Show Don't Tell: Micro-budget Filmmaking

This week I’m continuing my SXSW coverage with Lynn Chen, whose debut feature film I Will Make You Mine was set to premiere at the festival this year. Over the course of the interview, we take a deep dive into the process of making this film from front to back - outlining each step Lynn took to bring her vision to life and ultimately land a coveted premiere at South By South West. We talk all about her crowdfunding success, unconventional screenwriting process, creative approach on set, editorial timeline, festival strategy and so much more.Links from the show:I Will Make You Mine WebsiteFor more content like this visit https://noamkroll.com 

I’m kicking off my SXSW interview series with Kevin Ford - a prolific documentary and narrative filmmaker whose latest feature film The Pushback was programmed at SXSW 2020.Kevin’s list of credits is incredibly impressive. His films have screened at major film festivals like Tribeca, Slamdance, Berlin, SXSW and even at the Nobel Peace Awards Ceremony in 2017. What’s even more impressive, is that Kevin has achieved all this success by bootstrapping his projects, and crafting them in a truly DIY fashion. Over the course of this interview we talk all about his latest film, previous works, his tactical approach to making movies, and much more.Links from the show:Kevin's WebsiteThe Pushback FilmFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

In practically no time, the coronavirus has forced the world to nearly grind to a halt, and filmmakers of all types are being affected in countless ways. Whether you work as a freelancer, an employee or you own a production company, this crisis is surely already taking a toll.But despite productions shutting down left and right among other turmoil, many new opportunities are arising that we could all benefit from. Throughout the episode I expand on these potential growth areas, using new changes in my own business model as a template for navigating this new terrain.Links from the show:Micro-Budget Weekly Newsletter"I Need A Corporate Producer" Facebook Group

This week, DP Evin Grant joins me on the show to discuss his cinema camera shootout - a comparison of 9 of the most prominent full frame digital cinema cameras on the market:Arri Alexa Mini LFCanon Eos C500mIIRed MonstroSigma FPSony FX9 (S-Cinetone)Sony FX9 (S-Log3)Sony VeniceRed GeminiRed HeliumOver the course of our discussion, Evin details his findings at length, touching on everything from autofocus capabilities to dynamic range, color science to compression, and everything in between. This is a must listen for any full frame shooter looking to deepen their understanding of the current market.Links from the show:The Full Frame Cine Shootout On VimeoEvin's Website

Joining me this week is fellow LA based filmmaker Marcus Mizelle, a true DIY auteur in his own right and the brains behind The Micro Film Tournament: "A 16 film, 4 round tournament dedicated to micro-budget filmmakers who’ve made the most with the least."Throughout the course of the episode, we discuss Marcus' unique career path, the benefits of working within the constraints of a micro-budget, film festival experiences, and of course his brand new tournament - which is currently open for submissions. Enjoy!Links from the show:Marcus' WebsiteMarcus on InstagramChameleon Film WebsiteActor For Hire Film WebsiteThe Micro Film TournamentFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com 

Many commercial directors want to make the leap to directing features films, but don’t know where to start. Our guest this week - Cody Stokes - successfully made that transition after raising just under $500K for his debut feature The Ghost Who Walks.Using the film as a case study, Cody walks us through every step in his process from building out the concept to fundraising to post-production and beyond. Cody’s story shows us that you don’t need industry connections or easy access to financing in order to make your movie a reality.Links from the show:Cody's WebsiteThe Ghost Who WalksFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Every filmmaker dreams of submitting their indie film to Sundance, winning the festival and landing a major directing gig. Our guest this week - Carter Smith - didn’t just dream of doing it, he pulled it off.After his short film Bugcrush (2006) won the Sundance film festival, he was given the opportunity to pitch on a major Hollywood feature called The Ruins. After getting the seal of approval from Steven Spielberg himself, Carter’s debut feature film was underway. Since then, he’s returned to his indie roots with the 2014 feature Jamie Marks is Dead, and most recently a Hulu/Blumhouse picture called Midnight Kiss (2019).Throughout the episode, we discuss Carter’s unique career trajectory, his experience in the studio system, why he’s revisiting independent productions, and so much more.Links from the show- Carter On InstagramFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Smartphones have truly become a viable camera option for filmmakers on a budget. They provide more freedom, flexibility and anonymity than any traditional cinema camera, which gives them some major advantages… But in order to reap the rewards, you need to be able to work around some substantial technological limitations. Joining me this week to discuss all of this and more is filmmaker, colorist, and mobile cinematography expert Richard Lackey. We get in depth about the benefits and drawbacks of shooting on a phone, maximizing image quality by understanding your technical constraints, the future of iPhone filmmaking and so much more. This is a great introduction for anyone even considering using their phone for professional use.Links from the show:Richard on YouTubeRichard on TwitterRichard on InstagramFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

This week on the show, filmmaker Shaun Colón takes us on a deep dive into the world of documentary filmmaking. We chat at length about his debut documentary feature: A Fat Wreck - a 3 year long DIY project that found incredible success with film festivals and fans alike, even generating interest from the Sundance Institute. Building off of this success, Shaun moved into production on his second documentary feature (Age Of Audio), which features interviews with Kevin Smith, Ira Glass and other monumental voices in the podcasting space. Over the course of our discussion, Shaun outlines his process for financing, producing, and releasing his documentaries using his own DIY tactics, and shares a roadmap for how others can do the same.Links from the show:A Fat Wreck - WebsiteA Fat Wreck - FacebookA Fat Wreck - TwitterA Fat Wreck - InstagramA Fat Wreck - Sundance Institute ArticleAge Of Audio - WebsiteAge Of Audio - InstagramAge Of Audio - TwitterFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Returning to the show this week is Alex Ferrari of the Indie Film Hustle podcast. Alex has been educating filmmakers for years through a multitude of platforms, and has just written a new book that truly takes things to the next level: Rise of the Filmtrepreneur.The film industry has gone through a massive change over the past few years and most filmmakers are not prepared to make a living with their work in this new ecosystem. Alex's new book brilliantly outlines an approach and system that can serve as an antidote to this issue, arming filmmakers with the tactics needed to build a profitable career. We discuss all this and much more in today's episode.Links from the show -https://www.filmbizbook.comFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

This week, my guest is Brad Raider - a fellow LA based filmmaker who made his debut feature Kensho at the Bedfellow on a budget of $250,000.Over the course of our chat, Brad speaks at length about his fundraising process which uniquely leveraged his meditation community to bring his vision to life. We also talk about his challenging production process that spanned 30 locations and 29 shooting days. Other topics covered include: The importance of creating space for your creativity, distribution options for micro-budget features and much more.Links from the show:kenshofilm.comreddogsquadron.commdt8.combradraider.comFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

This week, I’m joined by Alrik Bursell - co-host of the very popular Making Movies Is Hard Podcast. Alrik is currently in the midst of fundraising for his upcoming feature film - The Alternate - an ambitious sci-fi film he’s been developing for 5 years.Over the course of our interview, Alrik and I talk about the fundraising process at length. Topics covered include: Securing initial seed money, approaching investors, attending film markets, crowdfunding and much more. This is a must listen for anyone looking to raise money for their movie.Links from the show -Seed & Spark CampaignThe Alternate On FacebookThe Alternate On InstagramThe Alternate On TwitterMaking Movies Is Hard PodcastFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Most indie filmmakers are guilty of overlooking the importance of sound, but my guest this week - Woody Woodhall - is here to change that. Woody is an acclaimed post-audio engineer, owner of LAPPG and Allied Post, and has played an instrumental role in hundreds of television and film projects.Over the course of our discussion, Woody outlines the most pressing sound-related issues known to plague independent filmmakers, and shares insight on how to avoid them entirely. We also touch on a whole host of other topics including: career advice, tips for on set audio production, workflow considerations, and much more.Links from the show:Allied PostLAPPGWoody's book on Amazon  For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

This week my guest is Zach Lipovsky, the co-director of the theatrically released feature film Freaks, which stars Emile Hirsch and Bruce Dern. Zach and his partner Adam were able to successfully raise financing for their script, attach A-list actors, land a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, and sell their movie for $2,000,000.Over the course of this episode, we walk through the A to Z of this process - from the beginning stages of raising private equity to production, film festivals, and theatrical distribution. Zach shares an incredible amount of tactical advice on the business side of things, which can surely serve as a blueprint for other filmmakers with big screen aspirations. Links from the show -https://twitter.com/zachlipovskyhttps://instagram.com/zach.lipovskyhttps://www.freaks.movieGet a free copy of the shotlister app by emailing showdonttell@shotlister.comFor more content like this visit https://noamkroll.com

One of the most prolific indie filmmakers in recent years is undoubtedly Joe Swanberg. He’s best known for his feature film Drinking Buddies, but has made dozens of other features - including a string of 7 that he produced and directed in just one year.Back in 2016 Joe delivered an amazing Keynote at SXSW that focuses on the business of making and selling truly independent feature films. In this week’s episode, I distilled my 8 biggest takeaways from his keynote and shared some of my own thoughts on each point. Topics covered include: Why working with no money can be better than some money, when to invest in your own films, how shooting 25 pages can yield great results, why you should spend as little as possible on production, and much more.You can watch Joe’s full SXSW keynote here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hNDMo0ax17EFor more content like this visit https://www.noamkroll.com

More feature films are being made than ever before, and as a result the market is completely saturated with content. This has made it harder than ever for indie filmmakers to make a living with their work, or to turn any sort of profit... But with the right approach to the process - specifically during pre-production - you can lay the groundwork for a more sellable and marketable film, which will ultimately translate to financial success.In this episode, I address this challenge at length, sharing 5 of the most crucial pre-production considerations that all filmmakers should take into account. These lessons are extracted from my Feature Filmmaking Masterclass and are a must-listen for any filmmaker looking to create a viable final product that can help launch their career.Learn more about the Feature Filmmaking Masterclass here: https://noamkroll.com/the-ultimate-micro-budget-feature-filmmaking-masterclass-is-coming-exclusive-pre-order-available-for-a-limited-time/And visit https://www.noamkroll.com for more

This week, writer/director Joshua Caldwell returns with a follow up to his interview back on Episode 71. In 2014 Josh achieved breakout success with his $6000 micro-budget film Layover, which paved the way for a directing gig for Hulu, and several feature films - including his most recent film (Southland) with Bella Thorne.Over the course of our discussion, Josh picks up where we left off on part 1, outlining his career path after achieving success with his debut feature. We talk about his experience directing a fully budgeted series for Hulu, and how that project helped him form a new approach too filmmaking as a whole. We also discuss the importance of prioritizing extra shooting days over a bigger crew, how agency reps can make or break your career, whether or not you need to live in LA as a filmmaker, and so much more.Links from the show -Layover On iTunes - http://https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/layover/id1102592500Layover On Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Layover-Natalie-Fay/dp/B01GKOUYKK/Joshua’s We

Today I address one of the most common questions asked by filmmakers - How do you make a living in the film business in 2019?While it may not be easy, building a long-term sustainable career as a filmmaker is absolutely possible. Over the course of this episode, I outline some of the most crucial variables that play into the success of any filmmaker, and can serve as a foundation for any aspiring artist.Topics covered include: diversifying your efforts, the importance of specialization, creating multiple revenue streams, and developing your artistry. For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

There’s no denying that building an audience is an essential part of success for working filmmakers today. Gaining a following through a blog, YouTube channel or social platform is arguably the most effective step filmmakers can take to make a living through their artwork.Speaking on the subject of audience building this week is none other than David Cogen. While he isn't a filmmaker in the traditional sense, David has been creating content for years under the company name The Unlockr. With a focus on mobile devices and other consumer tech, David has amassed well over 500,000 subscribers on YouTube while simultaneously gaining countless followers on his blog and social platforms. Over the course of this episode, he outlines his methodology for building a large audience of fans who are likely to become paying subscribers down the road. This should be especially relevant for any filmmaker looking to sell their own content, courses, or feature films via DIY distribution.Links from the show:http://www.theunlockr.

After a brief hiatus, Show Don’t Tell returns this week with our amazing guest Lawrence Jordan. If you’re a fan of movies, chances are you’ve seen some of Lawrence’s work. His career began as an assistant on iconic feature films like Back To The Future and Terms of Endearment, before editing countless features like Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigalo, Riding In Cards With Boys and 50 Shades of Black, just to name a few.Throughout this interview Lawrence shares key lessons he’s learned over the past few decades, working as an editor on Hollywood-level feature films and world renowned television series. A must listen for any filmmaker looking for a blueprint for breaking into the business and staying there.Sponsors:Shotlister.com -Email showdonttell@shotlister.com to download the app for free!Music Bed - Enter promo code SHOWDONTTELL at checkout for your first month of subscription free, or 20% off your first purchase.Links from the show:Larry On IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0266377Master The Workflow - https://ma