family impact your art? 01:19:43 - Sleep schedule nightmares 01:23:21 - Indie film vs Indie animation 01:33:56 - Camera nerd talk 01:37:37 - Mike's new "Fig Rig" camera system 01:48:33 - Surviving as a creative 01:59:06 - Voice Acting 02:01:12 - GAME TIME

What happens when branding chaos meets creative grind? In this episode of Until You Make It, Chris and Mike sit down with designer Chris Rumeau to dig into the messy middle of making things—from sketching hundreds of logos on graph paper to rebranding a local coffee shop, chasing clients through Instagram reels, and figuring out how merch design can carry a career. Along the way, The Bitterheat’s debut video gets dissected, flag football strategy gets way too serious, and the crew debates whether “Razor the Mattress Salesman” was actually cool.

From logo dumps and stinger experiments to AI visuals, the crew unpacks how creative work actually happens: late nights, weird tangents, and plenty of trial and error. It’s a mix of design shop talk, production talk, and accidental comedy—all in one episode.

What You’ll Discover: How sketching logos by the hundreds can unlock a brand identity Why merch design is a secret bridge for musicians and artists How Instagram reels can actually land real clients The comedy of signatures, stingers, and failed branding experiments The pros and cons of letting AI “help” with creative work

Whether you’re grinding through freelance projects, chasing music dreams, or just here for the ridiculous side stories, this episode blends practical lessons with plenty of laughs.

00:00 – New Name? The SEO Struggles of Until You Make It 07:00 – The Bitterheat: First Release and Behind-the-Scenes Stories 14:00 – Guest Chris Joins: From Coffee Shops to Graphic Design 20:00 – The Process: Sketchbooks, Logos, and Finding Clients 27:00 – Creative Balance: Music, Merch, and Video Work 35:00 – Signatures, Branding Experiments, and Razor the Mattress Guy 42:00 – Passion vs. Profession: Why We Create (and for Who) 50:00 – Wrapping Up with Lessons Learned and Next Steps

Find out more at https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co

This week, we dive deep into the world of anamorphic lenses—why they look so cinematic, whether they’re worth the hype, and how they’ve completely changed how we shoot our own projects. From film history to hands-on test shoots (with a side of burritos), we unpack what makes these lenses so alluring and complicated.

After years of window shopping, we finally picked up our first set of anamorphic lenses—and used them to shoot a full music video. In this episode, we explore the difference between anamorphic and spherical, the history of Super 35, the struggle with vertical video, and how lens choices affect everything from contrast to storytelling. Plus, a bonus tale about AI girlfriends and milk-based VFX.

00:00 - Intro 08:13 - The Argument for Sirui 17:45 - Rehash from Ep #30 20:19 - The History of Anamorphic 33:11 - Our Experience so far 45:39 - Our Microcenter Story

Find out more at https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co

In this episode, Chris, Mike, and special guest/producer Steve catch up post-film festival to unpack the last few chaotic weeks of filmmaking, festivals, and film nerdery. The guys recount an award-nominated short they worked on, the highs and lows of networking at Golden Door Film Festival and the NJ Film Expo, and some sharp critique on another 9/11-themed short that left everyone confused.

They also break down key takeaways from the B&H Build Expo — including what makes video content actually connect with people — and try to make sense of a whirlwind talk from an eccentric AI influencer who may or may not have burned down her childhood home.

Plus: Full spoiler review of the new F1 racing film starring Brad Pitt, including what made it work, what fell flat, and how the hell they actually filmed it. (Hint: iPhones, GoPros, and possibly witchcraft.) It’s an episode that swerves from filmmaking strategy to movie criticism to martial arts choreography… with a few laughs and alcohol-related regrets along the way.

0:00 - Intro 05:13 - Networking for film 11:43 - Golden Gate Film Fest 16:00 - The 9/11 Movie We Saw 23:01 - Viral Content Pillars (what we learned) 35:41 - AI Scam or Actual Good Idea? 51:43 - Complete F1 Movie Review 53:46 - F1 General Impressions 58:15 - F1 Movie Fun Facts 01:05:43 - F1 Missed Opportunities? 01:15:37 - Cars Are Dangerous 01:19:26 - Almost Friday TV & Joel Haver

Find out more at https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co

What’s it like working at Netflix Animation for years… and never having anything released? In this episode, we catch up with Joshua Lewkowicz, a longtime friend of the show and an assistant/associate editor at Netflix, to unpack the unseen side of the animation industry — the long hours, the creative burnout, and the projects that disappear into studio limbo. Josh talks candidly about the experience of working on unreleased shows, the highs and lows of bouncing between roles, and what it means to feel like your work isn’t seeing the light of day.

We also dig into why Andor might be the best Star Wars series ever made — and how it succeeds where so many others fall flat — before ending with a wild behind-the-scenes story involving stunt choreography, last-minute prep, and Kel Mitchell’s… anatomy.

It’s a funny and sobering look at the creative grind — from inside one of the biggest studios in the world.

00:00 - Intro 02:39 - Josh Works At Netflix Animation 05:07 - Making Art No One Will See 16:44 - The Artist Struggle 20:10 - Treat It Like A JOB 26:01 - Why go to Disney Land so often? 31:54 - Is Star Wars Land Cool or nah? 40:21 - Andor is GREAT 52:19 - Guillermo del Toro loves Josh 58:31 - The Kel Mitchell Story 01:15:41 - Test Screening our New Film 01:21:13 - GAME TIME: Writers Room

Find out more at https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co

What’s it really like to tour with a band while shooting their music videos, managing merch, and directing creative strategy—sometimes all at once? On this episode of Until You Make It, we sit down with photographer, videographer, and all-around creative multitasker Connor Meany. From building DIY sets for $10K music video albums to shooting concerts while also acting as tour manager, Connor shares his journey of turning passion projects into a sustainable creative career in the music industry.

Connor opens up about the highs and lows of wearing eight different hats on the road, shifting back into music after a stint in e-commerce, and how creative autonomy fuels his best work. We dive deep into the changing expectations of music content creators, surviving the social media video grind, and why working with artists you truly connect with matters more than ever.

00:00:00 - In this ep
00:00:57 - Hosts Catch Up
00:03:20 - What we can learn from grandparents
00:10:50 - Connor intro
00:21:40 - Shooting with bands, how does it work?
00:25:13 - Music video budgets (Save Face)
00:33:00 - Getting creative with budgets
00:40:08 - The shift to "jack-of-all-trades"
00:48:23 - How do you grow shooting music?
00:53:48 - What should you focus on?
00:57:43 - Corporate gigs vs. Passion
01:08:04 - What's your dream music video project?
01:14:20 - Has AI affected this industry?
01:21:23 - Authenticity will prevail... kinda
01:30:18 - The shift to social first content
01:35:03 - What's touring with a band like?
01:46:40 - Never stop making
01:51:53 - The GREAT DEBATE (movie theater madness)
01:58:31 - CHICKEN JOCKEY
02:24:50 - GAME SEGMENT (Improv Music)

Find out more at https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co