Nick Cartwright is a filmmaker, DP, Meisner acting teacher, and co-founder of two Chicago production companies: Cosmic Egg Productions and Film in a Bag. He started his filmmaking journey in 2023 when he and his wife turned their honeymoon into a short film production of HP Lovecraft's "The Picture in the House." Since then he has directed two more shorts, crewed on 25 others, and is currently directing three films as part of Film in a Bag's 12 for 12 project.

In this episode:

• How a stained glass artist grandfather, a love of photography, and a COVID incubation period led Nick to filmmaking

• Why he and his wife eloped, made their own bouquets, and spent their honeymoon making a Lovecraft film

• What it means to be a Swiss Army knife on set and why Nick thinks showing up hungry to learn is more valuable than a full resume

• The Meisner method, Green Shirt Studio, and how acting training changed the way he directs

• The Danish scarecrow that was burned to set a spirit free and what appeared in the fire

• His Linklater-inspired approach to writing his next short, Super Duper: a retelling of the day his wife first said "I love you"

• Hot Cakes: the best film ever made (it's Good Burger), Bigfoot, and what a ghost would judge him for on set

Follow Nick:

Instagram: @nick_cartwright_creative

Cosmic Egg Productions: @cosmicegproductions

Film in a Bag: @filminabag

12 for 12 films: Film in a Bag on YouTube

Hosted by Ilse Zacharias Rivera. Say hi / follow along here: @ilsezacharias

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you to our sponsor, Joel Maisonet Photography: maisonetphotography.com