How To Cast, Direct, and Make Movies for Kids

Jake Van Wagoner is a director, producer, and actor known for his work on Impractical Jokers and the film Christmas Time. His recent film, Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out, is a family friendly sci-fi feature that premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with director Jake Van Wagoner to discuss:

• Getting funding for the film from a family friend
• The unique title to the movie
• Making a film the whole family could enjoy
• Building the production team from many great connections
• How directing is like being a father
• Guiding the child actors in some challenging scenes
• Shooting a 93 page script in only 15 days
• Using children from his family to act as little aliens
• The process of attaching Will Forte to the movie

Lessons he learned from his first feature, Christmas Time

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_{This episode of The No Film School Podcast was produced by GG Hawkins.}