Film and Family

Ep. 96 - Self Distributing on Film Hub with Lenni Uitto

Director of the post-apocalyptic film, Permafrost, Lenni Uitto takes us behind the scenes and shares his experiences making and ultimately self-distributing his first film with Film Hub.  Join us as we unravel Lenni's journey from coding to creating post-apocalyptic films. From making camping videos on YouTube to experimenting with After Effects and even taking acting classes, Lenny's story is a testament to how following your passion can lead to unexpected and rewarding paths. We explore h...

Ep. 95 - Approaching Your Career Like a Passionate Hobbyist

In this episode we explore why thinking like a hobbyist filmmaker may be the fastest way to eventually transition into a professional career. Learn how starting with passion projects and investing in your hobby can lead to professional growth and financial sustainability. We delve into the concept of building filmmaking assets, illustrating how every project, no matter its immediate success, contributes to a lucrative portfolio over time. It's not just about the career milestones. We also e...

Ep. 94 - The Grit and Vision of Indie Filmmaking: From Passion Project to Screen with Matthew Taggart

Join the conversation as filmmaker Matthew Taggart pulls back the curtain on the life of an indie filmmaker, from his first leap into directing with "The Counterfeit Kid" to managing the delicate balance of family and film. Matthew's journey offers a relatable peek into the highs and lows of bringing a vision to the big screen, navigating through the world of independent cinema with a blend of passion and pragmatism. His unique perspective as a father and husband infuses our chat with anecdo...

Ep. 94 - The Grit and Vision of Indie Filmmaking with Matthew Taggart

Join the conversation as filmmaker Matthew Taggart pulls back the curtain on the life of an indie filmmaker, from his first leap into directing with "The Counterfeit Kid" to managing the delicate balance of family and film. Matthew's journey offers a relatable peek into the highs and lows of bringing a vision to the big screen, navigating through the world of independent cinema with a blend of passion and pragmatism. His unique perspective as a father and husband infuses our chat with anecdo...

Ep. 93 - Four Walling and Self Distribution

Where do I distribute the funds that I have procured for my film?  How much will each facet of making a movie cost me so that I know how to lay out the budget? Once you have finished your film, you can receive laurels from festivals;  even the small film festivals. These laurels help promote trailers and posters that are used to market your film to the masses. Join us today as we dive into the subject of four walling and what it takes to do it. Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Sch...

Ep. 92 - We're Back!

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Ep. 91 - Personal and Practical Storytelling with Feature Film Director Kiel Thorlton

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Ep. 90 - What Is The Value of A Movie?

How do you add value to your film? What does that mean? What determines value and why would people pay money to watch what you make? It's impossible to amplify the and sell the value of your film to the world if you don't understand why it matters to your audience on a deep level early on. Tune in to this episode to explore the most intrinsic deep value films can offer their audiences and how you can tap into and amplify that value to make a radical ROI with your first feature film. Free ...

Ep. 89 - Support Yourself Financially, Making Feature Films

Do you think that you need to give up everything in your life to get your feature film off of the ground? The opposite may actually be true.  Sacrificing your lifestyle will only deplete your store of creativity and contacts that can lead to the very connections and resources you need.  Keeping your day job can provide a safety net that allows you more creative freedom. Tune into this episode to learn about why a practical self-paced approach can lead to  a better feature film career. Fr...

Ep. 88 - Creating Character

How well do you know your characters?  Can you anticipate how a person would act in a variety of situations?  In art, if you're drawing a person, you have to understand how bone structure works to be able to draw the figure accurately, but you're not going to actually see the bones necessarily in the finished product. The same is true for character development.   The benefits of knowing each character well will help you to write and/or direct more confidently. Tune into this episode to le...

Ep. 87 - You Make What You Are

Are you feeling overwhelmed with all that you need to accomplish? In this episode, we talk about the importance of self care and how to prioritize your time in order to feel better. Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call

Ep. 86 - Mining Your Life, Digging up Films

 Thinking that there isn't an interesting enough story in your life worth telling? This episode will help you discover what you can share with the world. In this episode, Kent and Anna discuss how to make a story personal, how to use your resources, and share some of their own personal perspectives on the subject. Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call

Ep. 85 - Crewing a Feature Film with No Money

Which crew members are most essential for your film, and which ones can you do without for your first feature? Who can manage multiple roles without being overwhelmed? If you're creating a film with a low/no budget range, then this podcast episode is for you. Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call

Ep. 84 - How to Make Films Together Without Killing Each Other

If you work with someone you love or are have family roles to play whilst also working on a film production, this episode is for you. Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call

Ep. 83 - First Features: A Place Called Home with Adam Bova

An exclusive interview with Adam Bova, professor at Columbus State University and Producer on the Indie Feature, A Place Called Home.  We talk about: Balancing film and family How distribution is changing Why passion projects pay Advantages of making a low-budget first film Approaching distribution without a sales agent What Adam wishes he had known before making his debut feature Trailer for the Film Awards Page Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Free "Make Your Feature Film" ...

Ep. 82 - Success Patterns: Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson is the 3rd highest grossing film director of all time. He is an absolute legend, but he got his start following the same pattern that all best filmmakers do.  He made movies for fun with his friends. They wore all the hats and played all the roles. They DIY-ed their own gear/props/costumes as they went. They broke all the "rules." They kept their day jobs. They made their first feature film in their spare time. They had no formal training, but lots of fun. And the rest is hist...

Ep. 81 - Movie Club: Top Gun 2 - Maverick

This week on the podcast, we break down the exciting new film, "Top Gun 2 - Maverick" by filmmaker Joseph Kosinski. You can watch behind the scenes footage and interviews about the making of the film here. Once a month, as part of our Movie Club series of the podcast, we share a noteworthy film and discuss it in depth. In this episode, we talk about how Top Gun 2 demonstrates leadership, why the filmmakers decided to use more expensive practical effects instead of digital, and what the film...

Ep. 80 - A War to Keep the Peace with Jon Bregel

This week on the podcast, we interview award-winning commercial director and founder of Variable, Jon Bregel. This one is a treat. Jon is humble, personable, and open. I can't wait for you to hear his incredible story and learn about the wellness community he created after struggling with the pressure of explosive success and difficulty in maintaining a healthy work/life balance. He shares insights about the power of stillness, prioritizing health and wellness, and how personal relationshi...

Ep. 79 - First Features: Cryo with Barrett Burgin

This week on the podcast, we interview Barrett Burgin about the recent theatrical release of his debut feature film, Cryo.  Join us as we discuss the process he went through to get this film made and sold while also finishing school, working a day job, and providing for his young family. Barrett shares his biggest takeaways from his experience making and selling this film. He is a great example of the success that you can achieve, too, by following the process we teach in the Feature Filmm...

Ep. 78 - Movie Club: City Girl (1930)

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Ep. 77 - Success Patterns - Quentin Tarantino and Other Exceptions to the Rule

This week on the podcast we discuss some filmmakers who are exceptions to the typical success patterns or career trajectory that we teach. Make Your Feature Film (Free Step-by-Step Guide): www.InvisibleMansion.com/FreeChecklist Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call

Ep. 76 - Lessons Learned from Austin Kleon

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Ep. 75 - Movie Club: The Miracle Worker (1962)

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Ep. 74 - The Power of 10 Minutes

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Ep. 73 - Success Patterns: Christopher Nolan

We always say you can make a movie in just 10-15 minutes a day. Production is usually the exception to that rule. But not for Christopher Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas. They shot their first feature film in intervals of 15 minutes every weekend for 14 weeks. In his own words: "I didn’t raise anything, I had a job and I was receiving regular pay cheques for the first time in my life. I would spend half on my rent and the other half on film stock and processing. Whatever I had, I’d work out...

Ep. 72 - Movie Club: The Batman (2022)

This month’s Movie Club podcast highlights the new Batman movie by Matt Reeves. If you haven’t seen the film yet, be warned that this episode is full of spoilers... We take you behind the scenes into the making of the movie, discuss the theme, emotional moments, and our biggest takeaways both personally and as artists.  The Movie Club series is designed to model for you how taking a few minutes after you watch a film to have a discussion can add so much to the experience! This is some ...

Ep. 71 - Lessons Learned from Hans Zimmer

Creativity is creative problem-solving. You can’t have creativity without problems to solve. Every problem or obstacle you face is keeping your creativity alive and allows you to improve. Your limitations in your career allow you to make something that nobody else can make because nobody else has your specific limitations. In the words of Hans Zimmer, the subject of our podcast this week: “Anybody’s got access to something that they can go and make a great score with…In a funny way, the mo...

Ep. 70 - A Case for Hiring Yourself as Producer

This week on the podcast, we talk about what it means to produce. A producer makes a film exist. A producer is a creator. This is power allows you to own your own work and be in control of your film career.  In this episode, Kent talks about the role he played as producer on our feature film. We have since been asked about producing several other projects. And while that isn't out of the question, we recommend that you  join the Feature Filmmaker Academy instead. You could potentially make ...

Ep. 69 - Behind the Scenes: Test Screening on The Loved and Lost

A Behind the Scenes episode talking about the test screening phase of our feature film, The Loved and Lost.  Testing really is one of the best free ways to improve your work, whether it’s a screenplay, edit, or otherwise. I’m sure these principles apply to all sorts of areas of life too. Listening to others and asking questions can also help us improve anything, even ourselves. Make Your Feature Film (Free Step-by-Step Guide): www.InvisibleMansion.com/FreeChecklist Learn about the Film an...

Ep. 68 - Movie Club: Delicious

We've started a movie club! Every month, we'll release a podcast with ideas and questions you can use to discuss a new (or old) movie with your family or friends. February's pick is a French flick that imagines the origins of the world's first restaurant. Delicious is a treat that lives up to its name. We realized as we recorded this podcast how much more we appreciate the film after taking time to discuss it together. We would love to have you join the conversation and share your own insi...

Ep. 67 - Success Patterns: Jared Hess

This week on the podcast, we're highlighting director Jared Hess's career and success patterns. As I'm sure you know, his first feature film, Napoleon Dynamite, was a cult classic and huge box office success. It's an excellent case study worth replicating as you develop your own first feature film. Jared Hess attended the same film school as us (BYU), and as such, we were fortunate enough to have some interactions together and learn details about his first feature experience that are surpr...

Ep. 66 - Media Literacy: Why Every Family Needs a Filmmaker

There's something a little deceiving about the subject line of this email. It insinuates that if you're a filmmaker, you're media literate. But that isn't necessarily true! Media literacy refers to the ability to understand and communicate through media, including film (our primary medium of concern at Film and Family). As obvious as it sounds, it's essential to be media literate as a filmmaker. But it is also very important in today's world to be media literate for, well, everyone. In thi...

Ep. 66 - Media Literacy - Why Every Family Needs a Filmmaker

There's something a little deceiving about the subject line of this email. It insinuates that if you're a filmmaker, you're media literate. But that isn't necessarily true! Media literacy refers to the ability to understand and communicate through media, including film (our primary medium of concern at Film and Family). As obvious as it sounds, it's essential to be media literate as a filmmaker. But it is also very important in today's world to be media literate for, well, everyone. In thi...

Ep. 65 - Success Patterns: Chloe Zhao

This year, we've started a new series of podcast episodes highlighting successful filmmakers' beginnings. We'll show you patterns you can follow to create your own successful film career and motivate you with examples and ideas of what that path can look like. We kick off the series by featuring Chloe Zhao, who made her first feature film in 2015. Her third feature, "Nomadland" won 3 Academy Awards. She was also the first woman of Asian descent and the second woman ever to win "Best Directo...

Ep. 64 - Christmas and Filmmaking

At this time of year, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. What does Jesus Christ have to do with filmmaking? In our experience, a lot! In this episode, we share a loss we experienced 7 years ago and how in the end, the lesson we learned is worth so much more to us now than what we lost. We share how our belief in Christ helped us with our feature film. We also teach you how you can experience more internal peace even during turbulent times. Learn about the Film and Family Program: ...

Ep. 63 - Patience with Long-Term Projects

Learn about the Film and Family Program: www.InvisibleMansion.com/FilmandFamily Make Your Feature Film (Free Step-by-Step Guide): www.InvisibleMansion.com/FreeChecklist Free "Make Your Feature Film" Checklist Schedule my Greenlight Call

Ep. 62 - What Should I Watch Tonight?

This week on the podcast: How to pick good films to watch in a media-saturated world Why what we choose to we watch matters  Treating media like a mental diet How consuming garbage can kill your creativity  Too much of any one thing isn’t healthy Ideas to add variety to your watch lists Being open-minded and challenging your preferences Following an artist's line of work or influences A challenge to watch something outside your comfort zone - old, foreign, documentary, or a genre yo...

Ep. 61 - I Graduated Film School, Now What?

This week on the podcast, we answer questions from college students about how to prepare for a film career after school. We also share the most valuable lessons we learned in school and those that we had to discover on our own. Check it out. P.S. The Film and Family Academy doors open in just a few more days! Above all, the best way to learn to make feature films for a living is to do it! And that's exactly what everyone who graduates from the Film and Family Academy leaves with: A feature ...

Ep. 60 - A Prepared Filmmaker is a Happy Filmmaker

Have you ever been on a stressful film set? These days, who hasn't? In this podcast, we talk about the best way to make your experience on set enjoyable! In this Podcast Episode: The Latin root of the word “prepare” How use of the word has declined over time What is good preparation? Not too much or too little. The benefits of preparation outweigh those of procrastination How to make a plan but still not turn your brain off on set Some unconventional ways to prepare a feature Trust w...

Ep. 59 - Oh, The Places You'll Go

Ep. 59 - Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Making a feature film is a journey. Do you ever feel lost along the way? In this Podcast Episode: Dissatisfaction is linked to an unclear vision of what you want Like a GPS, you need to know where you are now and where you are going The more specific the destination, the better (think an exact address vs. Texas) If you are upset, you are focused on what you don’t want How to pivot and move towards your goals Multitasking leads to crashing "Life by the yard is hard, by the inch it’s a...

Ep. 58 - How Time Management Can Transform Your Film Career (with Sam Featherstone)

Don't have enough time to make on a feature film? Our friend and client, Sam Featherstone didn't think so either. Listen to our interview with him, and reconsider. In this Podcast Episode: What's even better than quitting your day job An answer to prayer - Sam's experience in the Film and Family Academy  The power of an outside perspective to show you your blind spots  Keeping momentum after a rough patch or slow start  How to make the next step smaller, so it's easier to take  The ti...

Ep. 57 - How to Tell Stories that Matter

What kinds of films do you want to make? Will your story matter to the world?  In this Podcast Episode: "What matters most is what lasts longest" - M. Russell Ballard  Both the family and films we create live on after we die  Funerals, a gathering of posterity, are a testament to this  Why some stories and archetypes endure forever Will it pass the test of time? How craft/intellectualism can be overrated  Imbuing meaning improves craft more than studying the craft itself You can't g...

Ep. 56 - Get Rid of Unwanted Desire

In this Podcast Episode: An update: we watched the first assembly of the Loved and Lost Developments within the Film and Family program that we are excited to release The flip side of generating motivation to do things is getting rid of desires for things we don't want to do Determining which desires you want to keep or get rid of Focusing on something grows it - what you focus on, you create more of The biggest problem people run into when they try to get rid of desire A simple solut...

Ep. 55 - Happy? Sad? What Makes the Best Ending to a Film?

 In this Podcast Episode: Why we’ve been gone for a few weeks What "Better than Happy" means to us The purpose of life  How pursuing happiness thwarts happiness. (Victor Frankl) How processing emotion allows us to not stay stuck  When we avoid pain, we also feel less joy Your level of heartbreak is a measure of how much you allowed yourself to love Pain is inevitable - how to choose between the pain of loving deeply or of regret and numbing your true desires An invitation to challen...

Happy? Sad? What Makes the Best Ending to a Film?

 In this Podcast Episode: Why we’ve been gone for a few weeks What "Better than Happy" means to us The purpose of life  How pursuing happiness thwarts happiness. (Victor Frankl) How processing emotion allows us to not stay stuck  When we avoid pain, we also feel less joy Your level of heartbreak is a measure of how much you allowed yourself to love Pain is inevitable - how to choose between the pain of loving deeply or of regret and numbing your true desires An invitation to challen...

Ep. 54 - Moving Towards Mastery

Free Consultation: www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamily The average amount of time it takes to make one feature film (from when it's announced to when it's released) is 2 years, 4 months, and 19 days. That doesn't even include writing the script or prepping/packaging it before it gets financed.  Parenthood and feature filmmaking are long-term ventures. In our latest podcast episode, we outline what you can expect that journey to look like for you. By the end, you'll be able to identify w...

Ep. 53 - Filmmaking with Small Children

Free Consultation: www.InvisibleMansion.com/filmandfamily In Stephen King's autobiography, On Writing, he describes in detail his struggle with addiction, which nearly cost him his family. King's powerful conclusion is that, "Life isn't a support system for art. It's the other way around." If we sacrifice too much on the altar of "art making", we deprive ourselves of anything truly meaningful to make art about. Ideally, the purpose of film is not to escape our lives, but to help us appre...

Ep. 52 - Replacing Should with Could

There is no such thing as should. There is no rule book about what everyone should or shouldn't do. When you say "should" you are always judging and limiting yourself or those around you. Looking back, it's not productive to think, "I should have...." because the past is over, and you can't go back and change it. But you can change the way you think about it. Here's the truth. What you did is what you should have done because it's what you did. Don't use the past to define you, but to ref...

Ep. 51 - A Finished Film or Your Money Back

Making a feature film is a massive undertaking, but that doesn't mean you can't do it. We've created a program that breaks the entire process from start to end into digestible steps and stages that you can move through one at a time. In the Film and Family Academy, we guarantee that if you follow every step we teach you, you will have a finished film by the end, or we'll give you your money back. Most film graduates have still never done what every single graduate from the Film and Family A...