Hey Indie Filmmakers
142 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 66 ratings"Hey Indie Filmmakers" is a podcast about DIY filmmaking, cameras and technology, hosted by documentary filmmaker Griffin Hammond and tech expert Nick Bodmer. Watch video versions of these episodes on YouTube.
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Episodes
Solving the Audio Sample Rate Mismatch
February 27, 2019 15:57 - 28 minutes - 39.5 MBNick and Griffin each solve a couple technical issues plaguing their filmmaking processes this week.
I created these intro titles with Pixelstick
February 06, 2019 10:45 - 13 minutes - 19 MBGriffin uses a light-painting wand called the Pixelstick to create the intro sequence for his new Indy Mogul show—“Cheap Thing vs. Expensive Thing.”
One-Day Documentaries with Griffin Hammond
January 31, 2019 16:57 - 35 minutes - 49.3 MBIndy Mogul is back! This is first episode of The Indy Mogul Podcast, hosted by Ted Sim: Today we catch up with fellow co-host Griffin Hammond about his work covering the 2016 Presidential election with Bloomberg News and the process of creating his festival darling documentary “Sriracha.” We also discuss the fundamentals of documentary filmmaking and how to film a documentary in one day.
Judge Denies My Request to Film in NYC Courtroom
January 30, 2019 10:45 - 33 minutes - 47.4 MBSwiss tourist Paolo Prosetti was arrested after crashing his drone near Times Square in New York City. When Griffin attempted to film his court case, the judge denied his request.
Andy the cat is on Polish TV
December 31, 2018 23:08 - 7 minutes - 11.2 MBPolish news program Fakty TVN featured one my most popular YouTube videos, Andy the cat climbing our Christmas tree. It’s a lesson in investing even in silly videos—you never know which work you create will resonate and lead to interesting opportunities.
B&H Surprised Me With a Canon EOS R + 24-105mm!
November 21, 2018 10:45 - 15 minutes - 21.7 MBWhen B&H invited Griffin to an after-hours gift exchange, he wasn’t expecting to go home with a $3,400 camera kit.
How much should you pay yourself for a feature film?
November 14, 2018 10:45 - 9 minutes - 13.3 MBA client wants a feature-length documentary, and offers to pay for travel, equipment and your freelance rate. So how much do you ask for? How much do you pay YOURSELF to shoot and edit a film?
New Mac Mini - Good for Video Editors?
November 02, 2018 12:17 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MBApple has finally refreshed the MacBook Air and Mac Mini. What does that mean for video editors?
Episode 80: Do you need Full Frame? Lumix S Series
October 03, 2018 23:35 - 1 hour - 102 MBA full-frame camera from Panasonic sounds really exciting—but what will it mean for Griffin’s streamlined travel style? Plus, your questions about shooting telephoto on the iPhone, losing signal on the Mavic Air drone, and why you should avoid cheap step-up rings.
Don’t let gear stop you from making your film
October 03, 2018 09:45 - 2 minutes - 4.08 MBIn this excerpt from his recent filmmaking workshop in Salt Lake City, Griffin explains why gear should never be the thing that that keeps you from making a film.
Panasonic’s First Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras—Lumix S Series
September 25, 2018 16:02 - 3 minutes - 5.4 MBLumix S1R and S1 are Panasonic's first full-frame mirrorless cameras, announced today at Photokina in Köln, Germany. Both cameras—coming in early 2019—feature a full Super 35-sized sensor, which is nearly four times larger than the micro4/3 sensor in my Panasonic GH5. The Lumix S1R is a 47-megapixel camera designed for photographers, and the S1 is 24MP for hybrid photo video shooters. Each camera shoots 4K60p, with in-body image stabilization, a 3-axis tilt LCD, and two different card slot...
Episode 79: John Luna Edits This Podcast
September 19, 2018 09:45 - 48 minutes - 67.3 MBJohn Luna is an Adobe Premiere editor, but he edits this podcast in Final Cut Pro X. Plus, your questions about finding an audience, avoiding flickering lights, and making corporate videos look cool. Subscribe to John Luna on YouTube and follow his Instagram. Watch his video Grand Central Station. Two resources Griffin recommends for amateur filmmakers is the website NoFilmSchool, and Robert McKee’s book Story. You don’t need to buy anything for my baby, but because some have asked, Amy a...
Episode 78: My Office Is Gone
September 12, 2018 09:45 - 44 minutes - 61.5 MBGriffin has to give up his video production office—for a very happy reason. Plus, your questions about Final Cut Pro X keyboard shortcuts, creating a nighttime lighting effect, and are you allowed to use stock footage in your film? Did you know? There are over 56 hours of the Hey Indie Filmmakers podcast! Saif asked about lightweight travel tripods. I use the MeFoto RoadTrip carbon fiber. You’ll find the rest of my gear at griffinhammond.com/gear Nikolas needs to take an existing captions...
Episode 77: Justinsuperstar Travels, Makes Documentaries
September 05, 2018 09:45 - 46 minutes - 65.2 MBMy good friend Justin Johnson is prolific video producer and talented, world-traveling documentary filmmaker. We met up in New York to discuss his innovative techniques and creative philosophy. Plus, your questions about finding good stories, distribution strategy, and matching multiple cameras.
Episode 76: We’re Rebels in Stormtrooper Disguise
August 29, 2018 17:23 - 41 minutes - 57.7 MBAfter going undercover as stormtroopers in Star Wars virtual reality combat, Nick and Griffin are joined by their childhood friend and video professional Adam Kruminas. Plus, your questions about cropping 4K video, the easiest way to add storage space to your editing machine, and advice for your first documentary.
Episode 75: Pre-Production Meeting
August 22, 2018 09:45 - 44 minutes - 61.6 MBNick and Griffin plan which microphones and cameras they’ll need for next week’s three-person shoot. Plus, your questions about sound on a budget documentary, upgrading your editing machine, and when you need a location release to sell stock footage. The Faustian Man wondered why I don’t more actively promote my film Sriracha on the podcast. He says, “I watched it last night still amazing! I love that doc.” It’s free on Amazon Prime. Kasey asked about music libraries. Episode 47 discusses ...
Episode 74: Improvising DIY Film Gear
August 15, 2018 15:59 - 45 minutes - 62.8 MBWhen Griffin’s filmmaking equipment fails to arrive, he’s forced to improvise and build his own DIY solution. Plus, your questions about making money with cheap equipment, putting Canon glass on mirrorless cameras, and proper exposure for your productions.
Episode 73: Become a Licensed Drone Pilot
August 08, 2018 09:45 - 39 minutes - 55.5 MBGriffin is now a licensed drone pilot, after passing the FAA knowledge test—granting him flight privileges hobbyists don’t get. Plus, your questions about shooting infrared, collaborating with another editor, and recording audio with a boom pole.
Bonus: Carpal tunnel syndrome from too much editing
August 01, 2018 09:45 - 10 minutes - 15.6 MBI believe too much editing gave me carpal tunnel syndrome. Nick says I should see a doctor. Instead, I bought a weird “handshake” mouse. My primary strategy for recovery has been giving my hands a chance to rest, and changing some of my repetitive motions. I’ve switched from my trackpad to a titled, handshake-shaped wireless mouse. I also picked up a cheap capacitive stylus to use with my iPhone, a gel-filled wrist pad for my keyboard and these wrist/thumb support braces.
Episode 72: MoviePass vs. AMC Stubs A-List
July 25, 2018 09:45 - 49 minutes - 68.2 MBFor less than the cost of one movie ticket, MoviePass lets you see up to three movies per month in theaters. AMC Theatres is now competing with their own monthly movie plan. Plus, your questions about calculating SD card recording time, lav mics for four people, and how to backup footage while climbing a mountain. Emily asked about backing up footage in the wilderness, without laptops or internet. Episode 63 of this podcast discusses some hardware options, and the LaCie 2TB DJI Copilot BOSS...
Episode 71: Apple Updates the MacBook Pros
July 18, 2018 09:45 - 46 minutes - 64.5 MBAre Apple’s new MacBook Pros worth the upgrade? I have no idea, so Nick explains the new specs. Plus, your questions about recovering lost audio, organizing camera gear, and if your computer can handle 10-bit video files. Regarding hard-to-play video files, for playback I recommend VLC for Mac or PC, and for transcoding files—EditReady for Mac. This simple “underwear organizer” helps store my lenses, camera bodies, cords and accessories inside dresser drawers. For more information about c...
Episode 70: Alex Ferrari shot his film AT Sundance
July 11, 2018 09:45 - 1 hour - 89 MBFilmmaker Alex Ferrari is known for his website and podcast Indie Film Hustle. Alex’s latest feature film On the Corner of Ego and Desire was shot in four days at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Plus, your questions about filming concerts, creating pretty text, and which microphone I prefer.
Episode 69: How to Vacation with a Camera
July 04, 2018 09:45 - 48 minutes - 112 MBAs Nick prepares to travel with his family, what camera gear is essential for summer vacation? Plus, your questions about CTO and CTB gels, shooting in low light, and whether it’s legal to use a news broadcast in your film.
Episode 68: Macro Infrared Photography with a Bellows
June 27, 2018 09:45 - 45 minutes - 63.9 MBUsing a DIY-mounted macro bellows, Griffin shoots some weird close-up photos with his infrared camera. Plus, your questions about being a perfectionist, how to lock the stabilization of a handheld shot, and if a zoom lens messes up gimbal balance.
Episode 67: Automatic Captions for Videos
June 20, 2018 09:45 - 42 minutes - 58.7 MBGriffin tests out SpeedScriber, an app that automatically generates subtitles for his latest video. Plus, your questions about editing out background music, when to use what kinds of stabilization, and issues with 24 vs. 30-frame videos. SpeedScriber (for Mac OS) includes 15 free minutes of automatic transcription. After that, it’s $0.50/minute. Joseph Linaschke, known as PhotoJoseph, has also experienced the DJI Spark/FCPX framerate issue we discussed last week. He sent me this thread in ...
Episode 66: The Framerate Mismatch Problem
June 13, 2018 09:45 - 35 minutes - 49.4 MBGriffin attempts to solve a weird frame-skipping problem showing up in Nick’s latest drone footage. Plus, your questions about handling audio tracks in Final Cut Pro X, producing a compelling story, and how to create a video podcast like ours.
Episode 65: Ronin-S, DJI’s new handheld gimbal
June 06, 2018 09:45 - 38 minutes - 54.3 MBThe new Ronin-S ships on June 11, 2018. Is DJI’s new handheld gimbal worth the $699 price tag? Plus, your questions about producing political ads, how to sound professional over email, and post-production tips for audio.
Bonus: The Four Ingredients of Documentary Film
May 30, 2018 09:45 - 8 minutes - 13.2 MBFrom his recent filmmaking workshop at Illinois State University, Griffin explains the four elements of news and documentary—SOT, b-roll, voiceover and natural sound.
Episode 64: SD Card Problems
May 23, 2018 09:45 - 38 minutes - 53.5 MBFrom Singapore, Griffin describes two recent problems he’s encountered with SD cards. Plus, your questions about the visual grammar of storytelling, pulling focus with electronic lenses, and the lenses I used on my latest film from Japan.
Episode 63: Filmmaking in Japan
May 16, 2018 09:45 - 40 minutes - 56.6 MBGriffin and Amy are in Japan, filming a client project with the Zhiyun-Tech Crane v2 handheld gimbal. Plus, your questions about aspect ratios, offloading footage during international trips, and how audio syncing helps edit a podcast.
Episode 62: Cheap vs. Expensive Sliders
May 09, 2018 09:45 - 35 minutes - 49.6 MBGriffin buys an $816 Kessler Stealth slider, compares it to a $250 carbon fiber slider by Benro. Plus, your questions about SD card speeds, how to record two mono audio tracks, and whether to shoot your documentary in 4K or 1080.
Episode 61: Digital Cinema Specs
May 02, 2018 09:45 - 29 minutes - 41.2 MBA document from Australian theaters shows what tech specs they expect for your digital cinema files. Plus, your questions about SD cards and X-ray machines, the difference between European and American camera models, and how to film a weeks-long time lapse.
Episode 60: The Story of the Fire
April 25, 2018 09:45 - 34 minutes - 48 MBFire destroyed Griffin’s mom’s apartment in Bloomington, Illinois. She is safe, and the recovery process is going well. Plus, your questions about crop focal lengths, tracking freelance hours, and the best headphones for under $100.
Episode 59: Blackmagic Design Pocket 4K camera
April 18, 2018 12:58 - 41 minutes - 58.1 MBFilm tech announcements from the NAB Show, including the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Plus, your questions about shooting for cinema screens, what framerate to choose for editing, and if you should spend $1,000 on a microphone.
Episode 58: ProRes RAW in FCPX 10.4.1
April 11, 2018 13:39 - 36 minutes - 50.9 MBFinal Cut Pro X’s latest update (v10.4.1) to video editing adds ProRes RAW and closed captioning right in the timeline. Plus, your questions about when you’re allowed to record audio without permission, the etiquette of film festival laurels, and how to sync timecode between cameras.
Episode 57: New HDR Monitor to Test
April 04, 2018 17:59 - 43 minutes - 59.4 MBBenQ sent Nick their latest 31.5” HDR LCD monitor to test out. Plus, your questions about editing video on a Surface Pro, finding video work through the internet, and whether to place a lavalier mic on the bride.
Bonus: "What's your biggest failure?"
March 28, 2018 09:55 - 36 minutes - 51.1 MBJonathan Tilley is a personal brand strategist, and author of the book "Embrace The F Word: Failure." On his interview series, he asked me about my greatest failure.
Bonus: How do I recover corrupt video files?
March 28, 2018 09:45 - 9 minutes - 12.8 MBAfter shooting a music video, Taylor worries his SD card is corrupted. Nick recommends software to recover missing video files. Plus, we won “Best Podcast” from Johny Bosworth!
Episode 56: New, quicker FAA authorization for drones
March 21, 2018 09:45 - 35 minutes - 49.1 MBIn the United States, the FAA is rolling out a system called LAANC to make it easier and much quicker for commercial drone pilots to receive authorization to fly near airports. Plus, your questions about filming loud concerts, entering film festivals, and storing video assets.
Episode 55: Cameras used by SXSW Filmmakers
March 14, 2018 09:45 - 32 minutes - 45.3 MBNo Film School asked 43 filmmakers at this year’s SXSW film festival what cameras they shot with. (It’s mostly ARRI Alexas.) Plus, your technical questions about the Panasonic GH5, lenses, hard drives, and what audio mixer to hook up to your computer.
Episode 54: Filmed With a Live Studio Audience
March 07, 2018 12:45 - 41 minutes - 56.4 MBGriffin is on campus at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois—where his friends have joined as this podcast’s first live studio audience. Plus, your questions about the DJI Spark, unconventional interview framing, and why Griffin uses an ND filter but Nick doesn’t.
Join Griffin this Sunday in Illinois
March 02, 2018 21:47 - 54 seconds - 2.09 MBBe in the audience for the next recording of “Hey Indie Filmmakers” at Illinois State University. Griffin will answer questions from the audience about DIY filmmaking, cameras and building a career. Sunday, March 4 in Normal, Illinois Doors open at 11:00am. Event begins at 11:15. Illinois State University Fell Hall 280 (Communication Innovation Center)
Film Gear Garage Sale
February 28, 2018 12:33 - 7 minutes - 11.6 MBNick is moving, and Griffin is clearing out closet space. They’re selling filmmaking gear they no longer use, in a YouTube Garage Sale. You can buy any of the 11 items at http://griffinhammond.com/sale
Episode 53: Retractable Closet Camera
February 21, 2018 10:45 - 46 minutes - 64.7 MBTo build a convenient, retractable podcasting system, Griffin mounted an LED panel and a retractable camera mount in his office closet. Plus, your questions about step-up rings, when to use shotgun vs hyper-cardioid mics, and if you can show the iPhone operating system in your film.
Episode 7: How to Produce Wedding Films [Rebroadcast]
February 14, 2018 10:46 - 42 minutes - 59.4 MBWedding video is how Nick and Griffin started their freelance careers in high school. They share their production techniques—from dealing with low light in dark receptions to copyrighted music. Plus your questions about DSLR recording limits, asking good interview questions, and what format to shoot commercials in. (Episode originally aired February 14, 2017.)
Finding Love through Video
February 14, 2018 10:45 - 7 minutes - 11.4 MBAfter an Valentine’s Day audio mishap, Griffin calls Nick for answers. Amy saves the day.
Episode 52: “Flicks” & Frames Per Second
February 07, 2018 10:45 - 44 minutes - 61 MBOne “flick” equals 1/705,600,000th of a second, according to a new open-source unit of time for measuring framerates. Plus, your questions about foggy lenses, appropriate audio levels, and if you can use Garageband music in your commercial video projects.
Episode 51: Filming Sharks in Dubai
January 31, 2018 10:45 - 34 minutes - 46.8 MBIn Dubai, filming sharks with an underwater camera housing—during Griffin’s filmmaking workshop tour through the United Arab Emirates. Plus, your questions about jitter and motion blur, settings for time lapse, and which camera is right for you.
Episode 50: Filming Underwater with the GH5
January 24, 2018 10:45 - 38 minutes - 53.4 MBWith an Ikelite 200DL underwater housing, Nick and Griffin take the Panasonic GH5 underwater, off the coast of the Dominican Republic. Plus, your questions about YouTube AdSense, editing log footage—and a gift to celebrate our 50th episode!
Episode 49: The New, Low-Light Panasonic GH5S
January 17, 2018 10:45 - 54 minutes - 75 MBPanasonic debuted their low-light GH5S camera at CES last week. Griffin and Nick share the 10 big changes that separate it from its predecessor, the Lumix GH5. Plus, your questions about daylight-balanced bulbs, how to transfer large video files online, and whether you should give your client the raw footage.