P.I. Filmmaker Podcast

An audio notebook about personal and independent filmmaking. Process, doubt, confidence, failure, influence, and the long road to finishing the work.Part investigation, part diary.This podcast reflects my personal experiences as an independent filmmaker and the views expressed are my own.Film work available at markdugganfilms.com“It’s personal, but they need to know.””

P.I. Filmmaker Podcast is a tv podcast hosted by Mark Duggan, with 33 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Mark Duggan hosts P.I. Filmmaker Podcast, a tv show with 33 episodes published.

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  P.I. Filmmaker Podcast

  #33: If You Wait for Impeccable, You'll Wait Forever

  Sep 25, 202611 min

  In this shorter episode, I share an update on ‘Notion’ now that the cast and crew screening is booked, and reflect on the nerves that come with sharing such a personal film. I also respond to an online filmmaker post about needing $100,000 to make a feature, which raises a bigger question/questions about independent filmmaking: how long do you wait for the ideal budget/circumstances/ideal version of the film? Not-So-Hot Take: It's better finished than perfect.

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  P.I. Filmmaker Podcast

  #32: For No One

  Sep 18, 202639 min

  In this episode, I respond to listener feedback on distribution, scarcity, and the difficulty of making money from independent film, before arriving at a bigger question: would I still create if nobody was watching? Along the way I talk about Werner Herzog’s views on AI and repetition, David Fincher, Robert Bresson, technical mastery, the human face, online criticism, and the pressure to constantly chase an audience. Ultimately, this is a personal reflection on the tension between the human urge to create and the expectation that creativity should somehow pay for itself through money, attention, or success.

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  P.I. Filmmaker Podcast

  #31: Dr David Crighton on Higher Education & Academic Capitalism

  Sep 11, 20261h 28m

  In this episode, I’m joined by Dr David Crighton (Wrexham University) to discuss the state of UK higher education, his research into academic capitalism, and the pressures shaping modern universities. We discuss academic standards, student expectations, grade inflation, the student-as-consumer model, workloads, senior management, and the growing influence of performance metrics. The conversation also connects closely to my own career and filmmaking. I spent several years teaching in higher education, and ‘Notion’ features a number of characters who work in education. In that sense, this episode can also be seen as a little bit of background reading before viewing my third feature. Psychology Today Article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/post-tribal/202608/why-universities-keep-lowering-their-standards

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  P.I. Filmmaker Podcast

  #29: Andy Duggan - Marketing Truths for Micro-Budget Filmmakers

  Aug 28, 20261h 52m

  This week, I'm joined by my brother, Andy Duggan, a marketing and commercial growth leader whose career has included roles at Al Nassr FC, BP and The Co-operative Bank. We discuss digital marketing, audience growth, social media, brand loyalty and what independent filmmakers can learn from the way major organisations find, understand and retain audiences. Contact Andy: https://www.hitsuzendo.com

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  P.I. Filmmaker Podcast

  #28: Beatles, Biopics & the Creative Process

  Aug 21, 202636 min

  This week, I start with the viral behind-the-scenes photograph of four actors dressed up as The Beatles for Sam Mendes’ upcoming biopics and ask what purpose these films serve when so much of the real story is already available to us. From there, I look at biopics more broadly, including ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Better Man’ and ‘The Apprentice’, before revisiting Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Aviator’ and its portrayal of filmmaker and aviation pioneer Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio). The image of the faux-Beatles also leads me into a wider discussion about social media, attention spans and our increasing desire for the payoff without the journey. In between various tangents, I eventually return to The Beatles and two documentaries: Peter Jackson’s ‘Get Back’, which has the confidence to depict the reality of the creative act, and a documentary about Paul McCartney’s missing bass, which has a surprisingly human story at its core.

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