The Honest Filmmaker

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #filmmakingtips #indiefilm With 2026 just getting started, a lot of filmmakers are asking the same question: how do I finance my first (or next) indie feature? This week, I’m breaking down five practical ways to fund your film, drawing from both my own experience and methods I’ve seriously considered. I’ll also share two bonus tips for navigating conversations w...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #moviemaking #microbudget #indiefilm  This week on the podcast I’m chatting with filmmaker GuGu E. Michaels, an award-winning director and cinematographer whose work spans North American and African cinema. Since the late ’90s, GuGu has directed and shot feature films including Dangerous Men, UNGE’S WAR, Jacob’s Eye, and Best Served Cold, earning mul...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #filmhub #relay #filmmaking  This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Chad Wittman from Filmhub to break down their new streaming platform, Relay, and what it could mean for indie filmmakers navigating today’s crowded distribution landscape. We talk honestly about how Relay works for audiences, how filmmakers get paid compared to traditional AVOD platforms, and w...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #moviemaking #indiefilm  This week on the podcast I talk to filmmaker Jon Hill about his debut feature 'Above the Clouds' a film about one day after the passing of his father. The film took 13 years to complete, after a few false starts. Jon talks about how he managed to finish his film and make something he hopes will be someone's favourite film....

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #moviemaking #indiefilm  This week on the podcast I chat to filmmaker Justin Phillip. Justin started out as an actor then went onto learn all the equipment and lighting to become a qualified DP and gaffer. He's directed numerous shorts and has a great youtube channel for kit, equipment and tips on shooting on a low budget: https://www.youtube.com/justinphil...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilm #moviemaking  Some 10 months ago I spoke to Indie filmmaker Gene Dolders about his Giallo inspired horror film 'The Blade Cuts Deeper', now with the film released on streaming, Gene's back to talk me through the ups and downs of film festivals and how he navigated sales and distribution. Watch the film on Amazon:  https://ww...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #moviemaking  Indie Filmmaking Without the Safety Net This week on the podcast I talk to filmmaker Chris St. Croix about his new thriller feature Killer Content - we talk about how the film was made, some of the challenges Chris faced along the way, how he has approached sales and distribution and Chris tells me about his experienced as an extra on Q...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #movieproduction  This week on the podcast I chat to friend of the pod Mark Hampton about  the 10 things you should never do when making your first feature film. Marks film Unlicensed has just been released across all digital platforms and we chat through the lessons Mark learned making the film and my own thoughts on what you should never do when ma...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the podcast I’m chatting to filmmaker Daniel M. Caneiro about his horror/comedy feature film Deviant. We chat about how he used grants to fund the film, his tips for applying for grants, how the film was made and tips for shooting on a micro budget and how he handled sales and distribution.  Find out more about Daniel here; https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6067003/?ref_=fn...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmaking   #filmmakers #filmmakerscommunity   After 20+ years of making micro-budget films, I’ve made more than my share of mistakes. In this episode, I break down 16 of the biggest ones indie filmmakers make, covering everything from script to sales so you don’t have to learn the hard way like I did. From budgeting and promotion to sound, script, and festivals, I’ll walk you t...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmaking #horror #31daysofhalloween #indie film #microbudget #filmdirector With Halloween right around the corner, I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about The Apocalypse Box , the last feature film I made  and some of the filmmaking lessons I learned during the process.  Hopefully these insights will be helpful to anyone thinking about making their first indie fe...

Send us Fan Mail  #filmdirecting  #indiefilm  #filmmaking  #microbudget This week I chat to indie film director Andrea M. Catinella about his career and his advice for directing indie film. We talk about his work on horror films like 'Piglet', 'Hook' 'Bait' and 'Houseboat Massacre'. The advantage of working on films with existing characters and how he got hi...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast  #halloween  #horrormovies  #filmmaking  In this weeks episode I sit down with husband and wife filmmaking team Erin and Kyle to talk about their latest indie horror project, Zombie Con Vol. 1 a blood-soaked, heartfelt, and surprisingly funny take on fandom, filmmaking, and the undead. We chat about what it’s really like to make a feature film together as a coup...

Send us Fan Mail #IndieFilm #FilmmakingTips #TimeTravelIsDangerous #ShortToFeature #IndieFilmmakers #FilmPodcast In this episode, I sit down with filmmakers Hillary Shakespeare and Chris Reading to talk about the making of their indie sci-fi feature Time Travel Is Dangerous,  the journey of turning a short film concept into a full-length movie. We dive into how they built a stellar cast and why sh...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #crowdfunding #kickstarter #indiegogo This week on the podcast I sit down with actor, filmmaker, and crowdfunding coach Melissa Center for a deep dive into the world of indie filmmaking and raising money for your creative projects. Melissa shares her journey from producing her very first micro-budget feature to balancing the roles of both actor and producer. Alo...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmaking #filmpodcast #podcastclips #indiefilm  This week Jim sits down with writer-director Alexandru Borchescu to explore the bold leap that launched his first feature. Alexandru shares why he left film school in his final year, how he scraped together the funding on his own, and how he plans sales and distribution for the film. Check out Alexandru's filmmaking here: htt...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmaking #indiefilm #podcast  #microbudget #podcastclips  This week I sit down with playwright-turned-filmmaker Michael Head to trace his leap from the stage to the big screen. We dive into the skills he carried from theatre into directing his first feature, the art of crafting a gritty gangster movie on a shoestring, and what it’s really like working with legends like John Han...

Send us Fan Mail  #filmmaking  #indiefilm  #podcast  #podcastclips This week’s episode takes a bit of a different turn. I’m diving into the story of how I made my first feature film, The Witches Hammer, and sharing my best advice for getting your own debut project off the ground. Filmmaker Michael Marco joins as a guest host, putting me on the spot with questions about the production. I had no ide...

Send us Fan Mail #tubi #filmmaking #selfdistribution This week on the podcast I have a returning guest, filmmaker Justin Milton. I had Justin on about a year ago and it was one of my most popular episodes as Justin is a real source of knowledge when it comes to making money with low budget movies and Tubi, self distribution and getting your films to turn a profit.  I sat down with Justin to ask hi...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilm  This week I'm talking to writer/director William Kaufman. Will has made a bunch of action films both as an indie filmmaker but also as a director for hire. I ask Will about his career, his advice for new people entering the business, what he would do if he had to start from scratch and what it was like working with Linda Hamilton on...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilm  This week on the podcast I talk to filmmaker Andy Edwards. Andy started making shorts then wrote and directed his debut feature IBIZA UNDEAD (Zombie Spring Breakers) - he's a regular at Fright fest Film festival and has released a film ever year since 2022. I chat to Andy about his movies, how he funds them, shoots them and now why h...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #moviemaking #filmmaking #indiefilm  This week on the podcast I'm chatting to filmmaker Nathan Benham. Nathan started out as an actor and got frustrated with not getting the parts he wanted so he wrote and directed himself in a short monologue that was then taken on the festival circuit. Since then he's been putting together a dedicated team of cast an...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #moviemaking #indiefilm #movieproduction  This week on the podcast I break down some of the lessons I've learned working with actors on Low Budget and Micro Budget film productions. I talk about blocking, bad acting, then power of a good lead actor, the power shift on set and when to bend the rules. I also talk about working with Doctor Who actor Colin Bake...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #blackmirror #moviemaking #indiefilm  This week on the podcast I'm talking to Director Carl Tibbetts. Carl started his career editing before writing and directing his debut feature 'Retreat' starring Cillian Murphy, Thandie Newton and Jamie Bell. Carl then went on to direct two monumental episodes of Black Mirror as well as several other high prof...

Send us Fan Mail #filmmakingpodcast #filmmakersfamily #moviemaking #movieproduction #indiefilm  This week on the podcast I talk to indie director Ian Diaz. Ian has had a similar trajectory as me having shot his first feature films on film. I talk to Ian about some of the lessons shooting on film gives you during production, how he went from features to his series Rebecca Gold and his plans for the...