Today I am joined by returning guest Whitney Ingram to talk all about the world of freelance filmmaking. After a stint working in-house as a content creator, Whitney recently re-entered the freelance world and is already finding success landing projects that align with her creative goals. Throughout the episode we explore the benefits (and challenges) of going freelance full time, and how Whitney strikes a balance between corporate gigs and passion projects. Whitney also shares her recent experience directing and DP’ing a short film, leveraging social media as a career tool, strategies for lan ..read more

The most common pushback I get from aspiring filmmakers is that micro-budget movies don’t get seen. So there is no point in making one. In reality, this is simply not true. Micro-budget movies today have far greater potential to reach audiences worldwide than ever before. Despite the obvious challenges that every completed film faces. Struggling with distribution is not unique to the micro-budget world, either. Plenty of well funded indies fail to gain widespread attention or find an audience. The same goes for multi-million dollar studio pictures. So when a filmmaker asks why they should “mak ..read more

Over the past 7 years, I have interviewed over 200 filmmakers for my podcast. Guests have ranged from first time DIY filmmakers to studio directors who made multi-million dollar productions. While every guest has their own philosophy and approach to filmmaking, they all had one thing in common – Each one saw immense value in the micro-budget feature filmmaking model. I’ve brought this up many times in conversations with aspiring filmmakers. Particularly when they push back on the micro-budget paradigm, saying they don’t believe it can benefit their career. I’ll usually respond with this ..read more

In this episode, we explore the age old issue of imposter syndrome and look at ways to eliminate self-doubt as a filmmaker. From comparing yourself to others to fear of failure – the episode is packed with strategies to combat negativity. Topics covered include: The difference between healthy self-criticism and debilitating doubt Why you should avoid sharing your film ideas prematurely The dangers of setting arbitrary deadlines for “making it” in the industry How to handle criticism from non-filmmakers Why making films repeatadly is the best way to overcome self doubt All of this and much mo ..read more

One of the cornerstones of independent, micro-budget productions is undeniably single-location filmmaking. It’s practically a rite of passage for first time feature filmmakers.  Limiting your production scope to one (or possibly two) main locations has long been one of the best ways to save time and money on a DIY production. This is why it’s often recommended as a model for your first feature film. The benefits are so obvious… Working within a single location simplifies production in every way. You need less time, can avoid company moves, and can cut down on logistical expenses ..read more

In this episode, I dive deep into the world of single location filmmaking and share my thoughts making the most of your micro-budget production. Throughout the show I unpack many of the common pitfalls associated with this approach – like keeping your audience engaged and avoiding visual repetition – along with creative solutions at each step. Topics covered include: Writing your script around the location from the beginning Seeking out primal stories with high stakes and character potential Utilizing every space within the location to add visual variety Varying the time of day to create dive ..read more

If you’ve been following my blog for long enough, you probably know I am a little obsessed with aspect ratios. They are one of the most simple, yet powerful tools we all have at our disposal as filmmakers. In recent years, aspect-ratio choice has become far less standardized than it ever was before.  In the early days of cinema, virtually everything was shot in 1.37:1. This later evolved into 1.85:1 and again into 2.39:1. Each of these ratios were at one time the de-facto standard.  2.39:1 is still the most common in modern feature filmmaking. But it is ..read more

Arguably the most misleading piece of advice given to emerging filmmakers is to be “original” with their work.  To break new ground, and do something never done before… While this advice may sound good on the surface – and is usually well intentioned – it also completely misses the mark. When someone tells you to be original, they are placing the entire emphasis on the outcome. And not at all on the process that it takes to get there. The inference is that to produce something truly original, you must avoid inspiration from other films or works that you may be drawn to. But ..read more

Today I am joined by Ryan McGuire, who heads up the commercial production company Cutter Studios in Tokyo, Japan.  Throughout the interview, Ryan and I take a deep dive into the world of commercial filmmaking. Ryan shares his story launching a niche production business in Japan, which has attracted clients like Amazon and Zeiss along the way. We also discuss tips for filmmakers looking to build an impressive body of work, how to best differentiate yourself, the impact of AI on the industry, and much more.  This is Episode 225: Running a Production Company, Landing Top Tier ..read more

In this episode I am joined by friend of the show, Marcus Mizelle. An Emmy award winning feature filmmaker who has made numerous successful DIY narrative and documentary films. Throughout the interview we talk about Marcus’ leap from scripted micro-budget narratives, to breakthrough feature doc projects. He speaks to the importance of curation in modern day cinema, the state of the theatrical experience, and shares the benefits of podcasting and content creating for filmmakers. This and much more on today’s episode… This is Episode 234: Emmy Winner Marcus Mizelle On Podcasting For Filmmakers ..read more