Pizza Film School

About Pizza Film School

Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, Pizza Film School is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking process and spreads some love to the Russo Brothers' favorite films, filmmakers, and local pizzerias. Class is in session with the Russos as they dive deep behind-the-scenes with some of the industry's top filmmakers, all while enjoying a slice or two of pizza. An AGBO Production. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AGBOYouTube

Publisher

AGBO

Category

tv & film · tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Jan 2025

Latest episode

4 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

37 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Sept 2026

   THE MAKING OF THE WHISPER MAN – WRITING, PRODUCING, BEHIND THE SCENES

   Go behind the scenes of The Whisper Man with the filmmakers who brought the psychological thriller from page to screen. In this special two-part edition of Pizza Film School: Secret Sauce, the team breaks down the creative choices, collaboration, and craft behind the film, from adapting Alex North's bestselling novel and developing the mythology of the Whisper Man to directing the cast, building its visual language, designing its world, and shaping the story in the edit. Part One features director James Ashcroft, cinematographer Peter Deming, production designer Anastasia White, and editor Chris Tellefsen, alongside AGBO producers Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco, and Kassee Whiting. They explore working with Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, and Michelle Monaghan, creating the film's look and atmosphere, building character through production design, and finding suspense and story in the edit. Part Two brings together producers Michael Disco and Kassee Whiting with co-writer Chase Palmer to unpack the years-long journey of developing The Whisper Man, adapting the novel for the screen, creating the cassette tapes and mythology surrounding the killer, assembling the cast, and sharing stories from production with Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Keaton, and more. Together, the two episodes offer an inside-the-making masterclass in how a psychological thriller evolves from development through production and post. SPOILER WARNING: This is intended as a companion to The Whisper Man and discusses specific scenes, characters, and major story points. Watch the film on Netflix before listening. ABOUT SECRET SAUCE Secret Sauce is a subseries of Pizza Film School focused on the making of a single AGBO film or TV series. Hosted by AGBO's creative leadership, each episode brings together the filmmakers and key creative collaborators behind a project to explore development, production, and post, offering a practical masterclass on how a project comes to life. ABOUT THE SHOW Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, Pizza Film School is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world, with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production.

2. 

   4 Sept 2026

   THE MAKING OF THE WHISPER MAN – DIRECTING, CINEMATOGRAPHY, EDITING, PRODUCTION DESIGN

   Go behind the scenes of The Whisper Man with the filmmakers who brought the psychological thriller from page to screen. In this special two-part edition of Pizza Film School: Secret Sauce, the team breaks down the creative choices, collaboration, and craft behind the film, from adapting Alex North's bestselling novel and developing the mythology of the Whisper Man to directing the cast, building its visual language, designing its world, and shaping the story in the edit. Part One features director James Ashcroft, cinematographer Peter Deming, production designer Anastasia White, and editor Chris Tellefsen, alongside AGBO producers Angela Russo-Otstot, Michael Disco, and Kassee Whiting. They explore working with Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, and Michelle Monaghan, creating the film's look and atmosphere, building character through production design, and finding suspense and story in the edit. Part Two brings together producers Michael Disco and Kassee Whiting with co-writer Chase Palmer to unpack the years-long journey of developing The Whisper Man, adapting the novel for the screen, creating the cassette tapes and mythology surrounding the killer, assembling the cast, and sharing stories from production with Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Keaton, and more. Together, the two episodes offer an inside-the-making masterclass in how a psychological thriller evolves from development through production and post. SPOILER WARNING: This is intended as a companion to The Whisper Man and discusses specific scenes, characters, and major story points. Watch the film on Netflix before listening. ABOUT SECRET SAUCE Secret Sauce is a subseries of Pizza Film School focused on the making of a single AGBO film or TV series. Hosted by AGBO's creative leadership, each episode brings together the filmmakers and key creative collaborators behind a project to explore development, production, and post, offering a practical masterclass on how a project comes to life. ABOUT THE SHOW Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, Pizza Film School is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world, with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production.

3. 

   25 Feb 2026

   HOW TO MAKE A PIRATE BLOCKBUSTER - THE BLUFF

   This is a Secret Sauce edition of Pizza Film School, a project-focused deep dive into the making of an AGBO release. ABOUT THE EPISODE Go behind the scenes of The Bluff with the filmmakers who built it from concept to final cut. AGBO's Angela Russo-Otstot and Michael Disco sit down with director Frank E. Flowers, and co-writer Joe Ballarini for a craft-focused conversation on making The Bluff. Starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban, The Bluff is an action-packed pirate epic set in the Cayman Islands, inspired by Flowers' personal connection to the region. The team explores how the idea evolved from concept to screenplay to production, unpacking the collaboration, world-building, and creative decisions that shaped the final film. ABOUT SECRET SAUCE Secret Sauce is a subseries of Pizza Film School that focuses on the making of a single AGBO film or TV series. Hosted by AGBO's creative leadership, each episode explores development, production, and post with the filmmaking teams, offering a practical masterclass on how a project comes to life. ABOUT THE SHOW Created and hosted by Anthony and Joe Russo, "Pizza Film School" is a video podcast that demystifies the filmmaking world with each episode delving into creative processes, favorite films, and personal anecdotes from working in the industry, while enjoying a couple of slices from local pizzerias. An AGBO Production FOLLOW ON SOCIAL Instagram: @TheRussoBrothers @AGBOfilms #PizzaFilmSchool #agbofilms 00:00:22 - The Bluff: A Grounded 19th Century Pirate Story 00:02:05 - The Origin of The Bluff 00:03:53 - Pirates Week in the Cayman Islands 00:05:23 - First Read of The Bluff at AGBO 00:06:12 - Partnering with Cinestar & Zoe Saldana 00:07:47 - The Zoom Pitch That Sold The Bluff 00:10:05 - The Home Invasion Turn: Blending Western, Horror & Pirate Genres 00:11:11 - Protecting the Vision & Getting the Film Made 00:14:28 - Creative Decisions & Authenticity in The Bluff 00:15:06 - Writing in the Cayman Islands & Archival Research 00:18:18 - Cultural Representation & Casting Authenticity 00:19:13 - Using Virtual Production to Prep The Bluff 00:23:47 - Production Design & Importing Sand for Authenticity 00:25:39 - Shooting Challenges: Weather, Islands & Blessings 00:28:39 - Family on Set & Multilingual Pirate Performances 00:32:15 - Post-Production: Editing, Pace & No Reshoots 00:35:54 - Why Writers & Editors Belong on Set 00:37:00 - What The Bluff Means to the Filmmakers

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 63 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

94

Social presence

97

YouTube

0

Engagement

32