Show Don't Tell: Micro-budget Filmmaking

Today I am joined by editor, writer, and producer Gray Jones - who holds no less than 290 credits in film and television, and also runs a prolific stock footage business.Throughout this episode, Gray shares lessons from his new book Make Six Figures With Your Smartphone, which serves as a practical guide for filmmakers looking to build passive income using footage they may already have sitting on their phone. We discuss the benefits and pitfalls of selling stock footage, the importance of finding a niche, the best platforms to sell on, and much more. Gray also gives us a behind the scenes look at his own stock footage catalog, and highlights his top performing clips - including one single shot that alone has generated over $16,000. Links from the show:SellStockEbook.comDrivingFootage.comGray Jones - TwitterGray Jones - InstagramSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us

In celebration of this milestone 200th episode, today I return to the origins of the podcast with a solo episode - all about my experience making our latest feature film (Disappearing Boy) with no crew. Throughout the episode, I break down the highly unconventional workflow that went into this production, which spanned the course of a year, 30+ locations, and multiple shooting blocks.I also unpack the creative benefits of taking time off in between shooting dates, my approach to writing and shooting in tandem, how to balance camera and sound while directing, and other critical lessons for likeminded filmmakers making features of their own.Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

In this episode I am joined by filmmaker Tom Levesque to share the story behind his debut feature film Shut Eye.Shut Eye is the first feature film that delves into the strange world of ASMR, and is inspired by Tom’s own experiences with insomnia. Throughout the episode, we take an in depth behind the scenes look at this project, from concept to budgeting to distribution.Tom speaks to his documentary-style approach on this feature, which helped him complete principal photography in just 15 days. He also touches on his camera setup, aspect ratio choice, post-production workflow and more.Links from the show:Shut Eye - MovieShut Eye - InstagramSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

In this episode I am joined by filmmaker Josh Guffey, here to share his journey and a behind the scenes look into the making his debut feature film "All Gone Wrong".Throughout the interview, we cover the process from end to end - discussing the realities of working with limited budgets and resources, and how Josh navigated these challenges at each step. Josh also details his collaboration with actors and crew, his distribution model, maximizing efficiency when producing, maintaining persistence, and loads more.Links from the show: Josh Guffey - WebsiteSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

Today I am joined by folk filmmaking pioneer Dan Lotz, here to talk about his impressive body of work - which consists of no fewer than 19 feature films.Throughout the episode we discuss Dan’s innovate approach to filmmaking, which has allowed him to create movies under incredible circumstances. From making a feature film on an 8 day vacation, to shooting an entire realtime movie in just 3 hours.We also discuss the benefits of releasing films on YouTube, different production formats for low budget features, optimal runtimes, editing & shooting in tandem, and much more. Links from the show:Dan Lotz - YouTubeDan Lotz - TwitterSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

Today I am thrilled to have writer/director/photographer Carter Smith back on the show to talk about his latest micro-budget feature film Swallowed.Carter’s first short film (Bugcrush) won Sundance in 2006, and led to his feature film work which includes The Ruins, Jaime Marks is Dead, and multiple recent Blumhouse movies. His latest feature though, is a departure from larger studio productions to say the least. It was produced with a skeleton crew using very DIY tactics, yet managed to find incredible success at festivals and beyond.Throughout the interview, Carter and I discuss his experience in the micro-budget realm, his approach to creativity, and much more. Links from the show:Carter Smith - InstagramAll The Dead Boys - WebsiteSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

Returning to the show today is writer/director/editor Pete Ohs, who you might know from his feature films Everything Is Beautiful Far Away, Youngstown, and his most recent - Jethica.Jethica was produced with no crew and on nearly no-budget, but that didn’t stop it from premiering at SXSW or securing theatrical distribution. Pete’s story is an amazing case in point for the power of DIY filmmaking, and just how much can be achieved by getting truly creative with your approach.Throughout the episode, we go in depth on Pete’s process, filmmaking model, and the benefits of working in such a minimalistic way. He also talks about working without a traditional screenplay, his unique collaboration with the actors, navigating festivals, and loads more.Links from the show:Pete Oh's - InstagramSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

In this episode I am thrilled to be joined by David Rock (AKA DRock), who you might know as Gary Vaynerchuk’s Executive Creative Director, and the man behind many incredible content pieces and social media innovations.Throughout this episode, we talk all about DRock’s career trajectory, from meeting Gary to making his first video to scaling their content empire.DRock also shares his wealth of knowledge on growing an audience (with specific tactics for filmmakers), talks about best practices for navigating social media, and so much more.Links from the show: DRock - TwitterSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

Today, I am joined by filmmaking duo Evelyn Lorena (writer/director) and Maris Lidaka (producer/editor) - the team behind Gabriela, a new short film. Evelyn and Maris were able to leverage the success of their short film to secure a filmmaking grant and fellowship from Netflix, making them another great case-in-point for green lighting your own projects. In this episode we discuss their journey to create and release the short film, how it created new opportunities for them, lessons learned, and much more.Links from the show: Evelyn - InstagramMaris - InstagramBlended Future ProjectSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

Returning to the show is acclaimed director and editor Mike J. Nichols, here to talk about his latest feature doc John Waite - The Hard Way.Mike’s latest feature was put together under incredible constraints, and was fully edited in just 9 weeks. Throughout the episode, we discuss some of the benefits and challenges of working this quickly, and Mike’s creative workflow from end to end.Mike also shares some incredible advice for fixing problem areas. For instance - trimming a feature film to 20 minutes to identify issues, or using sound to find creative solutions to challenging scenes.Links from the show:Mike on TwitterMike on InstagramSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

In this episode I am joined by actor, comedian, and filmmaker Marisela Grajeda Gonzalez to talk all about navigating a career as a filmmaker.Marisela began her filmmaking journey at age 35, when she went back to school to study acting - eventually graduating with a BFA at almost 39 years old. Since, she has forged her own path as a filmmaker by producing her own work. Throughout the interview, Marisela talks about going into filmmaking later in life, dealing with self doubt, and making her debut short film. She also shares thoughts on the current state of filmmaking, how tech can empower new filmmakers, and more. Links from the show:www.mariselagg.com www.twitter.com/mariselagrajed1Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

Joining me in this episode is script supervisor turned television director Faye Brenner, who just made her directorial debut at age 69.As a script supervisor, Faye has worked on feature films like "Stand By Me," "Ghost," "Father of the Bride 2," and "Clear and Present Danger" to name a few. After decades in the business, Faye was able to break in as a director on "The Rookie" by showcasing her talents with a powerful short film. Throughout the episode we discuss Faye's unique path, along with many practical lessons for filmmakers looking to branch out into TV.For more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode I am joined by filmmaker and entrepreneur Matt Osterman, known for his feature films "Ghost From The Machine", "400 Days", "Hover", and now "Bitcon.""Bitcon" tells the story of a missing hard drive with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency, and the issue of trust in the modern era. Throughout the interview, Matt generously gives us a behind the scenes look into this film, his creative process, and his unique career path.Links from the show:"Bitcon" Movie - https://www.bitconmovie.comPropellant Films - https://www.propellantfilms.comMatt Osterman's Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattostermanMatt Osterman's Instagram - https://instagram.com/mattostermanFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode, I am thrilled to be joined by filmmaker Chris Sharpe - who you may know as the co-founder of the wildly popular Yoga With Adriene YouTube Channel.Over the past decade Chris has grown the YWA channel to an incredible 11 million+ subscribers, and today it dominates the Yoga category on YouTube. As a big fan of the channel and a huge proponent of audience building for filmmakers, I was very excited to have Chris on to talk shop. Throughout the episode Chris details their journey from 0 to millions of subscribers, shares practical insights for filmmakers looking to build audiences of their own, and expands on his creative work as a filmmaker.Links from this show:Yoga With Adriene - https://www.youtube.com/@yogawithadrieneChris Sharpe: Website - www.chrissharpe.comChris Sharpe: Newsletter - https://chrissharpe.ck.pageFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

Joining me today is producer, founder and CEO of JPA Productions - James P Axiotis. James started his career at NBC and quickly became one of the network’s youngest producers while still in his early 20s. Since, he has worked for Disney, as producer on Clint Eastwood's Bridges of Madison County, and countless other Hollywood shows and films.James now uses his expertise to create films for non-profits - which is a focal point of our discussion today. We also talk about what it takes to be a great producer, how to approach specializing vs. generalizing, and much more.Links from the show:JPA Productions - https://jpaproductions.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode I am honored to be joined by Mike Wohl - an award-winning filmmaker who has written, directed, and edited multiple independent films and shorts.Mike is also the author of many nonfiction books on the art and craft of filmmaking, and was one of the original designers of Apple’s Emmy-award winning software Final Cut Pro. Throughout our discussion, we cover Mike’s time with Apple during the early days of Final Cut Pro. We also talk extensively about his creative career as both a filmmaker and author, paying special attention to his latest project "In Herschel’s Wake".Links from the show:In Herschel's Wake - inherschelswake.com For more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

This episode was originally recorded as a private stream in my Backlot filmmaking community.Our guest speaker for this live session is Paige Feldman - a writer and filmmaker with a decade of experience working in independent film and TV sales, financing, and production. Her projects have won Emmys, been shortlisted for Oscars, and premiered at festivals such as Cannes, Sundance, Berlin, TIFF, Tribeca, and SXSW.Throughout our discussion we cover a wide range of topics - from landing “work for hire” gigs to balancing multiple creative projects. We also unpack Paige’s latest film projects, take audience questions, and much more.Links from the show:Paige on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/pfeldPaige's Website - https://paigefeldman.comSeeka TV - https://www.seekatv.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by filmmaker and assistant film professor (at the University of Memphis), Marty Lang.Some of Marty’s project highlights as a director, producer, actor and show runner include projects like The Ride (Sundance, 2022), Being Michael Madsen, Out of My Hand (2016 Indie Spirit Nominee), and his feature films Rising Star and Stay With Me. Throughout the interview, we take an in depth look at Marty’s creative path, the benefits of teaching filmmaking, his philosophy on building a sustainable career, and much more.Links from the show:Marty Lang on Twitter - https://twitter.com/marty_langFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode, I’m joined by writer/director Spencer Whiteout, producer Andrew Baer, and editor Alex Vollman - the filmmakers behind Space Waves, a feature film.This inspiring filmmaking team produced their first feature film while still in film school, beginning with a budget of just $8K. Over three years they faced massive obstacles, but ultimately overcame every setback to create a fantastic debut film. Throughout the interview, we discuss the film at length from concept to completion, how they pulled it off, and critical lessons learned.Links from the show:Space Waves - https://spacewavesfilm.com“Beast Mode” Making Of Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9ik1khvUjQSpencer Whiteout Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/0TSyyEp6IiA4PwbhtOJerC?si=e2e0082f10aa430eSimmering Studios - https://simmeringstudios.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode I am joined by filmmaker Zachary Gross to talk about his new sci-fi feature film "Harmony", which was produced for just $35,000.Throughout the interview, Zachary shares his 7 year journey with this project, from idea to final cut and distribution. We discuss tactics for maintaining high quality visuals on a budget, why Zachary shot additional material during post-production, navigating the distribution landscape, and much more.Links from the show:"Harmony" Feature Film - https://www.harmonyiswatching.com"Harmony" on Instagram - https://instagram.com/theharmonymovie"Harmony" on Facebook - https://facebook.com/theharmonymovieHand Me Down Films - https://www.hmdfilms.com"Hand Me Down Films" on Instagram - https://instagram.com/hmdfilms"Hand Me Down Films" on Facebook - https://facebook.com/hmdfilmsFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter