Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Latest Episodes:

Why Every Filmmaker Needs To Build An Audience & How You Can Start Today Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

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 success of many films, the psychology of attracting audience members, practical steps to build your audience from scratch, and much more.
For more on audience building, be sure to check out my course Online Audience Building For Filmmakers by clicking here.
You can also learn more about audience building on my filmmaking community The Backlot. Register by clicking here and get a free 7 day trial.
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From PA’ing For Martin Scorsese To Directing Million Dollar Feature Films With Director & Producer Joseph Mensch Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

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 course, we talk about the development and production of Payback at some length, detailing every step of the process from A to Z.
Links from the show:
Joseph on Instagram
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Luke Barnett, Writer/Producer of FAITH BASED on Creating Original Content, Landing Star Talent, and Raising Money For Your Movie Feb 05, 2021

Show notes

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 films for Funny or Die to producing feature films like Fear Inc. and Faith Based, while sharing invaluable tactical advice along the way. We talk about Luke’s development process, how he pulls together financing and attaches star talent to his films, his best practices for approaching agents and managers, and much more.
Links from the show:
Luke on Twitter
Luke on Instagram
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David F. Sandberg, Director of SHAZAM, ANNABELLE: CREATION, & LIGHTS OUT, On His Path From No Budget Horror Shorts To Studio Blockbusters Jan 29, 2021

Show notes

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 animation, David decided to make some no budget short films with his wife Lotta. One of them in particular - Lights Out - was shot in just one day with no crew, and ended up going viral on YouTube. This attracted the attention of Hollywood and the rest is history.
Throughout the interview we talk about David’s journey from no budget filmmaker to studio director, the biggest challenges he encountered along the way, advice for filmmakers who aspire to direct studio films, what makes someone a great director, and much more.
Links from the show:
David on Instagram
David on Twitter
David on YouTube
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How To Turn a Profit With Your Indie Film Today: An Interview Film Marketing Guru Kyle Prohaska Jan 21, 2021

Show notes

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 practices for filmmakers looking to turn a profit with their work. We chat about the drawbacks of releasing films on Amazon and iTunes, why building a library of titles can be the best strategy, how upcoming changes to social media advertising will impact filmmakers, and loads more.
Links from the show:
Prohaska Studios - Website
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Directing a $3500 Feature Film With Network Television Producer Turned Filmmaker Andrew Simonian Jan 21, 2021

Show notes

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 circuit.
Our discussion covers a full breakdown of Andrew’s film, why he chose to make it at this budget level, lessons learned along the way, and much more.
Links from the show:
Standard Media Company
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Introducing THE BACKLOT, An Exclusive Members Community For Feature Filmmakers Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

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 successful completion of each movie. You can think of it like an incubator for micro-budget feature films... But it can really be used however you see fit - whether for networking opportunities, feedback on your work, collaborations, or just as an educational experience.
Over the course of the show, I share the purpose behind this community, explain how it can be used make your feature film a reality, and touch on other fun details relating to guest speakers, giveaways, and more.
To sign up for The Backlot click here.
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Making A $1,000,000 Feature Film Debut With Co-Directors Sandy Sternshein & Brad Riddell Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

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 Back to the Grind (an upcoming project for Tony Hawk Productions). Both Sandy & Brad have also taught screenwriting for years and have collaborated since meeting in film school at USC.
Throughout the interview, we take a behind the scenes look at Later Days, exploring exactly how the film was pulled off from a creative and financial standpoint. We cover almost the entirety of the process, with special attention paid to development and fundraising. During this section, Sandy & Brad share some fantastic advice on raising money for a film, and outline each critical step they took along the way. All this and much more on today’s episode.
Links from the show:
Sandy - Twitter
Sandy - Instagram
Brad - Twitter
Brad - Instagram
Wry Mash Media - Website
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Cutting Theatrical Documentary Features With Mike J. Nichols, Editor of Zappa, Echo In The Canyon & Last Play At Shea Jan 09, 2021

Show notes

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 projects he’s worked on, his creative process, technical workflow, gear setup, and so much more. This is essential listening for documentary and narrative editors alike.
Links from the show -
Mike on Twitter
Mike on Instagram
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From Law And Politics To Indie Filmmaking With Michael Rekola, Founder Of The Capitol Hill Film Festival Jan 09, 2021

Show notes

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, while sharing invaluable insights for others who may be looking to do the same. We also chat all about the Capitol Hill Film Festival, why he decided to launch it, how it’s helped the industry come to him, what it’s taught him about filmmaking, and much more.
Links from the show -
Capitol Hill Film Festival - Instagram
Capitol Hill Film Festival - Twitter
Capitol Hill Film Festival - Website
Special Code: Anyone who uses "NOAM" at checkout will save 25% and only pay $5.99 to watch 70+ great short films on a 30 day virtual pass.
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