In Love with the Process Podcast

On this episode of In Love with the Process, Mike breaks it all down.

No guest. Just over 20 years of experience behind the camera, distilled into a practical guide for anyone who wants to step into the world of documentary filmmaking.
From shooting scientists, CEOs, gang members, actors, and everyday people, Mike has built a career capturing real stories in real environments, and in this episode, he walks you through exactly how he does it.

This is a step-by-step look at the process.

From choosing the right gear, to building a lighting setup that feels natural and motivated, to making your subject feel comfortable enough to actually open up on camera.
Mike dives into how to think about a job before you even show up, how to communicate with your crew, and how to stay flexible when reality doesn’t go according to plan.
Because documentary filmmaking isn’t about perfect images.

It’s about trust, awareness, and being ready when the moment happens.

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a PA, assisting on a doc team, or stepping behind the camera yourself, this episode is your starting point.
This is the stuff people don’t teach you.

► Mike's IG
► ILWP's IG

Music: Betamaxx

——SPONSORS——

► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10
► Puget Systems
► Blackmagic Design

Inlovewiththeprocess.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of In Love with the Process, Mike checks in.
No guests. No fluff. Just a real conversation about what it feels like to exist right now.
Times are tough. People are getting laid off. The cost of housing keeps climbing. Food prices are up. And it’s getting harder and harder not to feel like we’re all being squeezed.

This week, on a random Tuesday afternoon, a simple software issue spiraled into something much bigger. What should have been a quick fix turned into Mike having to dip into his savings just to keep the podcast alive, literally the day before release.
That moment sparked a bigger question.
How did we get here?

In a subscription-based world, where companies can change pricing overnight, it starts to feel like survival itself comes with a monthly fee. Like the system is designed to tighten its grip every quarter.

Mike opens up about the pressure of keeping a creative project alive, the unpredictability of expenses, and the growing feeling that control over our own lives is slipping away.

Is the American Dream still real?
Or are we just trying to keep up?
This is an honest, unfiltered check-in for anyone feeling the weight right now.

► Mike's IG
► ILWP's IG

Music: Betamaxx

——SPONSORS——

► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10
► Puget Systems
► Blackmagic Design

Inlovewiththeprocess.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of In Love with the Process, Mike dives into one of his biggest obsessions outside of filmmaking, cooking.
We all hear it, “get a good chef’s knife.” But what does that actually mean? What goes into making one? And why does it completely change the way you cook?

Mike sits down with Justin Miller, a self-taught bladesmith and the owner of Running Man Forge, to break down the art and craft of knife making from the ground up.
They get into the process of forging steel, what separates a great knife from a bad one, and why your tools in the kitchen are just as important as your ingredients. Justin also shares how he built his business from scratch, how he found the money to start, and how social media helped him connect with customers… until the algorithm changed everything.

And because it’s In Love with the Process, the conversation takes some unexpected turns, mythology, UFO sightings, and the strange overlap between craft, obsession, and belief.

This episode is a perfect mix of practical knowledge and wild storytelling.
If you care about cooking, filmmaking, or the process behind anything made with intention, this one’s for you.

► Running Man IG
► Mike's IG
► ILWP's IG

Music: Betamaxx & Code Elektro

——SPONSORS——

► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10
► Puget Systems
► Blackmagic Design

Inlovewiththeprocess.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special catch-up episode of In Love with the Process, Mike pulls back the curtain on something deeply personal, the making of his upcoming film.
For the first time, Mike breaks down the real process he and his writing partner Will Simmons used to bring this story to life. From early conversations to building treatments, to the detailed director’s prep that turns ideas into something you can actually see and feel.
This isn’t theory. This is the work.

Mike dives into how he approaches storyboarding, how he visualizes a film before a camera ever rolls, and the skills he’s developed over decades to translate emotion into images.

But this episode goes deeper than process.
Mike takes a moment to reflect on the fact that he’s never been this close to making a film at this level. He looks back on the last 25 years, the people, the risks, the failures, and the lessons that all led to this moment.

It’s honest. It’s raw. It’s the kind of episode that reminds you why you started.
If you’re a filmmaker, or just someone chasing something big, this one hits.

► Mu Pan IG
► Mike's IG
► ILWP's IG

Music: Mitch Murder & Code Elektro

——SPONSORS——

► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10
► Puget Systems
► Blackmagic Design

Inlovewiththeprocess.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of In Love with the Process, Mike dives into the surreal, violent, and wildly imaginative world of artist and illustrator Mu Pan.
Known for his massive, Boschian battle scenes filled with hybrid human and bestial figures, Mu Pan creates work that feels like a lost myth, somewhere between ancient history and a fever dream. His art pulls from Japanese manga, traditional Chinese scroll painting, American history, and Hong Kong cinema, blending them into something completely unique and deeply personal.

His work has been exhibited internationally, including a major retrospective at Espacio Solo in Madrid, and even appeared in the award-winning horror film Midsommar.
Mike first discovered Mu Pan through his book American Fried Rice, a collection that feels like a twisted children’s storybook, equal parts playful and disturbing, and it completely blew his mind.

In this episode, the two go deep into:
Why art school can sometimes kill creativity
How your true artistic voice is often formed in childhood
The long journey of losing that voice and fighting to get it back
The importance of constantly challenging yourself as an artist
The influence of manga, monster movies, and cultural storytelling on Mu Pan’s work
Why embracing the strange and uncomfortable leads to more honest art

Mu Pan also discusses his sculptural work, “OrigaMu,” and how building physical versions of his characters expands his creative world beyond the page.
This is a conversation about art in its purest form, messy, violent, playful, and deeply human.
If you’re a filmmaker, illustrator, or creative struggling to reconnect with your voice, this episode is for you.

► Mu Pan IG
► Mike's IG
► ILWP's IG

Music: Betamaxx & Code Elektro

——SPONSORS——

► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10
► Puget Systems
► Blackmagic Design

Inlovewiththeprocess.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.