Have you ever had an idea late at night, an epiphany that will change everything? How do you catalog it, curate ideas, how can you help it grow into something special? In today's episode host Mike Pecci talks about his process of keeping track of good ideas and gives insight into how long it has taken a single thought to become a finished film.

One of the first people that Host Mike Pecci hung out with after arriving in LA was another director named Dan Centrone. The two hit it off immediately: they both have experience as music video directors, they have the same East Coast mindset, and they've both dealt with some of the worst experiences in the business. Which is why we never were able to release the first recording of their episode. After some time working on new projects, boosting their spirits, and refocusing their discussion, we finally have an incredible episode with insight, catharsis, and a little sneak peak into what making your first feature film actually means.

Becoming a director is a lifelong journey. I know. It sucks. And it doesn’t help that we keep hearing about “overnight successes.” That’s why it’s important to get a dose of inspiration every now and then to remind us that we’re taking the right steps to reach our goals. Giles Alderson, host of The Filmmakers Podcast & director of The Dare and Arthur & Merlin, joins Mike Pecci on this Host/Director team-up episode of ILWP. The two are here to drop some tough love about making your first feature & what you need to think about while working with actors. Get ready for a double punch of inspiration for everyone grinding toward your dreams of directing feature films.

Host Mike Pecci has mentioned on the show countless times how important it is for young artists to have strong mentors. Director Lesli Linka Glatter was mentored by some of the biggest names in Hollywood on her way to creating a powerhouse of a career: Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, Homeland, House, ER, Law & Order... The list is absolutely insane, and now she's giving back as a mentor for young directors. Strap in as Mike and Lesli discuss working with U.S. Intelligence Officials, the stressful differences between a film and TV director, and why finding a mentor is one of the best things you can do for your career.

Directing documentaries is an incredibly demanding, immersive, and, yes, cinematic job. For another director-director conversation, Host Mike Pecci is joined by Ryan Booth to discuss Ryan's experience crafting the narrative of real stories. Ryan's portfolio includes collaborations with Nike, Spotify, and Vevo as well as a handful of Vimeo Staff Picks. His artistic style, incredible sound design, and ability to make any environment a canvas through available light make episode this a can't miss.

Documentary Filmmaker Rudy Hypolite is, without a doubt, an empathetic documentarian. His films, PUSH: Madison versus Madison and This Ain't Normal are grounded, empathetic examinations of the real lives of black men, teens, and boys inducted from birth into gangs, violence, brotherhood, and a disassociation with the established "law and order" of Boston. Rudy provided Host Mike Pecci with a first hand experience of what these boys go through and taught Mike how to be a more empathetic person. With so many people so angry at so many things, we hope that this episode can allow some of us to take a moment to talk to each other, understand where we are coming from, and connect with each other as humans.

Directors Mike Pecci and Salomon Ligthelm break down the importance of understanding and articulating your process as a Director and how developing that process helps you define your tone as a storyteller. Your process, that toolkit we're always talking about, is what separates you as a creative. Building your toolkit allows you to compete for jobs with your process so you don't have to cut your prices.

All young filmmakers have the same goal. We spend every waking hour pushing toward it, every quiet moment thinking about it. How do I get my first feature film made? There is such a small percentage of people who actually make a full length film, and lets pretend for a minute that you just finished yours. You get into Sundance, it gets bought by Nextflix, and the fans give you a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes! Now what?! In this episode host Mike Pecci has a director to director conversation with I AM MOTHER director Grant Sputore about how he got his sci-fi epic made and what comes next.