Show Don't Tell: Micro-budget Filmmaking

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

In this episode I am joined by Daniel Garber - editor of the feature film "The Drop", which premiered this year at the Tribeca Film Festival. Daniel’s creative and technical workflow on "The Drop" was really unique, as the film was shot with no formal script and was largely improvised.Throughout the discussion, we talk about this at length - as Daniel shares his method for shaping the best scenes and story using largely improvised material. He also talks about editing the film in tandem with production, how he completed his assembly cut in 30 days, and tips for other editors looking to get into the business.Links from the show:Daniel Garber’s Website - https://www.danielgarber.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

Today I am joined by micro-budget filmmaker Tory Jones. He is known for his slate of genre feature films including the "The Wicked One", which developed a cult-like following after being released online and going viral.Throughout the episode we talk about Tory’s experience making The Wicked One for just $12,000, and how the film achieved viral success without any paid advertising. Tory also shares the formula he uses to make a feature film every year, how his films get financed, distribution strategies, and so much more.Get The No-Budget Feature Film Blueprint: https://www.noamkrollacademy.comLinks from the show:Jonestown Films - http://jonestownfilms.com

In this episode I am joined by Whit Ingram. You may know her as “wittyfilmgirl” from her popular Instagram account, where she shares a behind the scenes look at her creative process as a filmmaker.Over the years, Whit has built up an impressive social media following that has led to paid work, creative opportunities, and the ability to spearhead her own passion projects. Throughout the episode we unpack each step she took to build a strong online brand, how that helped her land full time work as a director/DP, and advice for other filmmakers looking to do the same.Get the No-Budget Feature Film Blueprint here: https://noamkrollacademy.comLinks from the show:Whit Ingram Website - https://wittyfilmgirl.comWhit on Instagram - https://instagram.com/wittyfilmgirlWhit on Tik Tok - https://tiktok.com/wittyfilmgirl

In this episode I am joined by the multi-talented Bryan Mason, here to talk all about his creative approach, career path, and latest feature film (now on Hulu): "Good Luck To You, Leo Grande"Bryan is an accomplished cinematographer and editor, often working in both capacities on the same film. Throughout the interview, we talk about Bryan's ability to balance production work with post, and how wearing multiple hats has benefitted him. He also shares a behind the scenes look into his latest feature film, documenting the process from start to finish.Links from the show:"Animals" Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyWo8NzNvTU"Good Luck to You, Leo Grande" Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJcbZoJFLTUBryan Mason on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bryan_mason/For more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In today’s solo episode I share a practical breakdown for capturing amazing raw footage on a “no-budget” production. Even if you are working as a one person crew without traditional resources, it's possible to achieve strong production value - this episode explains how to get there.Throughout the show, I unpack everything from choosing the right camera to the embracing available light. I also share anecdotes and workflows from my latest feature film, which is being shot using the same unconventional tactics outlined in this episode.To learn more about no-budget filmmaking, pick up the No-Budget Filmmaking Blueprint here: https://noamkrollacademy.com/products/no-budget-feature-film-blueprint

In this episode I am joined by acclaimed director Matthew Wade, a four time Slamdance filmmaker known for his feature films "How The Sky Will Melt" and "A Black Rift Begins To Yawn."Matthew's films are incredibly original both in how they are stylized and produced. We discuss his process at length throughout the interview, along with - shooting a feature film on Super 8mm film, creating an analog look when shooting digitally, scoring your own movie, festival programming tips, and loads more.Links from the show:Feature Films - https://skymeltfilm.comMatthew's Website - https://matthewade.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode I am joined by acclaimed DP Liam Higgins for an in-depth discussion on cinematography, commercial filmmaking, and creativity.Liam has shot many commercial projects for Adidas, Grey Goose, SteamWhistle, and countless other brands, all while writing and producing his own narrative productions. Throughout the interview, we discuss Liam’s work at length and his career path - from freelancer to gaining representation with APA agency. We also talk about the benefits and drawbacks of owning gear, the importance of great collaboration, and loads more.Links from the show:https://instagram.com/liamhigginshttps://higginsdp.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

This week I'm honored to have filmmaker and Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish return to the show to talk all about his brand new feature film - 18 1/2.18 1/2 is a Watergate thriller/comedy that stars Willa Fitzgerald, John Magaro, Vondie Curtis Hall, Catherine Curtin, Richard Kind, Sullivan Jones, Alanna Saunders, Claire Saunders and the voices of Ted Raimi, Jon Cryer, and Bruce Campbell.In just 15 days, Dan and his crew captured this amazing film that has a unique 1970s vibe and standout performances. Throughout the episode we discuss exactly how this film was made - from concept to theatrical distribution. Enjoy!Links from the show: 18 1/2 Movie Website - https://18andahalfmovie.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

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