422 - David Parks - Producer of “The Short Game” - How to Tell Neurodiverse Stories, Mastering Distribution and Marketing, and the Birth of the New Indie Producer

This episode is brought to you by Anthropic. Claude is the AI for minds that don’t stop at good enough—it's the collaborator that actually understands your entire workflow and thinks WITH you, not for you. Sign up for Claude today and get 50% off your first three months of Claude Pro when you use our link – www.claude.ai/makeit This episode is brought to you by Gusto . Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. It’s all-in-one, remote-friendly, and incredibly easy to use—so you can pay, hire, onboard, and support your team from anywhere. Try Gusto today at gusto.com/makeit , and get three months free when you run your first payroll. --- Hello, Hello! In this episode, we sit down with Producer and Director David Parks to dive deep into the journey of Indie filmmaking, the making of his feature film The Short Game , and the realities of bringing authentic neurodiverse stories to the screen. Through thoughtful discussion and entertaining anecdotes, the conversation unpacks the balance between creative vision and analytical decision-making, handling post-production setbacks, and the importance of continuous learning in the film industry. From distribution strategies to heartfelt family stories, this episode delivers both inspiration and practical wisdom for filmmakers and film lovers alike. We also talk about : The role of Executive Producers and how their contributions go far beyond financial support, including resources and creative insight. The challenges and ingenuity behind filming sports scenes, especially on a tight indie budget, including iPhone cinematography tricks. Funny and formative prank stories shared by the hosts and guests, highlighting family dynamics and growing up. The evolution of golf in cinema, including a new Things We Should Know about the very first golf movies ever made. Favorite cheat day meals, with a spotlight on iconic Chicago deep dish pizza and the unique food culture of Adams Morgan in Washington, DC. People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: The Short Game (feature film) Full Cup (documentary) Dirty Towel (short film) Spring Fever West of Broadway Citizen Kane Rocky Raiders of the Lost Ark One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest The Sting Spaceballs Home Alone Tin Cup Caddyshack The Legend of Bagger Vance BarbieHeimer (referenced rollout) Blazing Saddles Super Troopers David Parks Kevin Ross (editor) Frank Sansa (writer/producer) Emma Parks (actress/filmmaker) Lori Flori Lawrence (screenwriter) Larry Boatright Jordan Christensen Ellen Gusenberg Kent Dan Hagel Bob Costas Aiden Alexander Ben Krieger Martin Maxey Jay Duplass The Safdie Brothers The Russo Brothers Aaron Schneider Tom Hanks Jonathan Boeing Rioville Adams Morgan (DC) Sherman TX Bristol CT Annapolis Huntland TN USC Film School Syracuse University Newhouse School Peter Stark Producing Program (USC) Wharton Business School IE Business School NBC Sports Producers Guild Association Google Workspace Otter.ai Claude Pro (Anthropic) Gusto (payroll app) GitHub JIRA HubSpot Notion Lou Malnati’s (Chicago pizza) Jumbo Slice (Adams Morgan) Armands Pizza Homeless World Cup (soccer event) Chocolate Martini We are humbled to have a community of creatives who care deeply about our work. And your support makes our work possible. Every subscriber, rating, and review matters. So, if you like what we're doing, please consider subscribing, rating, or giving us a review. Cheers, and best of luck on your filmmaking journey. #MAKEIT All Links: https://beacons.ai/themakeitpodcast Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-make-it-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy