Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Latest Episodes:

Self Distribution, DIY Marketing, And Making A Profit With Your Indie Film Aug 16, 2018

Show notes

For this week's interview, Jason Brubaker of Distribber joins me to share his wealth of knowledge on all things marketing & distribution. Distribber is one of the largest and most prominent aggregators for independent films out there, giving filmmakers without traditional distribution deals the ability to sell their content globally, through iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, and countless other platforms.
During the interview, Jason outlines exactly what it takes to turn a profit with an indepdent film while working with an aggregator like Distribber. Using case studies and real world examples, Jason outlines a bulletproof method for setting sales targets for any indie film, and reaching those targets through purposeful marketing. Topics covered include: the importance of using a "windowed" release strategy, the differences between popular TVOD, SVOD, & AVOD platforms, how to use grassroots marketing to drive your film up the charts, what Netflix is looking for when licensing independent content, and much more.
You can learn more about distribber at their website here: www.distribber.com
And for more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Winning Sundance & SXSW With Thunder Road Director Jim Cummings Aug 09, 2018

Show notes

This week, Jim Cummings - Director of THUNDER ROAD - joins me on the show to demystify the process behind his massive success in filmmaking over the past few years. Jim won Sundance in 2016 with his short version of Thunder Road,and went on to win SXSW in 2018 with his full length feature adaptation of the film.
Over the course of this hour long interview, Jim shares his creative process at length, touching on every key aspect - development, screenwriting, directing, performance, editorial, and even self-distribution. He also speaks passionatley about his biggest advice for filmmakers - just getting out there and making a movie - and the importance of building a sustainable career in today’s indie film landscape.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Securing Theatrical Distribution For A Feature Documentary With Don Hardy Aug 02, 2018

Show notes

In this week’s episode, I interview Don Hardy - an extremely accomplished documentary filmmaker whose most recent feature film, Pick Of The Litter, is being released theatrically by IFC films later this month.
Don and his co-director (Dana Nachman) have an incredible track record of finding success with their feature docs, beginning with their film “Witch Hunt” in 2008 - A complete DIY project that was able to secure Sean Penn as a narrator, and premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival.
Over the course of the interview, Don outlines his approach to the art and business of documentary filmmaking, detailing his process for taking an idea from concept to completion, and securing theatrical distribution along the way.
Links from the show:
Don’s production company - http://ktffilms.com
Don on Twitter - https://twitter.com/IamDonHardy
Don on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/don.hardy1
Pick of the litter trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW7GVR2c80k
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

How To Build An Online (Or Offline) Community That Supports Your Creative Work Jul 27, 2018

Show notes

One of the most essential ingredients for success in today’s filmmaking landscape, is the ability to build an online community that is supportive of your work. Many of the most successful filmmakers, artists, and other creative entrepreneurs have been able to thrive artistically and financially, simply by harnessing the power of community engagement.
While building a sustainable community around your passion, interests, and abilities has never been easier, it is still no easy feat. It takes a tremendous amount of time, dedication, and sweat equity, but those who are willing to put in the legwork are rewarded massively over the course of their careers. In this episode, we discuss the fundamental building blocks of any strong creative community, and how you can build one of your own that is based around your unique skills and abilities.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

What Really Happens When You Get Your Feature Into A Festival Jul 19, 2018

Show notes

Last month my feature film - Shadows On The Road premiered at Dances With Films here in Los Angeles. Using my festival experience as a case study, in this episode I detail exactly what to expect after you get your acceptance letter.
Topics covered include: Deliverables, DCPs, Press Kits, Publicity/PR, Festival screenings, Distribution, and much more.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

5 Ways To Survive Life As a Filmmaker & Build A Sustainable Career Jul 12, 2018

Show notes

Filmmaking is one of the toughest businesses to work in, as there is no clear path to success and a tremendous amount of competition. The amount of turnover in the industry is staggering, and many aspiring filmmakers only make one or two films before they call it quits.
In order to succeed in film, it's clear you need to play the long game. It can take years to develop the right skills, cultivate mutually beneficial relationships, and build a body of work that can ultimately serve as the foundation for a successful career. And with that, this episode focuses on 5 of the most crucial factors that all filmmakers need to take into account in order to beat the odds, and stay afloat in what can be a grueling industry.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

The Business Of Freelancing With Acclaimed Director Cole Walliser May 24, 2018

Show notes

As a filmmaker, understanding how to find work, land bigger and better projects, and actually make a living while freelancing is as important (if not more) than learning the craft itself. No one knows that better than today’s guest - Cole Walliser - an acclaimed commercial and music video Director based in Los Angeles, who went from shooting skateboarding videos with friends to directing content for Katy Perry, Pink, Miley Cyrus, and countless other artists and brands.
Over the course of the interview, Cole shares his unique journey as a filmmaker, outlining each step he took to develop his passion for filmmaking into a thriving and sustainable career. Topics covered include: how to get started as a director, whether or not owning gear is essential, how to know when to take unpaid work, landing large clients, working with the DGA, the importance of social media, and much more.
To check out more of Cole’s work, use the links below:
www.colewalliser.com
www.instagram.com/colewalliser
www.youtube.com/ColeWalliser
www.twitter.com/colione
And for more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Getting Your Indie Film Programmed At Festivals With Karolyne Sosa May 17, 2018

Show notes

The film festival submission process can be extremely daunting for filmmakers, especially those that have no experience on the festival circuit. Many filmmakers neglect to understand what festivals are truly looking for with their submissions, and don’t give themselves the best chance possible to get programmed.
In today’s episode, Karolyne Sosa, Programming Director for DTLAFF, sheds light on the programming process - sharing inside info from behind the scenes, outlining exactly what goes into creating a festival slate. Topics discussed include: programming blind submissions vs. curated films, optimizing communication with festivals, what the programming process entails, how to pre-market your work, what happens after getting programmed, and much more.
To submit your film for free to DTLAFF, be one of the first 10 listeners to e-mail: info@DTLAFF.com with the subject: DTLAFF & Noam Kroll
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

5 Options For Financing Your Independent Feature Film May 10, 2018

Show notes

Micro-budget filmmakers are often far more focused on the creative aspects of their projects than the business side. This can pose challenges for those aiming to raise a substantial budget for their films, as many don’t know where to start, or simply assume crowdfunding is their only option.
In today’s episode, we break down the basics of each of the major financing options indie filmmakers have at their disposal. Topics covered include: crowdfunding, private equity, foreign pre-sales, distributor financing, and more. We also discuss how to identify which financing model is most relevant for any given film, based on the goals and objectives of the filmmakers behind the project.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Editing The Perfect Trailer For Your Independent Feature Film Apr 26, 2018

Show notes

Many filmmakers end up editing their own feature films, as low budget projects typically call for everyone on board (including the director) to wear many hats. These same filmmakers are also usually left with the responsibility of cutting their own trailers too, which can be far more challenging than feature edit itself.
Trailer editing really is its own art form. Large scale feature films are almost always sent to dedicated trailer houses/trailer editors who specialize in this area, as cutting an effective promo piece takes an entirely different set of skills. Independent and micro-budget films don't have this luxury, so lower budget directors/editors must develop a new skill set if they want to deliver an effective trailer that truly does their film justice.
In this episode, we explore several key considerations on this topic - from the importance of priotizing the audio bed, to avoiding the temptation of telling the whole story in just 2 minutes, and much more.
For more content like this, or to check out the trailer for SHADOWS ON THE ROAD visit www.noamkroll.com