Welcome to Until You Make It! Hosted by Chris Lundy and Mike Yadvish, this podcast dives deep into the creative journey, featuring candid conversations with filmmakers, cinematographers, video editors, writers, directors, and other professionals. Whether you're an aspiring creator or a seasoned pro, we explore the challenges, successes, and behind-the-scenes realities of making it in a creatively driven profession or passion. From breaking into the industry to mastering your craft, we bring you…
In this high-energy episode of the Until You Make It Podcast, Chris and Mike sit down with Vinnie Arizzo and Jesse Shea , the creative powerhouses behind New Jersey’s own Syndicate Film School . Fresh off a major production, the crew dives into the messy reality of producing high-stakes projects on impossible timelines—most notably their recent "against-all-odds" music video shoot for the…
In this special holiday episode of Until You Make It , Chris and Mike gather with longtime friend and visual effects artist Ryan Laux for a look back at a transformative year and a look forward into the creative landscape of 2026. From Ryan’s move to full-time freelance in Los Angeles to his strategic "rise" on social media, the crew explores the delicate balance between professional polish and…
What happens when creative grit meets a shifting digital world? In this episode of _Until You Make It, Chris and Mike sit down with illustrator and character designer Keith Glidewell to explore the real-life evolution of an artist—pivoting majors in college, discovering a voice through compulsive sketching, becoming a stay-at-home dad, and finding the fire that pushed him into professional…
Episode Notes What happens when branding chaos meets creative grind? In this episode of Until You Make It, Chris and Mike sit down with designer Chris Rumeau to dig into the messy middle of making things—from sketching hundreds of logos on graph paper to rebranding a local coffee shop, chasing clients through Instagram reels, and figuring out how merch design can carry a career. Along the way, The…
Episode Notes This week, we dive deep into the world of anamorphic lenses—why they look so cinematic, whether they’re worth the hype, and how they’ve completely changed how we shoot our own projects. From film history to hands-on test shoots (with a side of burritos), we unpack what makes these lenses so alluring and complicated. After years of window shopping, we finally picked up our first set…
In this episode, Chris, Mike, and special guest/producer Steve catch up post-film festival to unpack the last few chaotic weeks of filmmaking, festivals, and film nerdery. The guys recount an award-nominated short they worked on, the highs and lows of networking at Golden Door Film Festival and the NJ Film Expo, and some sharp critique on another 9/11-themed short that left everyone confused. They…
Episode Notes What’s it like working at Netflix Animation for years… and never having anything released? In this episode, we catch up with Joshua Lewkowicz, a longtime friend of the show and an assistant/associate editor at Netflix, to unpack the unseen side of the animation industry — the long hours, the creative burnout, and the projects that disappear into studio limbo. Josh talks candidly…
Episode Notes What’s it really like to tour with a band while shooting their music videos, managing merch, and directing creative strategy—sometimes all at once? On this episode of Until You Make It, we sit down with photographer, videographer, and all-around creative multitasker Connor Meany. From building DIY sets for $10K music video albums to shooting concerts while also acting as tour…
Episode Notes What’s it like to land your dream job in TV? Tyler Law shares his journey from student filmmaker to producing award-winning content for Syfy, Oxygen, and more. From goofy college shorts to high-stakes network promos, we dive into the creative grind, staying grounded, and what it really means to “make it.” In this episode: – How Tyler produced the Chucky Season 3 teaser – The workflow…
On this episode of Until You Make It, Frank takes us behind the scenes of working as an assistant camera in New York City, sharing his unique experiences on a range of productions, including the hit show "Severance". We also explore Frank's passion for shooting on film, diving into the unique differences from shooting digital. Whether you're a film enthusiast, aspiring AC, or curious about the…
