425 - Michael Mendelsohn - Financier and Producer of True Romance, Reservoir Dogs, Lord of War, and The Matrix on Making Cinema: Lessons from Hollywood’s Top Indie Financier

This episode is brought to you by Notion Agent , the AI that doesn’t just help with work – it finishes it. Try Notion, now with Notion Agent, at notion.com/makeit to support your work and ours! This episode is brought to you by Surfshark VPN . Go to surfshark.com/makeit or use code makeit at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!" This episode is brought to you by Gusto . Save time with automated tools built right in: offer letters, onboarding materials, direct deposit, and don’t pay a cent until you run your first payroll. Go to www.gusto.com/makeit , and get three months free when you run your first payroll. Hello, Hello! In this episode, we welcome film producer Michael Mendelsohn ("Lord of War," "Air Force One," “Reservoir Dogs,” and "The Matrix.”) to the Make It Podcast. The conversation explores Mendelsohn's expansive career—including recent projects, Dream Quill and California Scheming, and his dedication to training the next generation of filmmakers—while delving into shifts within the movie industry. Listeners also get personal stories from the guests and hosts, and a behind-the-scenes look at cinema’s evolving landscape We also talk about: The impact of family background and immigration on creative ambition and career journeys. The transformation of audience viewing habits due to streaming services and subscriptions. Favorite cheat day meals, musical preferences, and rapid-fire personal anecdotes. The role of naming, legacy, and values within the arts and entertainment industries. Fun fact segments, including the influence of classic films like The Wizard of Oz and unique film-watching challenges (e.g., watching with Pink Floyd's The Wall). People, Places, Products, and Websites Mentioned: Surfshark VPN Notion (software) Michael Mendelsohn (guest, producer) James McAvoy (actor, director) Alex Prager (director) Quentin Tarantino (director) Sean Evans ("Hot Ones" host) Johnny Carson (late night host, mentioned) Lawrence Bender (producer, mentioned) Soho House (Nashville) Urban Market (Franklin) Toronto Film Festival Nashville, TN (city) Franklin, TN (city) Paramount (studio) Warner Brothers (studio) Sony (studio) Miramax (studio) Lord of War Air Force One The Matrix What Women Want True Romance Reservoir Dogs Dream Quill California Scheming The Hurricane Pulp Fiction The Princess Bride Last King of Scotland Top Gun Mission Impossible Batman Superman Wonder Woman William Goldman (author of The Princess Bride) Iocaine powder (fictional poison from The Princess Bride) Gusto (payroll and HR software) Patriot Pictures Union Patriot Capital Patriot Pictures Instagram Herban Market (Franklin, TN) Honey’s Kettle (Culver City, LA) Apollo Capital Egyptian Theater Toronto Film Festival Pink Floyd (The Wall album) The Godfather What Women Want Red Sparrow Nikita When Harry Met Sally The Other Side of the Wind Apocalypse Now Out of Africa Platoon Robin Hood: Men in Tights The Fugitive Black Barbie (Documentary) Palm Springs Megalopolis Magic Mike Chocolate City Wild Pitch Little Mermaid The Professional/Leon Battlefield Earth Jay Leno Jimmy Kimmel Keanu Reeves John Travolta Avi Arad Joel Silver Wachowski siblings Francis Ford Coppola Chris Evans Bill Murray Taylor Sheridan Mel Gibson Alex Prager Mark Rowan Max (director of Palm Springs) Mitch (Bill Murray collaborator) Prince MGM Lion (film intro) Culver City, CA Santa Clarita, CA Ocala, FL Willem Dafoe Susan Sarandon BET Paramount Canal Plus (France) BBC 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