Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Today I am joined by writer/director Pete Ohs, here to give us a behind the scenes look into his latest feature film titled Youngstown.After debuting as a feature director with Everything Is Beautiful Far Away - a traditionally financed indie starring Julia Garner and Joseph Cross, Pete wanted to try a different approach. Despite the success of his first film (including distribution with The Orchard), the process wasn't what Pete was looking for. He wanted to make a movie that was more creatively freeing and fun, and this was only possible by scaling things down to a bare minimum. By financing the movie himself and acting as the entire crew, Pete was not only able to pull off a completed movie, but truly enjoy the process at every step. Throughout the interview Pete shares his journey at length - from his budget breakdown to the gear he used, and loads more.Links from the show:Pete Ohs - InstagramYoungstown - AmazonFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

In this episode I am joined by director Keon Hedayati, who is here to talk all about his debut feature film Karma Bums, which is now entering distribution.Despite a limited budget (under $100K), Keon was able to successfully craft a final product with the look, feel and polish of a high end studio feature. Throughout the discussion, Keon shares insight into how he achieved these kind of results by building the right team, taking them on cross-country road trip, and capturing lightning in a bottle. He also shares wild stories from set - from breaking bones during a fight scene to being shot at for filming - and how he overcame challenges at each step.Links from the show:Keon Hedayati - InstagramKeon Hedayati - TwitterFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I am joined by filmmaker and host of the popular Crimson Engine YouTube channel, Rubidium Wu - who is currently in post-production for his latest feature film titled The Devil’s Fortune.Throughout the interview Rubidium shares a behind the scenes look into how he built his incredible YouTube Channel from the ground up, and how it serves as an asset in his feature filmmaking journey. He also touches on his distribution philosophy, editorial process, approach to working outside of LA, and loads more. This is a must listen for any filmmaker looking to use content creation as a means to bring their passion projects to life.Links from the show:Crimson Engine - YouTube ChannelCanon Masterclass - WebsiteFor more exclusive content like this every Sunday, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I am joined by actor, author, filmmaker & entrepreneur Sara Quiriconi, to talk all about the intersection of business and creativity.Sara has found success across multiple mediums - from her renowned book titled Living Cancer Free to her popular blog, social media, and podcast channels. As a huge proponent of entrepreneurship and content creation for filmmakers, I was excited to have Sara on the show to unpack her experience at length.Throughout the episode she shares best practices for leveraging business to unleash your creativity, how to prioritize your creative pursuits, why you shouldn’t chase the perfect work-life balance, and so much more.Links from the show:Sara Quiriconi - InstagramSara Quiriconi - TwitterSara Quiriconi - YouTubeSara Quiriconi - WebsiteNever Settle - PodcastFor more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Joining me today is filmmaker Matthew Temple, who recently directed the documentary Hardball: The Girls of Summer, which was released by Vertical entertainment last year.Matthew also runs a great podcast, has written books on creativity, and holds workshops all over the world to help empower creatives. Naturally, all of this made for a great conversation that covers everything from creative blocks and how to overcome them, to the creative journey as a whole. He also speaks to his own experience balancing creativity with work, why he left a high paying job in Hollywood to go the independent route, and much more.Links from the show:Matthew Temple - WebsiteMatthew Temple - Production companyMatthew Temple - PodcastHardball - Movie WebsiteFor more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I am joined by the multi-talented Daniel B. Levin whose latest documentary Kevin Garnett: Anything is Possible just premiered on Showtime. You may also know Daniel from some of his other amazing documentary productions, like I Promise, which was executive produced by LeBron James and premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.Throughout the interview, Daniel and I take a deep dive into the world of documentary filmmaking, using his latest feature as a case study. Daniel generously shares his entire process from concept through production and distribution, outlining each critical phase at length. He also touches on what it was like serve as both co-director and cinematographer on the production, the gear that he used, his editorial process and workflow, and loads more.This is essential listening for all filmmakers, but especially those looking to break into the documentary space.Links from the show:Daniel B. Levin - Instagram Daniel B. Levin - TwitterDaniel B. Levin - WebsiteBlowback Productions - Instagram Blowback Productions - Facebook Blowback Productions - Twitter Blowback Productions - WebsiteFor more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Joining me today is acclaimed DGA director Mike Rohl, who has had an amazing directorial career in both television and feature films. Most recently, Mike directed Vanessa Hudgens in The Princess Swap trilogy for Netflix, but is also known for directing countless episodes of Smallville, The Outer Limits, When Calls The Heart, and many other iconic television shows.Mike got his start making DIY movies back in film school, which ultimately led to his first big break directing network TV, and later led to his studio feature film work. Throughout the episode we discuss Mike’s journey at length - from his film school days to directing major motion pictures for Netflix, and everything in between. This episode is educational and inspiring for filmmakers at all levels, and I truly hope you all enjoy!Links from the show:Mike Rohl - WebsiteMike Rohl - InstagramFor more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.

In this episode, I share a recent guest session recorded live in my filmmaking community (The Backlot), featuring acclaimed ACE editor Vashi Nedomansky.Vashi is an expert on post production workflows, having worked as a consultant on DEADPOOL, House of Cards, The Good Doctor, Sharknado 2, and countless other projects. He’s been on the podcast before, and his first interview was a fan favorite. This time around, he is here to break down best practices for optimizing your editorial approach and workflow, specifically through the lens of micro-budget filmmaking.For more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I’m joined by documentary filmmaker Nick Scown, whose feature documentary Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 was just released through Vice and is now available nationwide. As Nick shares in the interview, what started as a bootstrapped DIY passion project ultimately evolved into a larger production that attracted a ton of incredible talent. Despite the humble beginnings of this project, Nick was able to attract subjects like Matthew Broderick, David Cross, Janeane Garofalo, Gilbert Gottfried, Marc Maron, Jeff Ross, and dozens of others, which made for an incredible story that is resonating with audiences far and wide. Our discussion covers Nick’s entire process from concept to final delivery, with special emphasis on the sales process to Vice, and their partnership with Nick. We also cover Nick’s tactical approach to the production, his strategy for booking name interviews, experiences with grant funding and much more. Links from the show:Too Soon Documentary - Movie WebsiteNick Scown - TwitterNick Scown - InstagramFor more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.

This week I am joined by filmmaker and film professor Marc A Hutchins, known for his directorial feature films Crossing Streets and Where Are You, Bobby Browning?After producing and directing numerous independent film titles - including a $300,000 feature - Marc decided to scale down his production approach and embrace the micro-budget realm. This resulted in the creation of a brand new feature film, shot for just $30,000 over the course of 12 days.Throughout the interview we chat about Marc’s philosophy on independent film, the benefits of working on a smaller canvas, what filmmakers can learn by teaching film, and much more.Links from the show:Alexander Films - WebsiteFor more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.