Show Don't Tell: Micro-budget Filmmaking

In this episode, I am joined by Brooklyn based micro-budget filmmaker Sujewa Ekanayake, for a discussion that re-imagines the way we approach making indie films.I first connected with Sujewa over Twitter, after discovering he and I share a similar filmmaking philosophy that prioritizes creative expression above budget. Throughout the conversation, we unpack this concept at length and discuss various strategies and unconventional tactics that can be used to execute any feature film.Links from the show:Sujewa on Twitter - https://twitter.com/sujewafantasticSlow Romance - https://slowromancemovie.comSujewa's Website - https://sujewa.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

Joining me today are the founders of Film Up - Aryeh Hoppenstein and Christina Chironna.After meeting in college, Aryeh and Christina partnered to create a business that would fuse their love of filmmaking with their passion for business. The result was FilmUp.co, a powerful resource that automates the film production process, from crewing to payroll.To generate awareness and build a community around their brand, Aryeh and Christina developed a unique social media strategy that led to an Instagram following of nearly 700,000 filmmakers.Throughout the episode, they share a behind the scenes look of how they built their audience - from their first follower to becoming one of the leading filmmaking accounts on social media. Their insights can serve as a blueprint for any filmmaker looking to build their online presence, and curate an audience of their own.Links from the show:Film Up Website - https://www.filmup.coFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode I am joined by three amazing guests for a roundtable style discussion about crowd-equity fundraising for indie films.Our guests are: lawyer-turned film investor Michael Rekola, executive producer and actor Desiree Staples, and Ryan Pierce from WeFunder’s growth team.This in depth discussion covers tactics for raising funds through crowd-equity platforms (like WeFunder), painting a very clear picture of what it takes to succeed with this strategy. Topics covered include: Ideal genres for crowd-equity, key variables investors care about, reaching a wide audience, business & legal setup, and much more.Links from the show:Use Michael's link to start a project for free, and save on any platform fundraising fees when you successfully raise - https://wefunder.com/byrekola/discount“My Divorce Party” We Funder - https://wefunder.com/mydivorcepartythemovie/“Meet Cute Murders” We Funder - https://wefunder.com/meet.cute.murders.movieMichael Rekola on Twitter - https://twitter.com/byrekolaFor more exc

In this episode I am joined by Joële Walinga, director of the SXSW 2022 documentary feature "Self Portrait". This is a brilliant experimental feature comprised entirely of footage collected from surveillance cameras, and produced with a highly unique creative process. Throughout the interview, Joële gives us a behind the scenes look into her four-year creative workflow, which involved sifting through thousands of publicly available surveillance videos and editing them together into a meaningful feature film. She also shares invaluable creative advice for other filmmakers looking to experiment with new formats, and use their original ideas to break new ground.For more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this solo episode, I share a behind the scenes look into my latest feature film, which is being shot with no crew and a highly unconventional workflow. I decided to experiment with this new filmmaking paradigm to test my own creative limits, and show that a great film can be produced on any level, regardless of budget or resources.Throughout the episode I outline how taking a "one-man-band" approach to filmmaking can actually increase production value, while also making for a more creatively rewarding process. Topics covered include:- How I balance directing, DP'ing, and sound recording myself- Why I'm shooting the film in 2-3 day blocks over several months- Editing the film while we are shooting to inform future script changes- The gear I'm using to shoot the film- Challenges and workarounds for filmmakers looking to take this approachFor more exclusive content like this, sign up at http://noamkroll.com/newsletter

Returning to the show is Emmy winning micro-budget filmmaker Marcus Mizelle. After directing a trilogy of micro-budget narrative feature films, Marcus turned his talents to the documentary filmmaking space, where he has recently found incredible success.His self-produced short documentary (Something In The Water) aired on PBS and was later awarded an Emmy. During the same period, he also directed a feature documentary (Belle Vie) which premiered last month at the prestigious Santa Barbara Film Festival.Throughout the interview we discuss each project at length, Marcus' decision to move from narrative to documentary, how he got his film on PBS and submitted for an Emmy nomination, and much more.Links from the show:Something In The Water - https://www.amazon.com/Something-Water-Kinston-Basketball-Story/dp/B08QLXGNCJGet a free exhibit pass to NAB Show by clicking here: https://amplify.nabshow.com/nab-show-sign-up/?r=maritz&marketing_code=BA20For more exclusive content like this, sign up at http://noamkroll.c

In this episode I am joined by experimental filmmaker and accomplished painter, Chris Peters. Chris' films have screened at numerous Academy Award qualifying festivals, including Slamdance 2021 (where he later served as a programmer), and winning the Peter Wilde Award at the 2020 Ann Arbor Film Festival.Throughout our discussion we cover a slew of creative topics - from our shared love of Super 8mm, to the use of AI in filmmaking. We also touch on the benefits of "no-budget" productions, insights from his experience as a festival programmer, and loads more.Links from the show:http://www.chrispeters.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up at http://noamkroll.com/newsletter

Today I’m joined by director Daniel Lafrentz and producer Sean Flanagan to demystify the fundraising process for narrative feature films.Daniel is an award winning filmmaker known for his debut feature film The Long Shadow, which was awarded a jury prize at the amazing New Orleans Film Festival. Sean made his name in film distribution, having overseen the release of over 1000 films including titles for Sundance Institute, FilmRise, Paradigm, CAA and more. Together, they are developing a new feature film called Meet Cute Murders, which is a focal point of our discussion.Throughout the interview we take a deep dive into Daniel and Sean’s experience making feature films, and how they are reverse engineering their new movie to ensure a successful release. We pay special attention to the WeFunder platform too, which is a cornerstone of their fundraising efforts, and a resource that all filmmakers could benefit from.Links from the show:Meet Cute Murders - WeFunderDaniel Lafrentz - WebsiteFor more exclusive content

I'm thrilled to be joined by editor and director Roger Nygard for an insightful discussion all about the editorial process. Roger is known as an editor for his work on television series like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep, Who Is America, and countless others. But he is also an established director, lending his talents to The Office and The Bernie Mac Show, all while spearheading his own feature film projects too.Throughout the interview, Roger shares his wealth of knowledge on the storytelling process, drawn from over 30 years of experience working in Hollywood. We discuss how filmmakers can "shoot for the edit", Roger's specific creative workflows, and loads of practical editing tricks. Roger also details his own history as a director and editor, along with lessons learned from working in the edit bay with great talents like Larry David, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Sacha Baron Cohen.Links from the show:Roger Nygard - WebsiteFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

In this episode I'm joined by filmmaking duo Taylor Lewis and Burke Lewis.Taylor and Burke run a successful commercial production company (Atomic City), and produce high end content for brands like Amazon, Microsoft, and DJI. But they also have a passion for true micro-budget filmmaking, going so far as to make an entire feature film for just $1000. Throughout the interview, we discuss Taylor and Burke's strategy for growing their production company, how they've thrived outside of major film markets, their philosophy on narrative productions, and loads more.Links from the showFilm Creator Pro - HandbookFilm Creator Pro - InstagramFilm Creator Pro - FacebookAtomic City - WebsiteFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

In this episode I am joined by Bryn Woznicki (director) and Skye Emerson (screenwriter), the filmmaking duo behind Under The Influencer.After making a $450K feature titled Her Side of The Bed, Bryn chose to embrace the world of ultra micro-budget filmmaking. Through a collaboration with Skye (a recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Screenwriting Fellowship at the Sundance Film Festival), the team was able to secure $25,000 in funding through We Make Movies to go into production. Bryn and Skye share their journey at length throughout the interview, from the origins of the concept to how they navigated this challenging budget level.Links from the show:Bryn - WebsiteBryn - TwitterBryn - FacebookSkye - WebsiteUnder The Influencer - WebsiteJill Bennet - InstagramLauren Neal - InstagramFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I am joined by award winning film composer and billboard charting producer Roman Molino Dunn.Roman has found incredible success in the industry, working on major projects for Netflix (AI Love You), Sean Baker (Red Rocket) and Paul Schrader (The Card Counter), among countless others. Last year alone, his work screened at 3 of the top film festivals in the world: Cannes, Venice and Toronto.Throughout the interview Roman takes a deep dive into his creative process, sharing invaluable lessons for filmmakers looking to maximize the impact of their score.Links from the show:Roman Molino Dunn - InstagramRoman Molino Dunn - WebsiteMirrortone StudiosFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I am joined by filmmaking duo Brent Lydic and Tip Scarry, who are here to give us a behind the scenes look into their new feature film Spirit Quest.This micro-budget indie was made on a shoestring budget of just $7000 over the course of 14 shooting days. By taking an unconventional approach to production, Brent and Tip pulled off an impressive debut feature film that ultimately landed distribution with Gravitas, and is now widely available on VOD. Listen to the full episode for the entire breakdown, along with invaluable lessons learned at each step.Links from the show:Spirit Quest - AmazonSpirit Quest - iTunesSpirit Quest - InstagramSpirit Quest - FacebookFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I am joined by writer/director Pete Ohs, here to give us a behind the scenes look into his latest feature film titled Youngstown.After debuting as a feature director with Everything Is Beautiful Far Away - a traditionally financed indie starring Julia Garner and Joseph Cross, Pete wanted to try a different approach. Despite the success of his first film (including distribution with The Orchard), the process wasn't what Pete was looking for. He wanted to make a movie that was more creatively freeing and fun, and this was only possible by scaling things down to a bare minimum. By financing the movie himself and acting as the entire crew, Pete was not only able to pull off a completed movie, but truly enjoy the process at every step. Throughout the interview Pete shares his journey at length - from his budget breakdown to the gear he used, and loads more.Links from the show:Pete Ohs - InstagramYoungstown - AmazonFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

In this episode I am joined by director Keon Hedayati, who is here to talk all about his debut feature film Karma Bums, which is now entering distribution.Despite a limited budget (under $100K), Keon was able to successfully craft a final product with the look, feel and polish of a high end studio feature. Throughout the discussion, Keon shares insight into how he achieved these kind of results by building the right team, taking them on cross-country road trip, and capturing lightning in a bottle. He also shares wild stories from set - from breaking bones during a fight scene to being shot at for filming - and how he overcame challenges at each step.Links from the show:Keon Hedayati - InstagramKeon Hedayati - TwitterFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I am joined by filmmaker and host of the popular Crimson Engine YouTube channel, Rubidium Wu - who is currently in post-production for his latest feature film titled The Devil’s Fortune.Throughout the interview Rubidium shares a behind the scenes look into how he built his incredible YouTube Channel from the ground up, and how it serves as an asset in his feature filmmaking journey. He also touches on his distribution philosophy, editorial process, approach to working outside of LA, and loads more. This is a must listen for any filmmaker looking to use content creation as a means to bring their passion projects to life.Links from the show:Crimson Engine - YouTube ChannelCanon Masterclass - WebsiteFor more exclusive content like this every Sunday, click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I am joined by actor, author, filmmaker & entrepreneur Sara Quiriconi, to talk all about the intersection of business and creativity.Sara has found success across multiple mediums - from her renowned book titled Living Cancer Free to her popular blog, social media, and podcast channels. As a huge proponent of entrepreneurship and content creation for filmmakers, I was excited to have Sara on the show to unpack her experience at length.Throughout the episode she shares best practices for leveraging business to unleash your creativity, how to prioritize your creative pursuits, why you shouldn’t chase the perfect work-life balance, and so much more.Links from the show:Sara Quiriconi - InstagramSara Quiriconi - TwitterSara Quiriconi - YouTubeSara Quiriconi - WebsiteNever Settle - PodcastFor more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Joining me today is filmmaker Matthew Temple, who recently directed the documentary Hardball: The Girls of Summer, which was released by Vertical entertainment last year.Matthew also runs a great podcast, has written books on creativity, and holds workshops all over the world to help empower creatives. Naturally, all of this made for a great conversation that covers everything from creative blocks and how to overcome them, to the creative journey as a whole. He also speaks to his own experience balancing creativity with work, why he left a high paying job in Hollywood to go the independent route, and much more.Links from the show:Matthew Temple - WebsiteMatthew Temple - Production companyMatthew Temple - PodcastHardball - Movie WebsiteFor more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.

Today I am joined by the multi-talented Daniel B. Levin whose latest documentary Kevin Garnett: Anything is Possible just premiered on Showtime. You may also know Daniel from some of his other amazing documentary productions, like I Promise, which was executive produced by LeBron James and premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.Throughout the interview, Daniel and I take a deep dive into the world of documentary filmmaking, using his latest feature as a case study. Daniel generously shares his entire process from concept through production and distribution, outlining each critical phase at length. He also touches on what it was like serve as both co-director and cinematographer on the production, the gear that he used, his editorial process and workflow, and loads more.This is essential listening for all filmmakers, but especially those looking to break into the documentary space.Links from the show:Daniel B. Levin - Instagram Daniel B. Levin - TwitterDaniel B. Levin - WebsiteBlowback Productions - Insta

Joining me today is acclaimed DGA director Mike Rohl, who has had an amazing directorial career in both television and feature films. Most recently, Mike directed Vanessa Hudgens in The Princess Swap trilogy for Netflix, but is also known for directing countless episodes of Smallville, The Outer Limits, When Calls The Heart, and many other iconic television shows.Mike got his start making DIY movies back in film school, which ultimately led to his first big break directing network TV, and later led to his studio feature film work. Throughout the episode we discuss Mike’s journey at length - from his film school days to directing major motion pictures for Netflix, and everything in between. This episode is educational and inspiring for filmmakers at all levels, and I truly hope you all enjoy!Links from the show:Mike Rohl - WebsiteMike Rohl - InstagramFor more content like this click here to sign up for my newsletter.