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 some known cast (Adrienne Barbeau and Marc Blucas), and landed distribution after premiering at the ...
Jul 30, 2021•59 min
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 vision to life, and so much more. Dan also shares his perspective on what film festivals and distribut...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 9 min
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 historical significance to the scientific community. This location served as the launching pad for an...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 12 min
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 color grading, audio mixing, and deliverables. Throughout this episode we chat all about the competition...
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 2 min
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 months it landed her financing for the feature length version. Throughout the interview we discuss wh...
Jun 24, 2021•1 hr 21 min
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 working together under one roof in the North Georgia mountains. The film went on to have a successfu...
Jun 18, 2021•54 min
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 concept to delivery, and has been endorsed by some of the most respected names in Hollywood. Throughout th...
Jun 11, 2021•1 hr 7 min
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 little to nothing for their launch. This causes the vast majority micro-budget feature films to get...
May 28, 2021•24 min
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 Leandro’s creative process and discuss exactly what it took for him to find success in so many differ...
May 28, 2021•58 min
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 your own production company, and more. I don’t often speak about my commercial work on the podcast or m...
May 07, 2021•1 hr 9 min
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 their work in new ways. There’s a lot of debate as to the viability of NFTs in the filmmaking space, s...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 18 min
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 benefits of podcasting for filmmakers, and why it's a path many filmmakers may want to consider. We also ta...
Apr 15, 2021•1 hr 2 min
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. In this solo episode, I share my thoughts on why having a built-in audience is critical to the succe...
Apr 12, 2021•30 min
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 outlining how he was able to secure an agent at ICM by means of a local film festival screening. And of cour...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 5 min
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 bootstrapping their own projects. Throughout the interview, Luke shares his journey from creating DIY short fi...
Feb 05, 2021•1 hr 18 min
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 permission - As we talk about throughout the interview, after years of working in documentary and ani...
Jan 29, 2021•1 hr 2 min
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 paints a realistic picture of the marketing and distribution landscape today, while detailing best practi...
Jan 21, 2021•1 hr 31 min
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 minute comedy thriller with a virtually non-existent budget, and is now gearing up for the festival cir...
Jan 21, 2021•1 hr 19 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), and The Backlot provides the structure, education, and accountability needed to ensure the success...
Jan 15, 2021•14 min
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 background is in the independent world, with writing credits on films like Pushing Forty and ...
Jan 15, 2021•1 hr 29 min
On this episode, I’m joined by acclaimed filmmaker and editor Mike J. Nichols, known for his amazing work on countless documentary features like Last Play At Shea, Echo In The Canyon, and (most recently) Zappa. Mike generously shares his wealth of knowledge gained through an incredible career in post-production, leading off with a wild story about how he broke into the business by creating an unofficial edit of a Star Wars film. We also take a behind the scenes look at many of the iconic project...
Jan 09, 2021•54 min
Many would-be filmmakers dream of leaving their day jobs to make films, but few ever take the leap. Today’s guest is certainly an exception to the rule. Michael Rekola spent years working as a lawyer in the political world, and even served as the Communications Director for the U.S. House Of Representatives in 2014-2015, before leaving it behind to pursue a career independent film. Throughout our chat, Michael outlines exactly what it took to jump ship and make such a drastic career change, whil...
Jan 09, 2021•1 hr 12 min
On this episode, I’m joined by Mihai Crasneanu (CEO) and Tess Fenn (Director of Communities & Impact) to hear all about their incredibly innovative streaming platform - Beem. Unlike SVOD or TVOD platforms like Amazon and Apple that offer viewers an endless library of film titles, Beem is focused on creating special live virtual events for films, in a sense mimicking the in-person theatrical experience. This solves a major issue for filmmakers looking to monetize their film through self-distr...
Dec 16, 2020•1 hr 19 min
Joining me today is actor turned auteur, Chris Riggi - here to talk all about his debut micro-budget feature film Good Luck With Everything. This film was shot in just 5 days on a shoestring budget of $1300, with Chris not only stepping in as the writer/director, but also DP’ing, producing, and editing the film. Chris is also an acclaimed actor, with leading credits in shows like Gossip Girl and movies like Vampires Suck. Throughout the episode he shares his journey from actor to filmmaker, whil...
Dec 15, 2020•1 hr 6 min
On this episode, I am joined by Steven Pierce - a multi-hyphenate filmmaker with a wealth of experience in both tv & film well as advertising/commercial production. Steven's career has led him to edit four seasons worth of material for Saturday Night Live, direct content for brands like Hulu, Amazon & Jaguar, and direct live shows for artists like Ed Sheeran, Twenty One Pilots, and Sheryl Crow, just to name a few highlights. He also hosts the Independent Filmmaker's Guide podcast, which ...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 13 min
In this special crossover episode with the Filmmaker's Corner podcast, I chat with writer/director Michael Bachochin and producer Brooke Lorraine about their micro-budget sci-fi feature film Parallax. Over the course of our discussion we touch on the entire creative process behind this ambitious feature, go into detail on the business strategy behind the movie, and discuss the unique distribution angle being explored by the producing team. The Primal Group - Production Company Parallax - Movie W...
Dec 03, 2020•55 min
Joining me on this episode is documentary feature filmmaker Josh Tsui, whose new film Insert Coin premiered earlier this year at SXSW and is out everywhere this week! The film tells the amazing behind-the-scenes story of one of the greatest video game studios of all time – Midway Games. This is one of the most fascinating documentaries I’ve seen in a long time, and learning how it was made only made it more compelling. Throughout the interview Josh details his workflow for cutting down hundreds ...
Nov 24, 2020•1 hr 4 min
On this episode, I am joined by Noam Tomaschoff (yes, another Noam!), to talk about his upcoming debut feature film Tankhouse. While many filmmaker's first features are bootstrapped on a micro-budget using DIY tactics, Noam was able to defy the odds on Tankhouse by raising a large enough budget for a 30 - 40 person crew, and strong ensemble cast featuring known actors like Christopher Lloyd and Richard Kind. Throughout the interview, Noam walks us through each critical step of his process - from...
Nov 24, 2020•1 hr 26 min
This is episode features my recent live interview with Bryan Hill from AFM 2020. Bryan is an acclaimed screenwriter known for writing shows like Titans, Ash vs. The Evil Dead, and the upcoming Power Rangers movie. He was on the podcast back on Episode 75, and that interview has since become a fan favorite. This time around, the focus of our chat is Bryan's upcoming micro-budget feature film. We talk about his decision to work on a smaller canvas, how he's approaching the writing process on this ...
Nov 24, 2020•1 hr 10 min
This week I'm joined by UK based filmmaker Damien Swaby, who hosts the popular Filmmaking Conversations podcast. I was fortunate enough to be interviewed on Damien's show a couple years back, and thought it was about time to have Damien on my podcast for an updated chat. Over the course of our interview, Damien outlines his unique journey as a filmmaker, which started years ago when he transitioned from working as an actor to embracing the role of director. We cover a wide range of topics; the v...
Nov 13, 2020•50 min
