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In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins sits down with filmmaker Macon Blair to discuss his journey from scrappy DIY filmmaking in Virginia to directing the 2025 reimagining of the cult classic The Toxic Avenger. The film hits theaters today, and Blair shares how he balanced homage and originality, kept the humor grounded in absurdity, and tackled the long production process. He also reflects on his start in the industry, the value of creative community, and what it really means to stick it out in an unpredictable industry.
In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Macon Blair discuss...
Macon's early days making VHS films with friends and how that creative community shaped his career
The years-long journey from writing spec scripts to directing Sundance winner I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore
How Macon was approached to write The Toxic Avenger and how it evolved into his directorial role
Reimagining a cult classic while staying true to its outrageous tone and aesthetic
How comedy and absurdity play into horror and action, and the challenge of balancing tone
The production process in Bulgaria and collaborating with an international crew
Designing the film’s gritty, stylized world—from production design to costumes and camera movement
Lessons from the editing room and how to let audience feedback shape the final cut
Macon’s advice for emerging filmmakers about perseverance, collaboration, and flexibility
Memorable Quotes:
“I just wanted to do something with movies... if it's writing, great. If it's acting, great. If it's driving a truck, great.”
“We would just pitch things back and forth, and if a line or a reaction would get a laugh from enough people, then it would be like, alright, put it in the movie.”
“You have to be flexible enough or open enough to kind of be like, oh, I didn’t construct things the correct way. And I kind of owe it to you for you to not be confused.”
“Preparation versus flexibility—having everything prepared to the nth degree, and being prepared to totally drop it if you need to.”
Guests:
Macon Blair
Resources:
Macon Blair on I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (No Film School interview)
Get tickets to The Toxic Avenger (Look Cinemas)
Follow GG Hawkins’s feature I Really Love My Husband on Instagram
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