Off The Lot

Why is it so difficult to finance, produce, and distribute an independent film in Canada? And are film festivals actually helping indie filmmakers build sustainable careers? In Episode 72 of Off The Lot, filmmakers Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp reunite for a candid conversation about the realities of independent filmmaking, from getting a movie financed to getting it in front of an audience. Fresh...

Why do so many Canadian independent films struggle to break through internationally? And what does it actually take to get a feature film made in Canada? This week on Off The Lot, we're joined by filmmakers Hayley Gray and Kaayla Whachell , the co-writers and co-directors of Send the Rain , which recently had its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). What started as a...

You made your first feature film. Now what? According to research by film industry analyst Stephen Follows, only about 1 in 4 first-time feature directors makes a second film within five years. So why do so many filmmakers struggle to get their second movie made? In Episode 70 of Off The Lot, Anthony Epp breaks down the numbers behind filmmaking careers and explores why getting your film SEEN migh...

What do you do when the traditional path to making your movie keeps saying no? This week on Off The Lot , Anthony sits down with actor, writer and producer Jovanna Burke to talk about what she’s learned after more than 20 years working in film and television — and why rejection may actually be one of the most important parts of building a sustainable filmmaking career. Jovanna opens up about trans...

Why do some indie films actually get made while others spend years stuck in development? In this episode of Off The Lot , Anthony breaks down the stages an independent film goes through between having a screenplay and actually getting the movie greenlit . We cover what you should be working on at each stage — and, just as importantly, what you probably shouldn't be doing yet. You'll learn: • Who y...

Making the movie is only half the battle. Once your film is finished, you still have to figure out how to get people to actually see it. And if you're still trying to finance your movie, there may be another source of money most indie filmmakers completely overlook: brands. In this episode of Off The Lot, we look at indie film marketing from both ends of the process. Ken is finishing Remnant and n...

How do you actually get started as a filmmaker when nobody is giving you money, grants, connections, or permission? In Episode 66 of Off The Lot , Anthony answers questions from emerging filmmakers about what it really takes to start directing, finance your first projects, break into the industry, and eventually build a sustainable career. We cover why grants should be treated as a bonus — not a p...

What does it actually cost to make a $2 million independent feature? Ken and Anthony break down a hypothetical $2M movie using the Telefilm Canada budget structure and real lessons learned producing Remnant . They go line by line through above-the-line costs, cast, crew, equipment, locations, transportation, post-production, music, financing, tax credits and contingency. They also get into the cos...

Writer-director Nat Boltt joins Off The Lot to break down the decade-long journey behind her feature directorial debut, Holy Days . The film stars Judy Davis, Jacki Weaver and Miriam Margolyes, topped the box office in New Zealand, and went on to a global theatrical release — but getting there meant surviving years of development, financing setbacks, international co-production challenges, lost in...

I finally made my first feature film. After years of working in film and television, raising the money, assembling the team, shooting Remnant , going through post-production and now entering distribution, there are things I understand about filmmaking that I simply didn’t before. In this episode of Off The Lot , Anthony walks me through the entire filmmaking process as I break down five of the big...

Harrison Houde and Dakota Daulby spent years trying to get a feature film made. Then a producer called and essentially said: write the movie — we’re shooting it this year. The result was Tight Lettuce , a bilingual English/French dark comedy inspired by a true story about a son trying to maintain a relationship with his heroin-addicted father. The film went on to premiere at the Fantasia Internati...

A great 1st AD doesn’t just keep a film on schedule — they can completely change what a director is capable of accomplishing on set. In this episode Ken and Anthony break down one of the most important relationships in filmmaking: the director and the 1st assistant director. Ken shares what he learned directing his first feature, REMNANT, including working with veteran 1st AD Pete White, restructu...

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is unlike anything ever put on a movie screen. Shot entirely on IMAX film across oceans, mountains, deserts and ancient landscapes, it is an astonishing feat of physical filmmaking—and arguably the ultimate theatrical experience. But is technical achievement enough to make a great movie? In this full-spoiler review, we break down Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic,...

Movie theaters aren’t dying. In fact, more people are buying tickets—and the films succeeding are challenging several assumptions Hollywood has made over the last decade. In this episode of Off The Lot, we examine why theatrical admissions are rising, how longer release windows and a stronger supply of original movies are rebuilding the moviegoing habit, and why audiences no longer simply “go to t...

Mayumi Yoshida spent nine years turning a deeply personal idea into her first feature film, Akashi—writing, directing, producing, and starring in a story that crosses generations, countries, and languages. In this episode, Mayumi reveals how a conversation with her grandmother evolved from a stage play into an award-winning short and, eventually, a critically acclaimed feature. She also breaks dow...

Most filmmakers build pitch decks around the movie they want to make. But an investor is looking at your project through a completely different lens: How do I get my money back—and what protects my downside? In Episode 57 of Off The Lot, Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Furey break down what an effective indie film investor deck actually needs to accomplish. We discuss: • The difference between a creative...

Corey Payette did not wait for a studio to give him permission. He built his stories on stage, proved them in front of live audiences, and then turned them into award-nominated films — including Star Walker, which earned 10 Leo Award nominations. In this episode of Off The Lot, Corey breaks down how he went from theatre, music, and original Indigenous storytelling into feature filmmaking, how Star...

Anthony Epp sits down with Ken Kabatoff for a candid conversation about the recent changes to Telefilm Canada's development funding, the challenges facing emerging Canadian filmmakers, and the growing need to balance creative ambition with financial sustainability. They reflect on networking, content creation, building an audience, and why long-term careers are built through persistence rather tha...

Anthony Epp and Ken Kabatoff discuss two of the biggest stories in independent filmmaking right now: the debate over crew compensation on breakout indie hits and the growing influence of YouTube creators in the film industry. Using the success of Obsession as a starting point, they explore backend points, producer risk, union protections, and what filmmakers and crew members can realistically expe...

Anthony Epp sits down with Julie Bruns and Steven Kammerer, filmmakers and actors behind Beneath Crimson Sails for a wide-ranging conversation about fantasy storytelling, independent filmmaking, and the passion projects that keep artists creating. Drawing inspiration from worlds like The Lord of the Rings, The Witcher, and classic adventure cinema, the guests discuss building immersive universes,...

Anthony Epp sits down with filmmaker, visual artist, and Vancouver Film School instructor Chad Costen to discuss the long journey behind his new fantasy feature film, Mister Sandman. Chad reflects on discovering filmmaking through Star Wars, making homemade monster movies as a teenager, and building a career that spans directing, visual effects, creature design, and teaching. The conversation expl...

Anthony Epp sits down with producer Matt Cervi for an in-depth conversation about the realities of independent filmmaking in Canada, from financing challenges to the thrill of bringing ambitious genre stories to life. Matt reflects on studying at USC School of Cinematic Arts, working with companies behind The Walking Dead and The Terminator, and later building Mad Samurai Productions around his pa...

Anthony flies solo this week while Ken is deep in post-production on Remnant, leading to a thoughtful conversation about what really makes film sets succeed: chemistry, alignment, and trust. Inspired by the rebuilding of the Vancouver Canucks and comments from Ryan Johnson, Anthony compares hockey teams to indie film crews in a surprisingly relatable way. Drawing from his recent experience assista...

In this episode of Off The Lot, Anthony Epp sits down with casting director and producer Monika Dalman for a deep dive into the rapidly growing world of vertical micro dramas — the fast-paced, phone-first storytelling format becoming one of the biggest production booms in North America. From billion-dollar industry growth to nonstop productions shooting across Vancouver, Monika explains why the en...

This week on Off The Lot, Ken Kabatoff sits down with directors Eric Foss and Brandon Pickering to discuss their new documentary Sell Your House — a behind-the-scenes look at the making of indie crime thriller The Last Stop In Yuma County that became something far bigger. The film follows producer James Claeys, who sold his own house to finance the movie after years of failed studio development, c...