Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Latest Episodes:

Working on a Robert Rodriguez Produced Feature Film With Jamie Jung Jan 04, 2018

Show notes

Robert Rodriguez, the single biggest pioneer of micro-budget filmmaking, recently launched a new filmmaking initiative called Rebel Without a Crew. His goal was to give 5 filmmakers each a budget of $7000 and some guidance so they could each write and direct their own feature film. The whole process was documented as a series and will air in the near future on Robert’s own El Rey Network.
On today’s show, Noam interviews Jamie Jung - one of the talented actors that was fortunate to take part in the Rebel Without a Crew series. Over the course of the episode, Jamie goes into detail on some of the biggest lessons learned while making this film, some incredible tips from behind the scenes, what it was like to work on a project spearheaded by Rodriguez himself, and much more.
You can visit Jamie’s site here: www.jamiehjung.com
And for more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

5 Ways To Incease Your Odds Of Being Accepted Into Any Film Festival Dec 21, 2017

Show notes

Every filmmaker dreams of screening their work at Sundance or Cannes, but only a select few will ever have the fortune of receiving a coveted acceptance letter from a notable festival. And while there is no denying that it is only getting harder and harder to get into any film festival with each passing year, there are countless ways in which any filmmaker can increase their chances of beating the odds.
In this episode, Noam shares his opinions on film festivals from a top-level, explaining how filmmakers can leverage festivals to help them create the best and most marketable work possible, whether they are accepted or not. He also shares 5 crucial tips that any filmmaker at virtually any career stage can benefit from as they attempt to navigate the daunting world of film festivals.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Maximizing Creative Results & Profits By Applying The 80/20 Principle To Filmmaking Dec 14, 2017

Show notes

Productivity expert Tim Ferris often talks about the 80/20 principle, which states that 80% of our results can be attributed to just 20% of our efforts. While this principle can be applied to virtually anything - from business decisions to our personal lives - it has some uniquely poweful benefits for filmmakers that are looking to optimize their creative output and increase their income.
Many filmmakers feel that they don't have enough time to get their projects off the ground, or that they aren't seeing the career results they would expect given the amount of effort they put into their work... That's where the 80/20 principle comes in. It's all about identifying the ways in which we can trim the fat to ensure we aren't wasting our time on the wrong things, and that we are doubling down on our efforts that objectively give us the best return on our investment of time.
In this episode Noam pulls from his own personal experience, discussing how the 80/20 principle can apply to so many facets of filmmaking - from running your own production business, to optimizing results while writing, producing, or editing, and much more.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

How a 2 Person Crew Made a Feature Film For $11,000 Nov 30, 2017

Show notes

It’s always so inspiring to hear about filmmakers that are truly able to make something from nothing, and that’s very much the case with our guest today - Rebecca Weaver. With a production budget of only $11,000 and a crew of only 2 (Rebecca and her boyfriend, Chris), the filmmaking duo was able to pull off a successful feature film that spanned several months of production and later went on to tour the festival circuit.
In the true spirit of micro-budget filmmaking, Rebecca not only wrote and directed the feature, but also starred in it. Throughout the interview, she discusses how she was able to juggle so many different roles without sacrificing her vision, and what she ultimately learned from the process as a whole. She also shares her experience with film festivals, outlining how she was able to successfully get her feature - June Falling Down - accepted into 15 different festivals, picking up several awards along the way.
Links from the episode can be found below:
junefallingdown.com
twitter.com/junefallingdown
twitter.com/beccarooweaver
instagram.com/junefallingdown
instagram.com/beccarooweaver
And be sure to visit noamkroll.com for more content like this!

How A First Time Filmmaker Made An $8000 Feature In 13 Days Nov 17, 2017

Show notes

How do you make a feature film for just $8000 in 13 days? For writer/director Joe Baddon and actress Linnea Gregg, it was all about leveraging resources, maximizing creativity, and avoiding perfectionism.
With no experience directing narrative content in the past, Joe Badon was able to pull the trigger on his first feature - The God Inside My Ear - by thinking outside of the box and surrounding himself with a team of talented filmmakers and artists. One of these artists was Linnea Gregg, who brought her expertise as a theater actor to the table, ultimately helping production reach the finish line in record time.
Over the course of this interview, Joe and Linnea outline what it takes to pull off film without sacrificing quality, why shooting in a studio environment is a great option no matter what your budget may be, and the crucial importance of surrounding yourself with the right team.
Links from the show:
www.thegodinsidemyear.com
www.joebaddon.blogspot.com
www.instagram.com/linneagregg
And for more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Creative Distribution Options For Micro-Budget Filmmakers With Liz Manshil Nov 09, 2017

Show notes

Micro-budget filmmakers often put a tremendous amount of effort into production and post, but tend to lose steam when it comes time to distribute their work. Unfortunately, this means that many great films never find an audience, and end up collecting dust on a shelf rather than generating income for the filmmakers behind the project.
On today’s episode, Noam interviews Liz Manashil, the talented filmmaker behind the micro-budget feature film Bread and Butter. Liz is also the manager of the Creative Distribution Initiative at Sundance Institute, which has given her a tremendous amount of insight on the distribution process, especially with regards to micro-budget productions. Over the course of the interview, Liz shares her wealth of knowledge on all things distribution, sheds light on her strategy with her own feature film, and outlines Sundance’s Creative Distribution Initiative - explaining how she plans to use it to champion micro budget productions.
You can learn more about Liz on her website at www.lizmanashil.com
And for more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

5 Tough Listener Questions From True Micro-Budget Filmmakers Nov 02, 2017

Show notes

For the first time on the podcast, Noam takes listener questions that were sent in via e-mail and Twitter from micro-budget filmmakers looking for advice. Topics covered includes: the creative process, career advice, working with unprepared actors, abandoning projects and much more.
If you would like to have your question answered on a future episode, be sure to ask Noam via twitter at www.twitter.com/noamkroll
And for more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Why Making Movies Is Hard With Timothy Plain and Alrik Bursell Oct 26, 2017

Show notes

For the past two years Timothy Plain and Alrik Bursell have interviewed countless filmmakers on their popular podcast - Making Movies Is Hard. Over the course of these interviews the filmmaking duo have benefitted from a tremendous amount of professional insight covering every stage of the process from conception to distribution.
In today's episode, Timothy and Alrik generously share some of the most valuable lessons they have learned along the way, both as hosts of the MMIH podcast and as filmmakers in their own right. Topics covered include the state of independent/micro-budget film today, breaking in to the business, the writing process, fundraising/budget considerations and much more.
You can check out more of Timothy and Alrik's material using the links below:
http://www.makingmoviesishard.com
https://twitter.com/TimothyPlain
https://twitter.com/AlrikB
And for more content like this be sure to visit www.noamkroll.com

From Idea To Finished Film: Making A Micro-Budget Feature In 6 Months Oct 19, 2017

Show notes

While most studio level feature films take many years to produce, micro-budget films often come together far more quickly as there is less red tape involved at every stage. In fact, some filmmakers have realized their visions in as little as 6 months, which is virtually unheard of in filmmaking at other budget levels.
In this episode, Noam outlines his optimal 6 month feature film schedule - from concept to finished product - and explains how this type of time constraint can benefit the creative process. He walks listeners through every stage, detailing how much time should be allocated to writing, pre-production, production, and post, in order to execute the strongest possible final product in as little time as possible.
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

An Interview With Literary Manager & Writing Consultant Whitney Davis Oct 12, 2017

Show notes

Micro-budget films have increased in technical quality by leaps and bounds over the past decade, but many still fail to reach an audience as a result of underdeveloped stories and screenplays. This has ultimately become the achilles heel for so many micro-budget filmmakers, which is why it’s so imperative that every filmmaker, regardless of budget, places an equal weight on the writing process.
In today’s episode, Noam interviews Whitney Davis - a literary manager who started in this business as a TV writer (represented by William Morris Agency), and later moved into script consulting and management. Over the course of this interview, Whitney pulls from her diverse background as a writer, consultant, and manager to share invaluable advice on screenwriting that is universally applicable to any filmmaker looking to strengthen their work.
To learn more about Whitney, visit her website here: www.whitneydavisliterary.com
For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

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