Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Latest Episodes:

Editing Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep, Who Is America, And More With Roger Nygard Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

I'm thrilled to be joined by editor and director Roger Nygard for an insightful discussion all about the editorial process. Roger is known as an editor for his work on television series like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep, Who Is America, and countless others. But he is also an established director, lending his talents to The Office and The Bernie Mac Show, all while spearheading his own feature film projects too.
Throughout the interview, Roger shares his wealth of knowledge on the storytelling process, drawn from over 30 years of experience working in Hollywood. We discuss how filmmakers can "shoot for the edit", Roger's specific creative workflows, and loads of practical editing tricks. Roger also details his own history as a director and editor, along with lessons learned from working in the edit bay with great talents like Larry David, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Links from the show:
Roger Nygard - Website
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Making A $1000 Feature, Producing For Amazon & Running A Commercial Production Company With The Lewis Brothers Mar 03, 2022

Show notes

In this episode I'm joined by filmmaking duo Taylor Lewis and Burke Lewis.
Taylor and Burke run a successful commercial production company (Atomic City), and produce high end content for brands like Amazon, Microsoft, and DJI. But they also have a passion for true micro-budget filmmaking, going so far as to make an entire feature film for just $1000. Throughout the interview, we discuss Taylor and Burke's strategy for growing their production company, how they've thrived outside of major film markets, their philosophy on narrative productions, and loads more.
Links from the show
Film Creator Pro - Handbook
Film Creator Pro - Instagram
Film Creator Pro - Facebook
Atomic City - Website
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Bryn Woznicki & Skye Emerson Break Down The Production Of ”Under The Influencer” Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

In this episode I am joined by Bryn Woznicki (director) and Skye Emerson (screenwriter), the filmmaking duo behind Under The Influencer.
After making a $450K feature titled Her Side of The Bed, Bryn chose to embrace the world of ultra micro-budget filmmaking. Through a collaboration with Skye (a recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Screenwriting Fellowship at the Sundance Film Festival), the team was able to secure $25,000 in funding through We Make Movies to go into production. Bryn and Skye share their journey at length throughout the interview, from the origins of the concept to how they navigated this challenging budget level.
Links from the show:
Bryn - Website
Bryn - Twitter
Bryn - Facebook
Skye - Website
Under The Influencer - Website
Jill Bennet - Instagram
Lauren Neal - Instagram
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Making Music For Netflix, Sean Baker, Paul Schrader & More With Composer Roman Molino Dunn Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

Today I am joined by award winning film composer and billboard charting producer Roman Molino Dunn.
Roman has found incredible success in the industry, working on major projects for Netflix (AI Love You), Sean Baker (Red Rocket) and Paul Schrader (The Card Counter), among countless others. Last year alone, his work screened at 3 of the top film festivals in the world: Cannes, Venice and Toronto.
Throughout the interview Roman takes a deep dive into his creative process, sharing invaluable lessons for filmmakers looking to maximize the impact of their score.
Links from the show:
Roman Molino Dunn - Instagram
Roman Molino Dunn - Website
Mirrortone Studios
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Making a $7000 Feature Film In 14 Days With Filmmaking Duo Brent Lydic and Tip Scarry Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

Today I am joined by filmmaking duo Brent Lydic and Tip Scarry, who are here to give us a behind the scenes look into their new feature film Spirit Quest.
This micro-budget indie was made on a shoestring budget of just $7000 over the course of 14 shooting days. By taking an unconventional approach to production, Brent and Tip pulled off an impressive debut feature film that ultimately landed distribution with Gravitas, and is now widely available on VOD. Listen to the full episode for the entire breakdown, along with invaluable lessons learned at each step.
Links from the show:
Spirit Quest - Amazon
Spirit Quest - iTunes
Spirit Quest - Instagram
Spirit Quest - Facebook
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Making a $6000 Feature With No Crew In 11 Days With Director Pete Ohs Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

Today I am joined by writer/director Pete Ohs, here to give us a behind the scenes look into his latest feature film titled Youngstown.
After debuting as a feature director with Everything Is Beautiful Far Away - a traditionally financed indie starring Julia Garner and Joseph Cross, Pete wanted to try a different approach. Despite the success of his first film (including distribution with The Orchard), the process wasn't what Pete was looking for. He wanted to make a movie that was more creatively freeing and fun, and this was only possible by scaling things down to a bare minimum.
By financing the movie himself and acting as the entire crew, Pete was not only able to pull off a completed movie, but truly enjoy the process at every step. Throughout the interview Pete shares his journey at length - from his budget breakdown to the gear he used, and loads more.
Links from the show:
Pete Ohs - Instagram
Youngstown - Amazon
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Achieving Blockbuster Results On a Micro-Budget With Feature Film Director Keon Hedayati Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

In this episode I am joined by director Keon Hedayati, who is here to talk all about his debut feature film Karma Bums, which is now entering distribution.
Despite a limited budget (under $100K), Keon was able to successfully craft a final product with the look, feel and polish of a high end studio feature. Throughout the discussion, Keon shares insight into how he achieved these kind of results by building the right team, taking them on cross-country road trip, and capturing lightning in a bottle. He also shares wild stories from set - from breaking bones during a fight scene to being shot at for filming - and how he overcame challenges at each step.
Links from the show:
Keon Hedayati - Instagram
Keon Hedayati - Twitter
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Building A Thriving YouTube Channel & Making Micro-Budget Films With Rubidium Wu Of Crimson Engine Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

Today I am joined by filmmaker and host of the popular Crimson Engine YouTube channel, Rubidium Wu - who is currently in post-production for his latest feature film titled The Devil’s Fortune.
Throughout the interview Rubidium shares a behind the scenes look into how he built his incredible YouTube Channel from the ground up, and how it serves as an asset in his feature filmmaking journey. He also touches on his distribution philosophy, editorial process, approach to working outside of LA, and loads more. This is a must listen for any filmmaker looking to use content creation as a means to bring their passion projects to life.
Links from the show:
Crimson Engine - YouTube Channel
Canon Masterclass - Website
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The Intersection of Art & Business With Creative Entrepreneur Sara Quiriconi Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

Today I am joined by actor, author, filmmaker & entrepreneur Sara Quiriconi, to talk all about the intersection of business and creativity.
Sara has found success across multiple mediums - from her renowned book titled Living Cancer Free to her popular blog, social media, and podcast channels. As a huge proponent of entrepreneurship and content creation for filmmakers, I was excited to have Sara on the show to unpack her experience at length.
Throughout the episode she shares best practices for leveraging business to unleash your creativity, how to prioritize your creative pursuits, why you shouldn’t chase the perfect work-life balance, and so much more.
Links from the show:
Sara Quiriconi - Instagram
Sara Quiriconi - Twitter
Sara Quiriconi - YouTube
Sara Quiriconi - Website
Never Settle - Podcast
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Overcoming Blocks & Reaching Your Creative Potential With Filmmaker Matthew Temple Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

Joining me today is filmmaker Matthew Temple, who recently directed the documentary Hardball: The Girls of Summer, which was released by Vertical entertainment last year.
Matthew also runs a great podcast, has written books on creativity, and holds workshops all over the world to help empower creatives. Naturally, all of this made for a great conversation that covers everything from creative blocks and how to overcome them, to the creative journey as a whole. He also speaks to his own experience balancing creativity with work, why he left a high paying job in Hollywood to go the independent route, and much more.
Links from the show:
Matthew Temple - Website
Matthew Temple - Production company
Matthew Temple - Podcast
Hardball - Movie Website
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