Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Latest Episodes:

Directing a Vertical Series For Candy Jar, Feature Films & More With Filmmaker Emily Elizabeth Thomas Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

Filmmaker Emily Elizabeth Thomas joins me this week to break down the making of her debut feature film Keily: Homecoming Dweeb, a YA romance that bridges classic rom-com elements with bold visual experimentation.
Emily shares how the project grew out of a Candy Jar–financed vertical web series, why she embraced an unconventional format to connect with Gen Z, and how she maintained her distinctive voice on both the series and the feature.
We also dive deep into practical directing craft - from navigating budgets and production constraints to lens testing, working with young actors, rewriting on set, and keeping tone at the center of every decision. Topics include:

Moving from commercials to narrative filmmaking by way of a vertical series
Why embracing nontraditional formats can expand your audience reach
Practical strategies for navigating low budgets without sacrificing vision
The role of zoom lenses and lens testing in creating emotional storytelling
Building authentic performances with young actors through collaborative rehearsals
Managing tone as a director’s primary responsibility
Much more.

Links from the show:
Watch Keily: Homecoming Dweeb on Candy Jar
Keily: Homecoming Dweeb on IMDb
Emily Elizabeth Thomas – Official Portfolio
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Shooting A No-Crew / No Permit Feature On Blackmagic With Filmmaker Dave Hill Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I’m joined by director and photographer Dave Hill to discuss the making of his second feature film — a visually dynamic, deeply personal story shot with virtually no crew in the Arizona desert. All on the Blackmagic Pocket 4K.
Throughout the interview we dive deep into Dave’s tactics and workflow, and explore how they empowered him to fully own the visual language of his film. Topics covered include:

Why Dave ditched the traditional crew structure and shot entirely handheld
How the Blackmagic Pocket 4K + Micro Four Thirds sensor unlocked his style
The pros and cons of running sound without a sound person
Leveraging camera choice and post-production to mimic the 16mm film aesthetic
Recasting day players, last-minute locations, and other stories from set
Why low-budget filmmaking is actually a gift when paired with the right creative vision
Much more!

Links from the show:
Dave Hill – Instagram
Dave Hill – Website
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Making A No Crew Feature Supported By David Lowery With Filmmaker Julian Sol Jordan Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker Julian Sol Jordan to talk about his self-made debut feature Real Life — an 82-minute hybrid narrative-documentary that was shot, directed, edited, colored, and mixed entirely by himself.
The film, which screened recently at the Texas Theatre in Dallas thanks to a generous grant from David Lowery, is a raw, poetic exploration of early adulthood, nostalgia, and the struggle to find meaning in your 20s.
Throughout our conversation, Julian and I unpack the entire creative process, from rediscovering dusty VHS tapes in his attic to crafting a structure out of chaos with no script in hand.
Topics covered include:

How Julian shot 80% of the film alone using everything from a Blackmagic to an iPhone 4
The value of embracing lo-fi footage and imperfections to elevate emotional truth
Why David Lowery funded the premiere and how their mentorship began
The unexpected benefit of not writing a script — and when to start one next time
How old home movies became the emotional anchor of the film
Why guerrilla filmmaking might be Julian’s path forward
Much more!

Links from the show:
Julian Sol Jordan – Instagram
Julian Sol Jordan – YouTube
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DP'ing For Tyler Perry Studios, Jared Leto, Tom Delonge & More With Cinematographer Justyn Moro Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by DP Justyn Moro, whose cinematography career has included collaborations with artists like Jared Leto, Tom Delonge and countless others - and most recently has been shooting features and television at Tyler Perry Studios.
Justyn shares the full scope of his creative journey—how he got started shooting music videos, learning cinematography on the road with Jared Leto, and making the leap into narrative storytelling on projects like Monsters of California and Beauty in Black.
Topics covered include:

Breaking into the film industry with zero connections
Shooting documentary and music video content with Jared Leto across the globe
Lessons from working on Monsters of California with Tom DeLonge
Transitioning from music videos to narrative film & television
Justyn’s approach to prep, lighting, and working fast on set
Creative collaboration with directors and building a strong crew dynamic
Why a clear vision and openness to collaboration make the best directors

Links from the show:
Justyn Moro – Website
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From Viral YouTube Shorts To A Multi-Million Dollar Feature Debut With Felipe Vargas May 09, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Felipe Vargas - whose viral horror short films helped him land his feature film debut Rosario.
Throughout our discussion, we explore Felipe’s journey from DIY shorts to large scale feature productions and lessons learned along the way.
Topics covered include:

How Felipe's childhood passion for horror and folklore shaped his filmmaking style
The success of his short films, including Milk Teeth which garnered 15 million views on YouTube
The realities of getting representation and what comes after
How his feature film Rosario came together after developing relationships with producers
Shooting across two countries (New York and Colombia) on a sub-$10 million budget
The importance of being consistently productive and self-generative as a filmmaker
Using test screenings effectively and the value of planning for pickup shots
The unique character-first approach Felipe uses to break down scripts and scenes

Links from the show:
Felipe Vargas - Instagram
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How To Make A $7K Feature Film With a Crew of 3: An Interview With Filmmaker Joe Burke Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Joe Burke to discuss his incredible journey making the feature film Burt for just $7,000. Executive produced by David Gordon Green, the film follows a street musician with Parkinson's disease who discovers he has a son.
Throughout our conversation, we explore Joe's innovative approach to micro-budget filmmaking, including how he infused real-life relationships into the narrative.
Topics covered include:

How Joe cast his non-actor subjects in their first ever film roles
Shooting an entire feature in 7 days with just a 3-person crew
The strategic use of black & white cinematography to elevate production value
Creating compelling narrative films without traditional scripts
Navigating 28 festival rejections before winning Best Picture awards
Self-distributing via theatrical screenings while building community partnerships

Links from the show:
Burt The Movie - Website
Joe Burke - Instagram (@joeburkfilm)
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Shooting An 8 Day Feature Film Using "Structured Improv" With Director Christopher Folkens Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Christopher Folkens to discuss his debut feature film The Catalyst - a psychological thriller that was produced in just 8 shooting days.
Throughout our discussion, we explore the unconventional production methods Christopher employed, including structured improvisation and a non-traditional shooting schedule.
Topics covered include:

Why Christopher chose to embrace structured improvisation with actors
How they filmed nearly half the movie in a single night
Completing a feature film in just 8 total shooting days
The evolution from a 12-person proof of concept to a 7-person final cast
Using obstacles as opportunities in low-budget production
The benefits of having an editing background as a director
Finding the balance between having a plan and remaining flexible on set

Links from the show:
Christopher Folkens - Instagram
The Catalyst Movie - Instagram
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Making A Linklater-Style Feature Film Over 2 Years With Filmmaker Clinton Cornwell Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Clinton Cornwell to discuss his feature film 12 Months, which he shot over the course of two years (and 60 shooting days) in a style inspired by Richard Linklater's Boyhood.
Throughout our conversation, we dive deep into Clinton's unique production approach and creative process. Topics covered include:

Creating an improvised relationship drama shot over real time
Working with a minimal crew (often just 3 people) across 60 shooting days
The benefits and challenges of spreading production over two years
Finding actors comfortable with improvisation and maintaining their commitment
Balancing structure and spontaneity in an improvised film
Managing 200+ hours of footage during post-production
The advantages of being a "jack of all trades" filmmaker

Links from the show:

12 Months Film
Clinton Cornwell - Instagram
Clinton Cornwell - Letterboxd

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Making 4 Features & Building a Sustainable Indie Film Model With Nick Psinakis Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Nick Psinakis to discuss his journey creating four feature films with creative partner Kevin Ignatius and how they've developed a sustainable model for indie filmmaking.
Throughout our conversation, we explore their evolution from DIY beginnings to community-supported productions, with special emphasis on how they've maintained high production value on micro-budgets. Topics covered include:

Their progression from a $65K genre film to their newest feature, "Valley View Motel"
Building strong community support in small-town Pennsylvania as a production base
Maximizing efficiency with minimal crew and strategic location planning
Creative approaches to chronological shooting and managing weather variables
Navigating the ever-changing sales and distribution landscape
The delicate balance between artistic integrity and commercial viability
Their post-production workflow and co-directing dynamic

Links from the show:
418 Films - Instagram
Cheat - Watch on Amazon Prime
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Using WeFunder To Finance A Debut Feature Film With Filmmaker Vivian Kerr Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Vivian Kerr to discuss her journey from acting to directing and how she successfully brought her first two feature films to life without traditional industry connections. Vivian's debut feature, Scrap - a family dramedy starring herself alongside Anthony Rapp (Rent, Star Trek Discovery) - completed a two-year festival run spanning 43 festivals before its recent VOD release. She followed this quickly with her second feature, Seance, a psychological thriller that recently premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Throughout our conversation, we explored:

Vivian's background and transition from theater to filmmaking
The genesis of Scrap and its exploration of hidden homelessness
How she leveraged a short film version of Scrap to secure feature financing
Using the equity crowdfunding platform WeFunder to raise the bulk of her financing
Managing post-production on one film while doing a festival run with another
The genesis of Seance and writing a contained feature during the pandemic
Why believable performances are the foundation of good directing

Links from the show:
Scrap - Movie
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