The Next Film

What does it actually take to self-fund an entire feature film, shoot it on every format of film ever made, invent two new cinematic formats in the process— and make a movie so stunning that people think you spent millions? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with renowned photographer and filmmaker Tyler Shields, whose indie feature 'Chapter 51' looks nothing like an indie at all....

What does it actually take to level up as a director, and what can two days inside a room full of working directors teach you about making your next film? In this episode, The Next Film goes live! Jessica covered the Alliance of Women Directors' Back to Set Working Directors Intensive— a two-day symposium bringing together working directors and industry leaders for workshops, masterclasses, and pa...

Rejection is part of filmmaking. But what happens when it actually breaks you? In this solo episode, I get candid about a heartbreaking rejection I experienced just last week for my next feature— and what it took to come out the other side. This isn't a polished "here's the lesson I learned years ago" story. I'm still in it. But I'm forging ahead. Because when rejection h...

What does it actually take to direct four indie features— and land Awkwafina, Anthony Ramos, and Ken Jeong for your most ambitious one yet? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with Mercedes Bryce Morgan, a director whose career spans horror, erotic thriller, and now surrealist dark comedy. Mercedes just wrapped her 4th feature 'Kaet Might Die' and this is the first intervie...

What does it actually take to shoot your first feature on 16mm film, get nominated for cinematography alongside Hoyte van Hoytema, and build a career as one of indie horror's most distinctive visual voices? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with cinematographer Ksusha Genenfeld, whose work on the Shudder horror film 'A Wounded Fawn' earned her a cinematography nominat...

What happens when your short film goes viral, sparks a four-studio bidding war, Darren Aronofsky sends you a cold email, and you become the youngest filmmaker ever signed to a major studio— and then the film doesn't get greenlit? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with Wesley Wang, 21-yr-old writer/director, Harvard student, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. His short film 'nothing,...

What does it actually take to write, direct, produce, and edit your debut feature for $86,000 — win the SXSW Audience Award — and then leap to a $10 million Sony Pictures studio film that opens at #1 at the box office? In this episode of The Next Film, we sit down with Emmy-nominated Australian filmmaker Jessica M. Thompson, whose journey from scrappy indies to Hollywood studio director is as hone...

What does it actually take to go from writing and producing your first indie feature to directing a Netflix original—while starring in all of them? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with filmmaker and actress Leah McKendrick, whose journey from a $250K SXSW debut to a Netflix original is one of the most honest and hard-won stories in indie film right now. Leah wrote, directed, an...

I’m currently making my second feature film—and I’ve already made some mistakes along the way. In this episode, I break down the biggest lessons I’ve learned in real time—from getting ignored by press to approaching major actors too early, and how I’m adjusting my strategy moving forward. If you’re an indie filmmaker trying to get your film made, attach talent, or get press attention, this is the...

What does it actually take to go from talking about movies to making one? In this episode of The Next Film, I sit down with James and Anthony Devaney, hosts of the Raiders of the Lost Podcast—a film podcast with over 1,000+ episodes and a loyal audience of movie lovers. Now, they’re making their first feature film. We dive into: • How to prepare your film before seeking funding • Building a proof...

If you’re waiting for funding to start your film… this episode is for you. In this second solo episode, I break down why funding shouldn’t be your first concern as a filmmaker—and what you should focus on instead if you actually want to get your film made. I share real experiences from my own journey, including how being prepared to pitch at any moment led to unexpected funding opportunities. This...

How do you go from making a micro-budget indie film to landing a 700-theater release—without getting into a single major film festival? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with filmmaker John-Michael Powell on his journey from his microbudget feature to IFC's 'Violent Ends'—sharing the real, unfiltered process of directing, casting, scheduling, editing, and distributing...

How does an indie film with a limited budget and schedule make it all the way to the Oscars? In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with with the Oscar-nominated artists behind 'The Ugly Stepsister', Thomas Foldberg and Anne Catherine Sauerberg, to talk about the craft, collaboration, and creativity that brought the film to life and garnered much attention & accolades — fr...

In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with her own Executive Producer and film investor Jeffrey Weber to break down how independent films really get financed — and what makes an investor say yes to a project. Jeff has executive produced numerous independent films including the Tribeca-premiering documentary 'Chasing Chasing Amy', Jessica's award-winning feature debut &#39...

In this first solo episode of The Next Film, I break down the beginning of my next indie feature, 'Candy' — from securing the rights to a short story, negotiating contracts, and collaborating with the original author, to raising development funds and setting up the legal foundation before writing a single word. Walking you through the real, behind-the-scenes process, I share the exact emai...

In this episode of The Next Film, actor Will Madden joins Jessica Michael Davis for an in-depth conversation about indie filmmaking, directing actors, and what actually makes filmmakers successful. Will has starred in multiple independent features that premiered at Sundance, SXSW, TIFF, Slamdance and beyond — and brings a rare perspective from both micro-budget productions and studio-backed indie...

In this episode, I sit down with the GOAT, Thom Kuo, to demystify shooting on film for an independent feature and help me best prepare for my next film on 16mm. About the Guest: Thom is a film scanner at Company 3 and has worked on some of the most iconic films of our time — including I,Tonya, Baby Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Little Women, Maestro, La La Land, Django Unchained, A Quiet Pla...

What does pre-production on an indie feature actually look like — just weeks before cameras roll? In this first full episode of  The Next Film , we sit down with the producing team behind the upcoming Tribeca-backed indie feature  Snare  — Sonja O’Hara, MARS, and Adam Hoelzel — as they are deep in pre-production. We talk candidly about: — Balancing creative ambition with budget realities — Wearing...