Yashar Kassai is the production designer of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The team behind the film pushes the boundaries of animation by adding depth, complexity, and messiness to both the visuals and emotional tone of the film. Yashar describes the design of the film as bad. He says, “it’s like good-bad. It’s like dumb-good.”
In today’s ... Show More
Mar 6
The Best Distillation of Filmmaking: An A24 Edit Case Study
In this episode, GG Hawkins speaks with editor Harrison Atkins about shaping A24’s How to Make a Killing with director John Patton Ford. Atkins breaks down his path into editing, his holistic “total filmmaker” approach to storytelling, and the editorial challenges of balancing da ... Show More
38m 10s
Feb 26
What These DPs Used Instead of Stills to Land Their Sundance Films
Recorded live at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, this annual Director of Photography Roundtable features No Film School’s GG Hawkins in conversation with cinematographers Lidia Nikonova, Sam Levy, and Maria Herrera. The group discusses their unconventional paths int ... Show More
57m 19s
Feb 20
‘Send Help’ Producer Zainab Azizi’s Studio Filmmaking Playbook
Producer Zainab Azizi joins GG Hawkins to break down her journey from agency mailroom to President of Raimi Productions and producing studio features like Send Help. Azizi shares how she develops original ideas, packages talent, protects projects through shifting studio mandates, ... Show More
40m 31s
Sep 2023
Yashar Kassai - TMNT Mutant Mayhem Production Designer
<p>Welcome to an interview with Yashar Kassai, production designer of the new TMNT: Mutant Mayhem film! Additionally, he was a production designer on both Spiderverse films and The Murphy's Vs the Machines! Hear Yashar's wisdom of the ages about style, the difference between a ... Show More
1h 9m
Sep 2017
Cartoon Cafe - The LEGO Ninjago Movie (Spoiler Review)
<p>Hello ASPers! Time to strap in for another Cartoon Cafe! This week, Josh and Gavin head to the Cartoon Cafe after watching Warner Animation Group's 2017 animated film "The LEGO Ninjago Movie". This is a spoiler filled episode. We will be breaking down the plot, characters, and ... Show More
39m 14s
Oct 2023
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem with Jeff Rowe
This week, we're delighted to be reunited with the talented Jeff Rowe, who first appeared on the show in 2021, breaking down his and Mike Rianda’s hilarious The Mitchells vs the Machines. On today’s episode, the animation auteur returns to talk all things Teenage Mutant Ninja Tur ... Show More
1h 30m
Aug 2023
HELEN SLATER: Pressure of Supergirl, Christopher Reeve Training, Mythology & Smallville Memories
Helen Slater (Supergirl, The Legend of Billie Jean) joins us this week to talk about her experience being thrust into the iconic role of Supergirl at 18 years old and the many different pressures and difficulties that came along with it. Helen was so open this week - she gets can ... Show More
1h 17m
Jul 2023
'The O.C.' 20th Anniversary: Season 1, Episodes 2 and 3
Bill, Jo, and Juliet continue the 'O.C.’ Hall of Fame tribute by immediately diving into their favorite scenes and overly dated nitpicks for the show’s second episode, "The Model Home." They quickly pivot to its iconic follow-up, "The Gamble," which ignites a discussion about the ... Show More
44m 15s