Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Latest Episodes:

How To Create Profitable Virtual Events For Your Films With Mihai Crasneanu & Tess Fenn Of Beem Dec 16, 2020

Show notes

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-distribution, as virtual events can be far more profitable than releasing your film to an SVOD/TVOD library. Over the course of our interview, Mihai and Tess speak to this at some length, outlining best practices for filmmakers looking to leverage Beem as a mechanism to bring their title to an audience, and generate revenue in the process. They also share the story behind Beem, touch on marketing and distribution tips for filmmakers, and much more.
Links from the show -
https://www.watchbeem.com
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Writing, Directing, DP’ing, and Editing a $1300 Micro-Budget Feature Film With Filmmaker Chris Riggi Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

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, while breaking down his process making a feature film that was fully produced from start to finish during the pandemic. We also talk about why Chris likes to DP his own work, what it was like to work from a scriptment, how he captured dynamic shots with minimal shooting time, why he released the film without waiting on festivals, and much more.
Links from the show:
Chris Riggi - Instagram
Good Luck With Everything - Amazon
This episode is sponsored by Film Local - http://filmlocal.com
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Editing for SNL, Directing For Major Brands, and Developing Original Content With Emmy Award Winner Steven Pierce Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

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 I was fortunate to be on earlier this year.
We cover a lot of ground over the course of the interview, with special attention paid to Steven's time at SNL, working as an editor and visual effects artist. He walks us through his technical and creative process, and shares his insanely demanding weekly post-production workflow that you'll need to hear about to believe. All this and much more on today's show!
Links from the show:
Independent Filmmakers Guide
Framework Productions - Website
Framework Productions - Instagram
Steven Pierce - Instagram
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Crossover Episode Featuring Michael Bachochin and Brooke Lorraine Of Filmmaker’s Corner Podcast Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

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 Website
Parallax - Facebook
Parallax - Instagram
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

How To Craft a Riveting SXSW Documentary Feature With Director Josh Tsui of INSERT COIN Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

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 of hours of footage, outlines why he edited most of the film on a MacBook Air, and shares his decision to turn down an offer to screen an early cut of his film at SXSW 2018 - which is just the tip of the iceberg. The ingenuity behind this movie is truly impressive, and is sure to inspire documentary and narrative filmmakers alike.
Links from the show:
Insert Coin - Alamo Drafthouse
Insert Coin - Instagram
Insert Coin - Twitter
Josh Tsui - Twitter
For more content like this be sure to visit www.noamkroll.com

Landing Financing, Booking Name Talent, And Directing a Debut Feature Film With Director Noam Tomaschoff Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

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 fundraising to post-production and beyond. He also generously shares some tough lessons he learned on set in the first week of production that offer invaluable insight to virtually any first time filmmaker.
Links from the show:
Tankhouse - Instagram
Noam Tomaschoff - Instagram
Noam Tomaschoff - Website
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Screenwriting on a Micro-Budget: How to Make an Impact With Your Story While Embracing Limitations Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

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 film (coming from larger budget productions), and the exact writing workflow that he's following along the way. All this and much more on today's episode!
AFM 2020 Session and Logos courtesy of AFM. Copyright 2020. IFTA. All Rights Reserved.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Self Funding Your Films, Transitioning From Acting To Directing, Working Outside Of Hollywood & More With Filmmaker & Podcaster Damien Swaby Nov 13, 2020

Show notes

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 viability of self-funding your films, why grant money isn't always ideal, lessons from Damien's top podcast guests, and much more.
Links from the show:
Filmmaking Conversations Podcast
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Crowdfunding Done Right With Emily Best, Founder and CEO Of Seed & Spark Oct 23, 2020

Show notes

This week I'm thrilled to be joined by Emily Best, the Founder and CEO of the wildly popular crowdfunding platform Seed & Spark. As many of you know, Seed & Spark takes a very different approach to crowdfunding, one that is specifically tailored for filmmakers and content creators, which is what makes it so uniquely valuable.
Over the course of our discussion, Emily outlines exactly what it takes to successfully raise funds via crowdfunding while avoiding many of the common pitfalls. We also chat about the importance of audience building as it pertains to fundraising, distribution challenges for indie filmmakers this year, and countless other key lessons for filmmakers looking to build a long term, sustainable career.
Links from the show:
Seed & Spark - Events
Seed & Spark - Fund
Seed & Spark - Twitter
Seed & Spark - Facebook
Seed & Spark - Instagram
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Shooting High Concept Films On iPhones With Filmmaker John Woosley Oct 16, 2020

Show notes

This week I'm joined by filmmaker John Woosley, who is here to talk all about his latest short film Mason & Jay Save The World, which was shot almost entirely on an iPhone.
Over the course of our chat we talk all about this unique short film, how it was pulled off from a technical perspective, and why John plans to continue shooting movies on iPhones moving ahead. John also shares best practices for other filmmakers to follow when approaching mobile filmmaking/cinematography, how mobile filmmaking can give you an edge on the film festival circuit, and much more.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

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