Show Don't Tell: Micro-budget Filmmaking

On this episode, I am joined by Steven Pierce - a multi-hyphenate filmmaker with a wealth of experience in both tv & film well as advertising/commercial production. Steven's career has led him to edit four seasons worth of material for Saturday Night Live, direct content for brands like Hulu, Amazon & Jaguar, and direct live shows for artists like Ed Sheeran, Twenty One Pilots, and Sheryl Crow, just to name a few highlights. He also hosts the Independent Filmmaker's Guide podcast, which I was fortunate to be on earlier this year.We cover a lot of ground over the course of the interview, with special attention paid to Steven's time at SNL, working as an editor and visual effects artist. He walks us through his technical and creative process, and shares his insanely demanding weekly post-production workflow that you'll need to hear about to believe. All this and much more on today's show!Links from the show:Independent Filmmakers GuideFramework Productions - WebsiteFramework Productions - InstagramSteve

In this special crossover episode with the Filmmaker's Corner podcast, I chat with writer/director Michael Bachochin and producer Brooke Lorraine about their micro-budget sci-fi feature film Parallax.Over the course of our discussion we touch on the entire creative process behind this ambitious feature, go into detail on the business strategy behind the movie, and discuss the unique distribution angle being explored by the producing team.The Primal Group - Production CompanyParallax - Movie WebsiteParallax - FacebookParallax - InstagramFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Joining me on this episode is documentary feature filmmaker Josh Tsui, whose new film Insert Coin premiered earlier this year at SXSW and is out everywhere this week! The film tells the amazing behind-the-scenes story of one of the greatest video game studios of all time – Midway Games.This is one of the most fascinating documentaries I’ve seen in a long time, and learning how it was made only made it more compelling. Throughout the interview Josh details his workflow for cutting down hundreds of hours of footage, outlines why he edited most of the film on a MacBook Air, and shares his decision to turn down an offer to screen an early cut of his film at SXSW 2018 - which is just the tip of the iceberg. The ingenuity behind this movie is truly impressive, and is sure to inspire documentary and narrative filmmakers alike. Links from the show:Insert Coin - Alamo DrafthouseInsert Coin - InstagramInsert Coin - TwitterJosh Tsui - TwitterFor more content like this be sure to visit www.noamkroll.com 

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 - WebsiteMik

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

My guests this week are co-directors Rebecca Kahn and Abishek Prasad, whose short film Who Among Us was programmed at SXSW 2020 and gained distribution through DUST.Over the course of our chat, we cover a lot of ground - talking all about what it takes to get a short programmed at SXSW, tips for financing and producing your next short, how to navigate feedback and post-production, and so much more. We also talk about distribution options for short films, tactics for filmmakers looking to increase their creative output while balancing other work, and other critical advice for filmmakers looking to grow their careers.Who Among Us - InstagramWho Among Us - TwitterWho Among Us - FacebookWho Among Us - YouTubePudu ProductionsFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com 

Today I am very excited to share my interview with Stephanie Pearson, who is not only the star of my feature film Psychosynthesis, but an incredibly talented producer in her own right. Stephanie has spent years on both sides of the camera, and joins us today to share her words of wisdom on all things filmmaking. Using our recent feature film collaboration as a launching off point, we discuss the unique dynamics of an indie film set, what the challenges are from an actor's perspective, the importance of clear directorial communication, and so much more. We also talk about the state of the industry right now, why it's crucial to produce your own material, and best practices for taking control over your destiny as an artist. Links from the show: Psychosynthesis on Amazon PrimeRecovery on Amazon PrimeDownrange on Amazon PrimeStephanie on InstagramStephanie on Twitter For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com   

On this episode I am joined by writer/director Rick Caplan who recently completed and released his feature film Mr. Misfortune. This micro-budget production was shot for under $10,000 in just 10 shooting days, and was brought to life in a truly unique way. As Rick outlines over the course of our chat, he had to wear a lot of hats on this production to make it a reality. Not only did he write and direct the project, but also shot the film and handled all the post-production himself - including music composition and color correction. Throughout the discussion, we get into the nitty gritty on each of these steps, critical lessons learned along the way and much more! Links from the show: Mr. Misfortune on AmazonRick Caplan on Twitter For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Joining me this week on the show is filmmaker turned author Josh Folan. Over the course of his career, Josh has not only produced 3 micro-budget features (each of which have a budget under $250K), but most recently wrote a book about his endeavors called: Still Filmmaking The Hard Way. Over the course of our discussion, Josh outlines how any filmmaker can make their passion project a reality, without any upfront financial backing from traditional production companies or studios. He also shares a ton of practical advice about sales and distribution, providing invaluable lessons for filmmakers seeking to go down a similar path. Links from the show: www.nyehentertainment.com For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

To celebrate the release of my feature film PSYCHOSYNTHESIS on Amazon Prime, today I am sharing a behind the scenes look at our entire process on this micro-budget indie. The film itself was made for only $25,000 in just 9 shooting days, which resulted in a highly unconventional workflow both on set and in the editing room.Throughout the episode I outline every practical step that we took to bring this film to life - starting in the very early days of concept development, all the way through to casting, prep, production, and of course post-production, distribution and beyond. While I have shared some anecdotes about the film on my blog at noamkroll.com - I get into much more depth on each phase of the process here on today's episode, providing a blueprint for other filmmakers looking to bootstrap a feature film of their own.Watch PSYCHOSYNTHESIS On Amazon Prime In The USOr search "Psychosynthesis" on Amazon Prime Video in your countryPlease don't forget to rate and review the film on Amazon and IMDB to help u

This week, I'm honored to be joined by my guests Richard and Colleen Halsey - a prolific husband and wife editing duo who are collectively responsible for editing countless iconic feature films over the years. Their credits include movies like Edward Scissorhands, Beaches, So I Married An Axe Murderer, Sister Act and Rocky - the latter of which Richard won an Oscar for.Throughout our discussion we chat about each of these films in some detail, outlining the unique creative process behind them. Richard and Colleen also generously share their perspective on how the industry has changed from both a business and creative standpoint, how aspiring editors can break into Hollywood, and loads more.Links from the show -Richard Halsey On IMDB            Colleen Halsey On IMDB                            For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com                                                                                                                                                                          

This week on the show, I'm excited to be joined by Tessa Markle and Carolina Alvarez - known for their awesome podcast: Femme Regard. I was fortunate enough to be a guest on their show last year and had a blast, and this time around they're joining me on Show, Don't Tell to discuss all things indie film.I really wanted to hear about Tessa and Carolina's experience building an online brand. This is a path that is becoming increasingly critical for filmmakers to explore in order to have autonomy over their work and careers. Over the course of our discussion we talk about this topic at length, outlining how every filmmaker can leverage original content as a means to grow their brand.Links from the show:Femme Regard ProductionsFemme Regard On InstagramFemme Regard On TwitterFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com