Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

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 - InstagramNoam Tomaschoff - InstagramNoam Tomaschoff - WebsiteFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

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

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 PodcastFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

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 - EventsSeed & Spark - FundSeed & Spark - TwitterSeed & Spark - FacebookSeed & Spark - InstagramFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

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

My guest this week is acclaimed filmmaker Mike Pecci, who you may already know from his incredible filmmaking podcast In Love With The Process. After getting his start with silent films two decades ago, Mike went on to launch his production company which has since produced content for brands like Bose and Sam Adams, and music videos/treatments for artists like The Wu Tang Clan, Lucius, Killswitch Engage, and Meshuggah.Most recently, Mike has been focused on his narrative film endeavors, notably 12 Kilometers and Who’s There, two short films which are currently being adapted into features. Throughout our chat, we talk all about Mike’s career path, breaking into the business, and taking an unconventional approach to both making and marketing his creative work. Mike also shares a ton of valuable lessons for filmmakers on what it takes to succeed in this business from a tactical level, and how your mindset and approach can make all the difference.Links from the show - Mike Pecci - InstagramMike Pecci - WebsiteMike Pecci - Podcast (In Love With The Process)For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Joining me this week is David Thies - Emmy award winning producer, prolific television director, local 600 DP and one of the driving forces behind the smash indie hit The Peanut Butter Falcon. The film stars Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen and Dakota Johnson, and was directed by Mike Schwartz and Tyler Nilson.Throughout our discussion, David walks us through exactly what it took to get this film made at each phase, with special attention paid to the development process. As he outlines in the interview, an incredible script paired with a unique pitch video ultimately garnered the attention of producers Albert Berger & Ron Yerxa (Little Miss Sunshine, Cold Mountain), Armory Films, and a stunning supporting cast that features Bruce Dern, John Hawkes, and Jon Bernthal. All this and much more in today's interview!Links from the show:Tvacom - David's Production CompanyDavid Thies - IMDBFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Joining me this week is none other than Dan Mirvish, co-founder of the iconic Slamdance Film Festival and the director behind indie features like Open House, Between Us (Julia Stiles, Taye Diggs, Melissa George), Bernard and Huey, and 18 1/2.Throughout our discussion we get into the nitty gritty of what it takes to get an indie film made and distributed, covering everything from raising seed money and working with a casting director to landing a coveted festival slot at Slamdance. This episode is a must listen for any filmmaker looking for a blueprint to get their next movie off the ground.Links from the show:The Cheerful Subversive's Guide to Independent FilmmakingDan's WebsiteDan on TwitterFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Today I am thrilled to be joined by writer/director/actor Chelsea Devantez, whose 3 minute film Basic was programmed this year at SXSW, Santa Barbara International Film Festival and many others.Chelsea is a case-in-point for what's possible when you embrace your limitations to create meaningful content that can reach a wide audience. Basic may have been crafted using minimal resources, crew and gear, but that didn't stop the film from beating out thousands of others to land a coveted festival slot. Throughout the interview we talk all about how the film was pulled off, what made it work critically, how filmmakers can beat the odds with their own work, and much more. We even touch on Chelsea's background as a writer working with comedian Jon Stewart and on shows like Bless This Mess.Links from the show:Basic - Short FilmChelsea's WebsiteChelsea on TwitterChelsea on Instagram

Last year I had the fortune of interviewing Hannah Black & Megan Petersen all about their feature film Drought for Episode 64 of the podcast. As a refresher, this is the creative duo whose debut feature was crowdfunded on Seed & Spark before landing a $50K investment from the Duplass Bros, the film’s Executive Producers.While our first interview was centered around the origin story of this feature film, this time around we talk all about the project’s “second act.” We go into detail on the creative finishing work that went into this movie, the unique challenges of navigating film festivals during these uncertain times, release intentions and strategies for the film, and much more!Links from the show-Drought - TwitterDrought - FacebookDrought - InstagramDrought - Seed & SparkFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com