Indie Film Podcast

Who’s really to blame for bad acting: director or actor? We unpack casting friends, editing saves, & over-the-top performances in this episode of Indie Film Podcast. This episode dives into the chaos of directing inexperienced actors in indie film. We share personal wins, cringe-worthy failures, and debate the pros and cons of casting your friends. Plus: Flat vs. overacting Can you actually fi...

Renting vs. buying film gear? DIY filmmaking hacks? Budget gear regrets? We cover it all in this indie filmmaker survival guide. From $2,000 camera setups to what not to buy, we share real stories, janky rigs, and the gear we’d never use again.

Indie film pre-production tips for shot listing and storyboarding that actually work! And some horror stories from personal experience. In this episode, Chuck and Victoria break down how to plan your shoot day, organize your camera team, and avoid costly production mistakes. Whether you're flying solo or working with a micro-budget crew, you'll learn how to prep efficiently without sacrificing cre...

Think sound design doesn’t matter on a micro-budget? Think again. In this episode of Indie Film Podcast, Chuck and Victoria break down how to make your indie film sound professional—without spending a fortune. From cleaning up dialogue with tools like Adobe Audition and iZotope, to layering room tone, ambient effects, and foley that cover even the worst on-set audio mistakes, this is your DIY soun...

What does post-production look like for a $250 indie film? In this Deep Dive episode, Victoria, Chuck, and Daniel walk through the real-life challenges and solutions behind editing, color grading, and sound mixing their short film Dive, all while working with limited time, budget, and space (hello, bar refrigerators). From DaVinci tips to text animation breakdowns, you’ll hear how they shaped raw...

How do you shoot a short film on a $250 budget? In this episode of Indie Film Podcast, Victoria (writer/director of Dive ) and Chuck (location sound mixer/sound designer) are joined by cinematographer and colorist Daniel Klamerus to break down the production process of their micro-budget short film. From scheduling nightmares to surprise gas station construction, this honest (and occasionally chao...

In our 20th episode, we're walking through the full pre-production process of Dive , a $250 short film we actually made (yep, this one’s not just theory). We talk about writing the script, securing the perfect location, casting local talent, and assembling a dream crew on a tiny budget — including a literal Emmy winner. This episode kicks off a three-part series documenting the making of Dive , an...

Thinking about forming an LLC for your film work? Wondering what filmmaking expenses you can actually deduct? In this episode, Chuck and Victoria dive into the indie film business structure they've (mostly) figured out through trial, error, and a whole lot of receipts. We’ll unpack: – What we wish we knew before filing as filmmakers – LLC tips for indie creatives – Freelance filmmaking write-o...

Think you can make a movie on a shoestring budget? So did we. In this episode, we break down what it really costs to budget an indie film, sharing real numbers (and real mistakes) from our own micro budget productions. We’ll cover: How we stretched $10K across locations, gear, and craft services What “zero budget filmmaking” actually means (hint: it’s not zero) Where most of your budget actually g...

Welcome to another brutally honest episode of the Indie Film Podcast — where your favorite micro-budget filmmakers, Chuck and Victoria, dive into the messy realities of online film streaming. This week we ask the big questions: Should you post your indie film on YouTube for free? Does streaming help you build an audience — or just bury your movie in the algorithm? Can you actually make money doing...

You finished your indie film. Now what? If you're staring down the terrifying abyss known as film distribution wondering if you'll ever make your money back (or even get people to watch the damn thing), you're not alone. In this episode, Chuck and Victoria dive headfirst into the harsh realities of distributing an independent film—from self-distribution woes and shady contracts to theatrical runs,...

Welcome to Indie Film Podcast, where micro-budget dreams go to die, rise again, and maybe get rejected by Sundance in the process. In Episode 15, hosts Chuck and Victoria dive face-first into the glittering, gatekept world of film festivals — with all the bruises to show for it.  Thinking of submitting your indie film to a major festival? Wondering if film festivals are worth it? Hoping one screen...

Marketing your indie film? Don’t worry we’ve all been there, but don’t let the chaos of analytics, web traffic, owned media, and a small social following get you down—there’s a lot more to it than that! In this episode, Chuck and Victoria (two micro-budget filmmakers with more heart than marketing sense) take you on a cringe-filled tour of their biggest indie film marketing fails. From launching t...

If you’ve ever heard “we’ll fix it in post” and immediately felt a chill down your spine… welcome to the club. In this episode, Chuck and Victoria dive headfirst into the chaos of visual effects gone sideways—and yes, they have receipts. From masking mishaps and chroma key nightmares to trying (and failing) to replace street signs in moving shots, these indie filmmakers aren’t afraid to admit that...

Can a brilliant #filmcolorist save your #indiefilm? Probably—if you could afford one! Chuck and Victoria return for another episode of Indie Film Podcast where they reflect (a little too honestly) on all the mistakes they’ve made in color grading and how you can avoid them! Hear all about the biggest color grading questions, like: 🔴 Why does your footage look like it was filmed on Mars? 🟢 Why is...

Production sound: the invisible villain of indie filmmaking. You don’t notice it when it’s good, but when it’s bad? Oh, you’ll definitely hear it. In this episode, Chuck and Victoria get brutally honest about their past sound design disasters, from ADR nightmares to the tragic tale of the forgotten room tone. Learn from their mistakes so your indie film doesn’t sound like it was recorded in a wind...

When "Fix It in Post" Becomes a Cry for Help | Indie Film & Film Editing Help Mistakes were made. Many, many mistakes. And who better to discuss them than Chuck and Victoria, two indie filmmakers who have seen the abyss of bad editing choices and lived to tell the tale? This episode of Indie Film Podcast is all about the glorious disasters of post-production—the misplaced cuts, the continuity...

So you wanna be a director? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because Chuck and Victoria are here to share the many, many, many mistakes they’ve made on set—so you don’t have to. (Or, at the very least, so you’ll have some company when you inevitably make them yourself.) In this episode, we dive into the chaotic, coffee-fueled world of indie film directing:🎥 Do demand your family sit through your indie...

🎙️ Perils of Production: Location Sound Screw Ups 🎬 Ah, location sound—the final boss of indie filmmaking. In this episode of Perils of Production Month , Victoria and Chuck dive into the chaos that is location sound (and the inevitable screw ups behind them) and share their hard-earned lessons so you don’t have to learn the hard way. 🔊 Key takeaways from this episode: ✅ Why bad audio ruins goo...

Ah, the art department—one of the most crucial yet overlooked aspects of indie filmmaking. This episode, Victoria and Chuck dive into their biggest art department blunders so YOU don’t have to make the same mistakes. From last-minute coffee table hunts to mysterious maintenance workers who don’t look the part, they’ve seen it all. 💡 In this episode, we cover: ✔️ What exactly the art department do...

🎬 The Perils of Production: Camera Crew Confessions 🎥 | Indie Film Podcast From forgotten record buttons to white balance disasters, every filmmaker has a story (or ten) of on-set mistakes. In this episode of Indie Film Podcast, we’re diving deep into the biggest camera crew fails, sharing our most embarrassing production blunders, and discussing what we learned from them. 🔹 Topics We Cover: ✅...

🎬 Join Chuck Norton and Victoria Horn as they stumble their way through another chaotic episode of Indie Film Podcast! This time, the duo dives into the age-old filmmaking dilemma: too many cooks or too few? (Spoiler alert: It's usually too few... #IndieFilmLife, right?) ✅ Expect plenty of good-natured bickering, film set horror stories, and surprising wisdom on staying in your lane—or not—w...

Welcome to another episode of Indie Film Podcast, where chaos meets creativity! In this episode, we tackle a topic we know all too well—running behind on set. Just know, if you’re in this boat…you’re definitely not alone. From filming 20 pages in a single day (bad idea!) to wrangling extras, battling mirrored hotel rooms, and rewriting scripts on the fly, we share our funniest, most cringe-worthy...

🎥 Welcome to the Indie Film Podcast with Victoria and Chuck! In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked aspects of filmmaking: shot lists. Learn why underwhelming shot lists can hurt your indie film and how to avoid these common mistakes. We share real-world experiences, and provide actionable tips to level up your filmmaking. Whether you're a budding director, cinematographer, or j...

Rehearsals are important for a successful and smooth-running shoot! NOT having pre-production rehearsals leads to headaches! This week, Victoria and Chuck share some experiences hopping on sets with Inadequate Rehearsals.