Last week I made a bite sized short film called “Echoes On The Shore”, which was shot in just 3 hours and edited in a single afternoon. This is part of a series of micro-shorts that I plan to make every 2 – 3 weeks, allowing me to rapidly…
Today I am joined by film critic turned filmmaker Jean-Baptiste Herment, here to talk about his DIY feature film Épidermique. Throughout the episode we discuss: This is Episode 235: Directing and DP’ing A No-Budget, No-Crew Monochrome…
One way to improve your results in just about anything (including filmmaking) is by using Inversion Thinking. Humans are far more capable of identifying potential threats than we are opportunities. This is hard wired into us from our…
500+ years ago, Leonardo DaVinci pioneered the Sfumato technique, which changed the art world forever. In Italian, Sfumato means “to evaporate like smoke.” And that was the effect DaVinci was going for on the canvas. He used innovative…
Today I am joined by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Roger Nygard, who you might know from films like Trekkies, Suckers, and The Truth About Marriage. Throughout our discussion, we unpack Roger’s winning formula for making and selling…
In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Mark Mc Auley to discuss the creative process behind his feature film aWake,which was shot in a single day! The discussion covers his entire creative workflow, philosophical approach to filmmaking,…
This episode is part 2 in the no-budget cinematography series, where we explore methods and tactics for achieving strong visuals with limited means. Topics covered include: This is Episode 232: No-Budget Cinematography: 5 Essential…
If there is one filmmaking trick to have up your sleeve on a no-budget production, it’s the ability to shoot day for night. This is when you shoot a night scene during the day, and color it in post to make it appear as if it were actually…
No-budget productions hinge on the quality of your approach to coverage. Many filmmakers make the mistake of focusing solely on coverage from a creative perspective, and neglect to understand its deeper purpose as a utility. In its most…
I’m often asked “what are the optimal focal lengths for no-budget productions”? While there are no hard and fast rules, there are certainly focal lengths that lend themselves better than others. Both from a stylistic and practical…
So much of your film’s perceived quality is rooted in shooting not only the best coverage possible, but the right amount. Unfortunately though, many no-budget filmmakers and cinematographers get things very wrong in this department.…
On projects of all scale, lighting dictates not only the quality of your final image, but also the stylistic effect. The very same core principles of lighting will apply, regardless of your production budget. However, the execution of…
Today I am thrilled to be joined by the amazingly talented Jim Cummings, who you know as the Sundance winning writer / director / actor behind films like Thunder Road, The Wolf Of Snow Hollow, and The Beta Test. Jim recently released a…
Today we take a deep dive into the world of no-budget cinematography, looking at methods and workflows for achieving better results within limited means. The full episode covers: This is Episode 230: No-Budget Cinematography: How To…
The #1 killer of no-budget feature films is poor cinematography. Which is why I am creating the No-Budget Cinematography Blueprint. We’ve all had those moments of debilitating frustration in the edit suite. You’ve worked for months on end…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
In this episode, I am joined by writer, producer and actor Jonathon M. Smith – who originally connected with me through my filmmaking community (The Backlot). Not long after joining the community, Jonathon went on to make his debut feature…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time in the edit bay. Between getting deliverables ready for our feature Disappearing Boy, cutting an assembly of the new movie (Teacher’s Pet), and running dozens of commercial and client projects – it’s…
Recently I was interviewed for a research project about the “cinematic look” – A topic constantly debated by filmmakers. The central question was simply what makes something cinematic? And is there even such thing as a cinematic look?…
Today I am thrilled to have acclaimed DP Oren Soffer on to talk about his recent work on The Creator, and all other things cinematography. Oren is of course known for his brilliant camera work on countless narrative, commercial, and music…
In this episode I am very excited to share my interview with the amazing Barbara Crampton – Known for her iconic genre films like Re-Animator, Jakob’s Wife, Suitable Flesh, and countless others. After recently working with Barbara on our…