Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

While most studio level feature films take many years to produce, micro-budget films often come together far more quickly as there is less red tape involved at every stage. In fact, some filmmakers have realized their visions in as little as 6 months, which is virtually unheard of in filmmaking at other budget levels. In this episode, Noam outlines his optimal 6 month feature film schedule - from...

Micro-budget films have increased in technical quality by leaps and bounds over the past decade, but many still fail to reach an audience as a result of underdeveloped stories and screenplays. This has ultimately become the achilles heel for so many micro-budget filmmakers, which is why it’s so imperative that every filmmaker, regardless of budget, places an equal weight on the writing process. In...

Story structure is the backbone of just about every film, and a true mastery of stucture is critical to the success of any filmmaker. Many narrative features falter as a result of poor structure, and unfortunately this is true even of films that are built on very strong premises, characters, and themes. Ultimately, structure provides the connective tissue that brings all of the key ingredients of...

One of the most universal struggles for filmmakers is knowing how and when to quit working at a day job. Making indepdnent films requires a ton of time and flexibility when it comes to scheduling, and many filmmakers believe that their current work-life setup is preventing them from having the time they need to reach their goals. Over the course of this episode, Noam dives deep into the idea of le...

Cinema lenses are one of the most crucial tools in any filmmaker's toolkit, yet many filmmakers have a limited knowledge of how glass will affect their image from both a creative and technical standpoint. In this episode, Noam interviews Ryan Avery - the founder of Veydra lenses - who designed one of the most sought after lens kits for independent filmmakers: The Veydra Mini Primes. Over the cours...

Color grading tools have become more accessible than ever, and as a result filmmakers are becoming hyper aware of the role that color plays in their work. Countless filmmakers are now training themselves in the art and science of color grading as a means to elevate the quality of their work without needing to rely on post-houses. That said, the color process as a whole still poses a steep learning...

As one of the founders of The Lift Off Global Network of Film Festivals, Ben Pohlman has made it his mission to not only program groundbreaking films at his festivals, but also to help filmmakers thrive in the commercial marketplace and flourish in their careers.   Over the course of this hour long interview, Ben draws from his unique background as a festival founder to de-mystify the jury selecti...

35mm film is still seen as the holy grail for many filmmakers, but from a cost perspective it is often prohibitive for micro-budget productions. The cost of purchasing new film stock combined with processing and scanning can add up very quickly, which of course is why it’s almost always reserved for higher budget productions. That said, some micro-budget filmmakers are able to execute 35mm project...

Micro-budget filmmakers often utilize natural light as a means to simplify production requirements and reduce time on set, while also benfitting from the beautiful aethetic that it offers. When done right, this approach can truly offer filmmakers a best of both worlds scenatio - the ability to capture gorgeous images with minimal crew and gear. Achieving cinema-quality results with natural light c...

With thousands of film festivals in existence and more popping up every year, filmmakers are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate the festival circuit. And while most filmmakers have some rough festival goals in mind as they approach the submission process, many have not taken the time to truly develop a strategy that will benefit their film. In this episode, Noam sheds light on the film...

Production and post-production time on micro-budget films is severely limited, making it crucial for filmmakers to ensure they are being as efficient as possible with the limited time that they do have. Based on his experience with the micro-budget feature film “Shadows on the Road”, Noam outlines his top 7 rules for filmmakers looking to optimize production time and increase efficiency across the...

Making a micro-budget film is hard. Making a no-budget film is even harder - especially when you are the only crew member. In this episode, Noam shares actionable tips and advice for no-budget filmmakers who need to act as the Director, DP, and Sound Recordist all at once. From making adjustments to the screenplay, to modifying blocking, lighting, and sound recording techniques, there are countles...

On this episode, Noam interviews Will Gong - a Writer and Editor with years of experience working on large scale feature film projects. Currently working at Disney, Will has edited promos, featurettes, behind the scenes content, and much more for films like Star Wars: Rogue One, Beauty and the Beast, Straight Outta Compton, and many others. While Will has a great deal of experience working on larg...

Many micro-budget feature films are budgeted around $10,000 - $15,000, and are produced over the course of 10 - 12 days. While this type of budget can be a challenge to work with once cast, crew, locations, and other costs are factored in, it can actually go a very long way when approached the right way. In this podcast, Noam breaks down a simple formula for budgeting a 12 day feature film at $100...

One of the most challenging tasks for micro-budget filmmakers is creating a shooting schedule that serves both the creative needs of a feature length production and the logistical paramters of the project. The goal is often to shoot as many pages per day as possible without sacrificing quality, but that is easier said than done. Over the course of this episode, Noam outlines a 12 day shooting sche...

It goes without saying that actors are the lifeblood of any film, and for this very reason it's crucial that all narrative directors fully understand how to elicit powerful and authentic performances from their talent. No two actors are trained in exactly the same way, and no two use the same tools to bring their characters to life, making communicating a specific vision with talent particularly c...

No two filmmakers have the same story, or have broken into the industry in the same way. Filmmaker Jens Jacob is certainly no exception. After moving to Los Angeles with no industry contacts or resources whatsoever, he leveraged his unique abilities behind the camera, a strong business acumen, and invaluable soft skills to carve out a spot for himself in this industry. By working hard, staying hum...

No two feature films are made the same way, and this sentiment is especially true of micro-budget productions which often come together under very unconventional circumstances. Director Joe McClean's latest feature film - The Drama Club - is certainly no exception to this rule. With a budget of only $67,000, Joe and his team pulled off development, production, post-produciton, and self-distributio...

Countless filmmakers have leveraged the power of Vimeo to showcase their work, refine their craft, and ultimately build an audience for themselves. Some have had so much success on Vimeo that they have even drawn the attention of Hollywood producers who later afforded them the opportunity to direct, write, DP, or otherwise contribue to full blown feature film projects. On this episode, Noam chats...

While some filmmakers absolutely love the writing process and consider themselves true writer-directors, many others prefer to focus strictly on directing, and as such are often searching for high quality written material to work with. In this episode, Noam explores 3 fundamental strategies that can greatly benefit those filmmakers who are eager to get on set as soon as possible, but struggle to f...

Filmmakers at all levels - amateur and professional - often struggle with the same question: What type of project would best help my artistic career, a short or a feature film? While there is no right or wrong answer, there are some clear pros and cons to both that should always be taken into account before venturing off into production. in this episode Noam weighs in with some of his thoughs on e...

Using scene coverage in unique or unexpected ways is one of the most effective ways for you to leave your mark on a film. Filmmakers are often taught to simply cover their scenes with just a master and closeups, which often leads to less interesting storytelling and less dynamic scenes, even though better choices are readily available. In this episode, Noam shares his insight on how to approach th...

With hundreds of 4K capable DSLR and Mirrorless cameras on the market today, choosing the right one can be a very tough decision. In this epsiode, Noam outlines his tought process for purchasing the right camera for your unique needs as a filmmaker, the most critical features you should be looking for in a camera, and explains why DSLRs/Mirrorless cameras are as relevant as ever for filmmakers on...

In this episode, Noam interviews Jamie Benyon and Lucy Jordan, who recently completed production on a micro-budget feature film titled Time of The Season. With exprience on big-budget productions such as Wonder Woman, Doctor Strange, Fantastic Beasts, Free Fire and Rogue One, the filmmaking duo has developed a unique take on their approach to micro-budget films. For more content like this, be sure...

Filmmakers are notorious for starting projects that they don't finish, and more often than not this issue stems from a lack of proper motivation and commitment. In this episode, Noam explores the fundamental reasons why motivation and commitment are the keys to success for filmmakers, and shares some actionable tips that will help you stay on track throughout the course of your filmmaking process....