Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Today I’m joined by documentary filmmaker Nick Scown, whose feature documentary Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 was just released through Vice and is now available nationwide.   As Nick shares in the interview, what started as a bootstrapped DIY passion project ultimately evolved into a larger production that attracted a ton of incredible talent. Despite the humble beginnings of this project, Nick was...

This week I am joined by filmmaker and film professor Marc A Hutchins, known for his directorial feature films Crossing Streets and Where Are You, Bobby Browning? After producing and directing numerous independent film titles - including a $300,000 feature - Marc decided to scale down his production approach and embrace the micro-budget realm. This resulted in the creation of a brand new feature f...

In this episode I am joined by the amazingly talented Martin Blasick, who has worked in the film industry for years as a composer, music writer and music supervisor, and is now embracing the world of micro-budget feature filmmaking. Martin has contributed his work to countless film and television projects like Oceans 12, Magic Mike and The Newsroom- while also spearheading his own independent prod...

In the episode I am joined by filmmaker and KTLA journalist Chris Gierowski, here to share his unique approach to independent feature film producing. Over the last decade Chris has produced countless narrative films - from micro-budget shorts to underground features that have reached cult status - and has learned a lot along the way. Throughout the interview, Chris provides listeners with key insi...

In this solo episode, I share my in-depth thoughts on the merits of working in genre as a micro-budget filmmaker, and why horror, sci-fi, and thriller films often thrive on a smaller scale. Genre films offer some unique advantages to the micro-budget filmmaker, that make traditional obstacles (like securing name talent, prestige festival placement, and distribution) far less critical to the overal...

Joining me for this episode are co-directors John C. Lyons and Dorota Swies, here to talk all about their brand new feature film Unearth. Unearth is a "fracking horror film" that was produced over the course of 8 years. What began as a successful crowdfunding campaign for a teaser, ultimately helped secure financing of nearly $1,000,000 for the full feature film. From there, the project attracted...

In this episode, I share a recent conversation with filmmaker and Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish, which originally took place during a private live session in The Backlot (my private filmmaking community). Throughout our discussion, Dan offers a masterclass in the practical realities of making a film. We discuss strategies for raising funds for your movie, securing known talent, bringing your vi...

In this episode I’m joined by writer and producer Jonathan Kiefer, whose feature film Around The Sun premiered last month on Kanopy, and is now widely available on digital platforms everywhere. Around The Sun is an amazing example of what’s possible when you use available resources to reverse engineer a film concept. In Jonathan's case, he had access to an incredible French Chateau with a unique h...

My guest today is Sam Mestman, CEO of We Make Movies - an incredible resource for indie filmmakers looking to take their work to the next level. Among many of the other initiatives currently in motion at WMM, Sam is running a filmmaking competition that will award several micro-budget filmmakers a $25,000 investment, plus exclusive access to high end professional post-production services like colo...

Joining me today is Director & DP Emily Skye, who you might also know as "She Wolf Films" on her incredibly popular Instagram account. Emily has been working in the film industry for 14 years, but recently her industry success has reached new heights. After building a massive fanbase for her work online, she created a short film called River. The short was so well received that within just 2 month...

This week on the show, I’m joined by screenwriter and producer Hudson Phillips to chat all about his new feature film This World Alone. This World Alone is a post-apocalyptic arthouse thriller about three women attempting to survive after a cataclysmic event leaves the Earth without technology or power. The film was shot for just $30,000 over the course of 10 days, with cast & crew living and work...

Today I’m joined by the multi-talented Shane Stanley, whose career has led him to executive produce for Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, run Charlie Sheen’s production company, and direct his own feature films - just to scratch the surface. In addition to his impressive career as a filmmaker, Shane is also an author and educator. His book What You Don’t Learn In Film School covers filmmaking from concep...

I am currently in pre-production for my next feature film, and will be approaching the budgeting process very differently this time around. Rather than allocating the majority of funds to production, they will be re-distributed to three key areas with the intention of maximizing the film’s potential reach. Most filmmakers fall into the same trap - overspending in production (and post), and leaving...

Joining me today is actor, author and filmmaker Leandro Taub. Leandro has found incredible success in many creative disciplines - first as an author (he’s been published 5 times and counting), then as an actor - debuting in Endless Poetry, which premiered at the Cannes film festival in 2016, and now as a filmmaker with his first feature film titled Externo. Throughout the interview we delve into L...

Today on the show I am sharing a recent episode of the Filmmakers In Advertising podcast, which I was just interviewed on by host Codey Wilson. As the title would suggest, this podcast is all about what it’s like to work in the realm of commercial production and advertising as a filmmaker - what it takes to balance both sides, how to navigate freelancing opportunities, the benefits of managing you...

In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Jason Charnick, known for his incredible documentary feature film Getting Over, which premiered at SXSW in 2018. Today, Jason is here to talk all about NFTs  - a new technology that’s been generating a ton of buzz in the world of indie film. NFTs are a type of digital collectible that artists (including filmmakers) can use to help monetize and distribute t...

Returning to this show this week are Tessa Markle and Carolina Alvarez, co-hosts of the the Femme Regard podcast. Tessa and Carolina have been able to leverage their amazing podcast to not only grow an audience for their work, but also expand their industry connections and meet new collaborators along the way. Throughout the episode we discuss their journey at length, going in depth on the benefit...

Filmmakers who have audiences of their own are at a tremendous advantage at every stage. From fundraising to distribution to monetization - each facet is enhanced dramatically by the size and value of any given audience. While the prospect of building an audience yourself can be daunting, the good news is it's easier than ever to accomplish… Even for those who don’t have an existing body of work....

Today on the show, I’m joined by director/producer Joseph Mensch, here to talk about his new feature film Payback, which was just released last month. Throughout the interview, Joseph shares his journey from PA’ing on Martin Scorsese’s Aviator to directing a debut feature film with a budget in the millions. He also shares some critical insights into the importance of representation, while outlinin...

Joining me on today’s episode is writer/producer/actor Luke Barnett, known for his incredible Funny or Die shorts and his latest feature film project - Faith Based, which features Jason Alexander, Lance Reddick, Tanner Thomason, Margaret Cho, and Luke Barnett himself. Luke’s story is super inspiring, and can be looked at as a roadmap for filmmakers who want to break into the industry by bootstrapp...

Today I am honored to be joined by director David F. Sandberg, known for major studio films like Shazam, Annabelle: Creation, and Lights out, as well as his no budget horror short films which he’s been releasing for years under his YouTube channel ponysmasher.  David is about as great a guest as I can imagine on this show. His story is a case in point for making your own films and not waiting for...

Today, I’m joined by the expert on all things relating to indie-film marketing and advertising - Kyle Prohaska. Kyle was on the show a couple years ago, and his first episode was incredibly eye-opening and packed with great strategies for filmmakers looking to monetize their creative work. But a lot has changed since then, and an updated chat was long overdue. In this follow up episode, Kyle paint...

In this episode, I’m joined by Andrew Simonian to talk all about his feature film The Take Out Move, which was made for just $3500. Andrew spent decades producing and developing television for NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, MTV, BET, and many others, before deciding to take a stab at the world of micro-budget filmmaking. By calling in favors and assembling the perfect team, he was able to pull off his 74 min...

To celebrate the launch of my new members community for filmmakers The Backlot, I am publishing this special solo episode to help spread the good news. For some context, The Backlot is a community designed to give filmmakers the tools, resources, and connections needed to bring their feature films to life. Members are on a shared journey to create a feature film of their own this year (optionally)...

Today I am joined by filmmaking duo Sandy Sternshein & Brad Riddell, here to talk about their feature directorial debut Later Days which was shot for just over $1MM and is currently gearing up for distribution. For some quick background - Brad came up through the studio system, writing films like American Pie: Band Camp, and producing features for studios like Paramount, MTV & Universal. Sandy’s b...