Indie Film Hustle® - A Filmmaking Podcast

IFH 087: Into the Madness: Shooting a Micro Budget Feature Film w/ Jill-Michele Meleán

You knew it was bound to happen. Well the time is here. Please welcome the talented Jill-Michele Meleán to the Indie Film Hustle Tribe. Jill is the star of my debut feature film "This is Meg". She is one of the most talented actors/comedian I've ever worked with and we have worked on a ton of projects of the years.  Jill-Michele Meleán, “Jilly” was born and raised in Miami, Florida (aka Cuba). She declared at a young age that she wanted to be like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Benny Hill. Ji...

IFH 086: Jenica Bergere - Insanity in Acting & Directing a Micro Budget Feature Film

What do you get when you add a stand up comedian, a fearless actress and a great personality? You get today's guest Jenica Bergere. This is one of the reason we cast here in my debut feature film This is Meg as the bitchy nut job Ruby.  Jenica Bergere began her career as a stand up comedienne becoming a paid regular at The Comedy Store as well as the Improv when she was barely old enough to vote. Jenica credits Russell Simmons for discovering and representing her as the only “crazy white gir...

How to Network Like a Pro at Film Festivals - Film Festival Hacks Podcast: 005

Film Festival Hacks is the podcast that explores the festival circuit “from both sides of the badge.” Alex Ferrari is an award winning filmmaker with nearly 600 international film festivals under his belt. He’s joined by Chris Holland, author of Film Festival Secrets: A Handbook for Independent Filmmakers who has worked closely with more than 200 film festivals including Sundance, AFI Fest, and SXSW. Together we explore the hidden world of film festival programming and pass along tips that g...

IFH 085: Why You Don't Need a Screenplay to Make an Amazing Film

Why You Don't Need a Screenplay to Make an Amazing Film As indie filmmakers we throw a lot of obstacles on our own path to creating a feature or short film. No obstacle is larger then the almighty screenplay. How many screenwriters and filmmakers do you know that have been working on the movie script for 3, 5, or 7 years? They keep chipping at it in hopes of cracking that nut or it gives them an excuse for not actually making a feature film. I was no different. One of the biggest things that...

IFH 084: How Filmmakers & Artists Should Deal with Haters!

How Filmmakers & Artists Should Deal with Haters! Haters, a problem that artists, filmmakers or anybody who puts themselves out there have to deal with. I know of many filmmakers who are crippled by what other people think or say about them. The fact is that you are going to create anything; a poem, writer a novel, make a movie, write a song, cook a meal or build a house, there will be people who have opinions.  Now opinions are fine. As they say ever has an opinion and the internet has given...

IFH 083: 11 Golden Rules for Filmmakers on Social Media

11 Golden Rules for Filmmakers on Social Media With social media taking over the world it is more necessary than ever to use it to get the word out on yourself, you film project or your production company. Most indie filmmakers have no idea on how to build an audience or how to use social media to promote and engage with that audience. In this podcast I go into great detail on each of the 11 Golden Rules for Filmmakers on Social Media. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker...

IFH 082: How to Work with a Music Composer with Cris Velasco

So I entitled this podcast "How to Work with a Music Composer" because it is a mystery to many filmmakers. As visual storytellers we focus so much energy and effort to the moving image. For many of us music is an after thought. What would Jaws, Indiana Jones or Star Wars be without the musical score? With technology it has become more and more affordable to have a beautiful score added to your indie film. A computer can't do it alone, you still need a maestro to compose that music for you. A ...

IFH 081: Top 10 Tips to Launch a Film Crowdfunding Campaign

Film Crowdfunding Campaign So today is the day. The THIS IS MEG Film Crowdfunding Campaign is LIVE! Click here to check it out: Down the Filmmaking Rabbit Hole. I've been working for months on the campaign and am very proud of what I and the team has done. So below I wanted to share the Top ten tip I have learned from the many experts, guest and successful campaigns I've reviewed in prepping for my launch.  I'll be going in greater detail on all these topics in the podcast so definitly take a...

The Power of Humor in Festival Submissions - Film Festival Hacks Podcast: 004

Film Festival Hacks Podcast: The Power of Humor in Festival Submissions  In this episode we discuss the power of humor not only in the film itself but in the film festival summission process as well. Filmmaker really under estimate the power of humor. You have to remember that people enjoy to laugh, in the movie theater or durning the submission process.  Adding a bit of chuckles or even full blown laughs might help your chances durning the submission process. The creativity does not stop a...

IFH 080: FREE Crowdfunding Course & Why I Choose Seed & Spark.com

Why I Choose Seed & Spark.com to Crowdfund THIS IS MEG With all the choices out there to crowdfund your film, it can get kinda crazy! Kickstarter and Indiegogo are the two Goliath's in the arena with Seed&Spark.com play David. If you know the story the two Goliaths don't fear David but this David has a hella of a punch.  I choose Seed and Spark to crowdfund my new feature film THIS IS MEG, because of a few reasons. They have a 75% Success Rate (2 times any other platform) The average raise i...

IFH 079: From Micro Budget to Million Dollar Budget Films with Christian Sesma

From Micro Budget to Million Dollar Budget Films with Christian Sesma Many indie filmmakers dream of going from micro budget to million dollar budget films. Well my friends on this weeks episode I've got a guy who not only did exactly that but also had fun doing it. Christian Sesma is a indie film writer/director based in Palm Spring, CA. I've know Christian for probably over 10 years now and I've watched him grow from a small $15,000 horror film (On Bloody Sunday) to his latest action blood ...

Best Film Festival Submission Practices - Film Festival Hacks Podcast: 003

Film Festival Hacks Podcast: Best Film Festival Submission Practices Our third episode is the second part of our discussion of Withoutabox and FilmFreeway, the two most commonly used film festival submissions platforms. We talk about some of the best practices for using both platforms, including the importance of strong still images from your film, the dark art of writing a film synopsis, and what exactly you should put in your submission’s cover letter. Better yet, you’ll hear how these thi...

IFH 078: Follow Your Passion, No Matter What!

Follow Your Passion, No Matter What! This is a special episode of the podcast guys. I recently had a good friend of mine pass, Allan Wertheim. He was a legendary First Assistant Director and Unit Production Manager. Allan and I worked together almost 20 years ago on one of my first directing gigs.  This is by far the most difficult project I have ever worked on and Allan was kind enough to mentor me and protect me from the siutation. He passed a few days ago at the age of 72 and my friend lef...

Decoding WithoutaBox & Film Freeway - Film Festival Hacks Podcast: 002

Film Festival Hacks Podcast: Decoding WithoutaBox & Film Freeway In this second episode we explore the essential tools of submitting to film festivals. Withoutabox and FilmFreeway are the two most prominent festival submissions platforms online. Although there are a number of prominent festivals that do not accept submissions on these submissions engines, together the sites represent the majority of film festival submissions opportunities. They are major players on the film festival scene an...

IFH 077: Acting & the Art of Being Yourself with Adrian Martinez

Acting & the Art of Being Yourself with Adrian Martinez Being yourself in any situation in life is hard for many people. Actors do make a living playing other people but the art of being comfortable in your own skin is a lesson we can all learn. I invited on the show Adrian Martinez, a actor, writer, producer, and soon-to-be-director, with nearly 100 film and TV credits. Adrian's career began as a high school track star on NBC's "Unsolved Mysteries". Some in casting have called Adrian, "the ...

IFH 076: How to Blaze Your Own Path in the Film Industry

How to Blaze Your Own Path in the Film Industry Have you been banging your head against the wall trying to figure out what you need to do to break into the film industry? Me too. This episode  is dedicated to all the indie filmmakers out there trying to make a living as a filmmaker.  After studying so many success stories of directors, writers, producers, and actors who finally broke through and made it into the exclusive party I found one common denominator among every single one of them.  ...

Secrets on How to Submit to Film Festivals - Film Festival Hacks Podcast: 001

This is it! The inaugural episode of Film Festival Hacks, the podcast that explores the festival circuit "from both sides of the badge." Alex Ferrari is an award winning filmmaker with nearly 600 international film festivals under his belt. He's joined by Chris Holland, author of Film Festival Secrets: A Handbook for Independent Filmmakers who has worked closely with more than 200 film festivals including Sundance, AFI Fest, and SXSW. Together we explore the hidden world of film festival prog...

IFH 075: GUT CHECK! What Does It Really Take to Make in Hollywood with Sebastian Twardosz

Every once in a while we all need to get a gut check. A "gut check" is when some new situation, or in this case knowledge, that tests your belief on what it takes to achieve your goal. I invited Sebastian Twardosz to give us that gut check and lay down some major knowledge bombs on the Indie Film Hustle Tribe. Now Sebastian has been playing the Hollywood game for close to two decades and has ranked up some major experience. Hollywood and the film business in general is a "relationship busines...

IFH 074: How to Make Money TODAY Selling Your Short or Feature Film with Amazon Video Direct

We making money selling your short film, feature film or web series just got a whole lot easier. Amazon.com has thrown it's hat into the Independent creators VOD ring with the launch of Amazon Video Direct. This move is designed to go head to head with Google's YouTube for video-ad dollars. as well as going after other juggernauts like Facebook and Vimeo. Amazon Video Direct has four distribution options for its creators. Filmmakers can make their films available to Prime Video subscribers a...

IFH 073: Film Gear in Cinematography Today with Ernesto Lomeli

Film Gear in Cinematography Today with Ernesto Lomeli Oh, the dilemma! What film gear should I use for my film? Which camera will give me the look I want for my project? What gear can I afford? Well as I've said before: "Film gear does not make a movie, the story does. No one ever won Sundance or an Oscar® because they used the latest and great film gear. They won because of, you guessed it, story." With that said choosing the right film gear for your film is important. You need to have the...

IFH 072: How Marketable is Your Film Idea or Screenplay?

How Marketable is Your Film Idea or Screenplay? So how marketable is your film idea or screenplay? I know so many screenwriters and filmmakers who spend months and sometimes years on an idea that is cool to just themselves.  Depending on what you are attempting to achieve with your story, you should always figure out if you idea is marketable or if you have a fighting chance of selling the screenplay or final film.  Paul Castro, the writer of the Warner Brothers feature film August Rush (Star...

IFH 071: Save the Cat – Screenwriting Story Structure Made Easy

Why would you want to ‘Save the Cat’? If you are a screenwriter or aspiring one you should of heard by now of Blake Snyder’s game changing screenwriting book. In his 20-year career as a film producer and screenwriter, Blake Snyder sold dozens of scripts, including co-writing Blank Check, which became a hit for Disney, and Nuclear Family for Steven Spielberg — both million-dollar sales. Named “one of Hollywood’s most successful spec screenwriters,” Blake sold his last screenplay in 2009. His b...

IFH 070: A Filmmaker's Focus - Podcast Interview with Alex Ferrari

So this week I'm doing something different. I occasionally get asked to be guest on other people's podcasts. In these podcast I go over topics I might not of spoken about on the IFH Podcast in the past so to mix things up, with the permission of the hosts,  I'll be uploading bonus episodes with these interviews. In my effort to bring you more value I think you'll enjoy these interviews. First up is my interview with Doc Kennedy from the Filmmaker's Focus Podcast. This interview was a ton of f...

IFH 069: Michael Polish - How to Make Money Selling a No Budget Indie Film

I'm always looking for indie filmmaking models to study. I like to analyze how other filmmakers make successful indie films while doing through a new DIY method, self distributing their film or achieving critical and fan respect for their work. Well I found a film that checks all the boxes, For Lovers Only create by the Polish Brothers, Michael and Mark Polish (more on that film later). These filmmakers have been making films, on their terms, for over a decade now. Since premiering at Sundanc...

IFH 068: Do You Need a Movie Star to Sell Your Indie Film?

Do You Need a Movie Star to Sell Your Indie Film? Being in post production for over 20 years, many films have walked through my doors. Some with huge movie stars that go nowhere and other with no stars that win Sundance. The question is do you really need a movie star in your independent film to be able to sell it? The answer is yes...and no. I layout specifics on when and if you need star power in your film and I discuss what the new definition of star power is today. The times they are a ch...

IFH 067: Film Festival Secrets - How to Crack the Festival Code with Chris Holland

Submitting to film festivals is a torture. Did I get in? Did the programmer watch it yet? When will I know? How much to submit? You wait by your email to see if Sundance or SXSW accepted you? Wouldn't be amazing if you had some insight to the film festival process? Maybe even some torture Film Festival Secrets? On the show today I have one of the leading authorities on film festivals, Chris Holland from Film Festival Secrets.com. The man literally wrote the book on the subject, Film Festival ...

IFH 066: What Really is an Independent Film?

This is a question I've been asked many times. "What is an Independent Film?" Is George Lucas an independent filmmaker? He did make all his films outside the studio system and paid for them all out of his pocket. Is the $8000 horror feature created to with the sole purpose to be sold an independent film? Is the five million dollar film starring a major movie star that worked for scale an independent film? Take a listen Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in...

IFH 065: Lloyd Kaufman & Troma: How I Make Money Selling Movies

What can I say about Lloyd Kaufman? Director. Writer. Producer. Indie Filmmaker. Innovator. Nice guy. Pain in the ass of main stream media. I believe all of those statements are true and then some.  Lloyd Kaufman is one the original indie filmmakers going back to the 1970's. The Troma Universe was born in 1974 with a series of highly original, raunchy comedies such as Squeeze Play!, Stuck On You!, Waitress!, and other film titles ending with an exclamation point. In my favorite decade, the 80...

IFH 064: No One Gives a CRAP What You Shoot Your Film On!

No One Gives a CRAP What You Shoot Your Film On! OK, so before I get bombarded with hate email please hear me out. I was speaking to my filmmaker inner circle the other day and the topic of format and camera came up. I'm a huge tech head. I love gear as much as the next filmmaker. Hell, you can't make movies without gear. Advances in filmmaking technology has liberated a generation of storytellers, filmmakers and content creators. Now does the audience give a SH*T about what camera you used ...

IFH 063: The Walking Dead - Working on the Dead Set with Vince Gonzales

IFH 063: The Walking Dead - Working on the Dead Set If you are a Walking Dead fan you are going to LOVE this episode. If you ever wanted to know what an assistant director does on set you are going to LOVE this episode.  On today's episode we have a long time friend Vince Gonzales. Vince has been working in the film industry for over top decades. His IMDB page is pretty crazy. He's worked on 90 classics like The Sandlot, Speed and What Dreams May Come. Now after 2000 his credits start to heat...

IFH 062: Top 5 Film Festival SCAMS Filmmakers Need to Be Aware Of!

Top 5 Film Festival SCAMS Filmmakers Need to Be Aware Of! I've been at a fair share of film festivals in my life and I've submitted to many more than I've been accepts to. With that said I have seen many less than honorable film festival organizers throughout the process.  Now not all film festivals are run by grifters and con men but you need to be aware of the signs that a film festival you are submitting to may just be in existence to remove you from you hard earned cash and not to celebr...

IFH 061: Chris Vogler - Screenwriting & The Writer's Journey Blueprint

If you have seen Star Wars then you know Joseph Campbell's work. If you ever have seen The Lion King then you have seen one of Campbell's best student's, Chris Vogler, work. Chris Vogler wrote the game changing book  The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. I read this book over 20 years ago and it changed the way I look at story. Chris studied the work and principles of the late master Joseph Campbell. His book The Hero with a Thousand Faces was the bases for Star Wars as well as ...

IFH 060: Should You Work for Deferred Payment or Back End Points?

A Indie Film Hustle Tribe member recently asked me "Should You Work for Deferred Payment or Back End Points?" Believe it or not I get this question A LOT! So I decided to dedicate a podcast episode to the question. There are times I would say yes definitely work for deferred payment or back end points.  I heard a story of a screenwriter that was asked to do a rush job, write an entire screenplay in two week over Christmas vacation. He really didn't want to do it but the agent said he could ...

IFH 059: How a 17 yr old Shot & Sold her 1st Feature on 16mm Film

Every once in a while I get sent a story that blows my mind. They story is a 17 year old 1st time director shoot and sells her first feature film (that was shot on 16mm) right out of the gate. How that hell does that happen? Well may I introduce you to Kansas Bowling, the director of the feature film B.C. Butcher. Inspired by the likes of Russ Meyer, Annette Funicello, and Roger Corman, Kansas and her friend Kenzie began writing a script in high school about a tribe of cavewomen being stalked...

IFH 058: Tips on How Directors Should Work with a Colorist

Working with a professional colorist can be intimating if you haven't done it before. I've been a colorist for over 12 years and have spent my fair share of time in a color grading suite. I decided to put together a few tips on how filmmakers and directors should work with a colorist. I also included a few videos to help you along on your post adventures. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

IFH 057: HollyShorts: Confessions of a Film Festival Programmer w/ Daniel Sol

Have you ever wanted to know what really happens behind the scenes at a top level film festival like the HollyShorts Film Festival? Well this week I kidnapped co-founder and film festival programmer Daniel Sol, tied him up in a darken warehouse and shine a bright light on his face to get the truth out of him.  The interview might not have been that dramatic but Daniel laid down a ton of behind the scenes knowledge bombs you all you Indie Film Hustlers out there.  HollyShorts! and I go way ba...

IFH 056: Do You Need an Agent or Talent Agency to Make it in Hollywood?

Is an agent or talent agency needed to make it in Hollywood? Well it helps! Seriously, this is a question I get asked all the time. In this episode I go over what you need to do to get an agent and also help you figure out if you need one right now. Below are the seven major talent agencies in Hollywood. APA Talent Agency Size: 3,400 clients; 325 employees (210 agents, 15 managing partners); offices in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville Origin story: Founded in 1962 by former MCA agents Davi...

IFH: Filmmaking Motivation - Go Make Your Film!

IFH 055: Michael Hauge - Writing a Screenplay That Sells

Michael Hauge - Writing a Screenplay That Sells You are in for a treat. This week's guest, MICHAEL HAUGE has been one of Hollywood’s top script consultants, story experts and authors for more than 30 years.  He coaches screenwriters, novelists, filmmakers, professional speakers, internet marketers and corporate leaders, helping transform their stories and their audiences using the principles and methods of Hollywood’s most successful movies.  Michael has consulted on films starring – among m...

IFH 054: How NOT to Get Ripped Off in Post Production

Over the years I've seen many of my fellow indie filmmakers get completely ripped off when they entered the post production process. So many promises are given and the rates they charge are criminal. I wanted to put together a podcast to pull the curtain back on the "true" pricing of post production services. Now this is based on my experience working in Los Angeles so the prices might differ depending where you are in the country or the world. I hope this episode provides a great amount of v...

IFH 053: IndieFlix - How to Get Your Indie Film to the Masses w/ Scilla Andreen

IndieFlix - How to Get Your Indie Film to the Masses w/ Scilla Andreen How do you get your indie film out to the masses and actually get paid doing so? Scilla Andreen from IndieFlix might have a unique approach. IndieFlix is an on-line streaming service that focuses on independent film, television, web series and short films. The company has been around since 2005 and has survived three technology changes in the distribution space. What makes IndieFlix unique in the indie film distribution sp...

IFH 052: The 5 Lies of Film Distribution

Film distribution in a mystery to most indie filmmakers. It is filled with deception, scams, mis-information and straight out LIES! I wanted to put together an episode spotlighting the five major lies filmmakers hear about film distribution. Like many truths in the world these might not be easy to swallow but there is hope. If you have a plan "BEFORE YOU SHOOT YOUR FILM" your odds of success go up greatly. I see so many indie filmmakers killing themselves to make their films but have no idea ...

IFH 051: Are the Oscars Too White…Again? #OscarsSoWhite

So the question of the moment is "Why are the Oscars® so white again? #OscarsSoWhite The 88th Annual Academy Awards haven’t even aired yet, and there is a hurricane of drama surrounding Hollywood’s most exciting night. Celebrities like Spike Lee and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have called for a boycott due to a lack of minority nominees. If you look at the graphic below (Courtesy of www.mirror.co.uk) you see the Acadamy doesn't have a firm foundation to stand on. Courtesy of www.mirror.co.uk...

IFH 049: How to Pitch Your Film Like a Pro with Stephanie Palmer

Stephanie Palmer - How to Pitch Your Film Like a Pro Ever wanted to learn the dark craft of being able to pitch your story idea successfully? Stephanie Palmer has made it her life's mission to help people do just that. Stephanie Palmer is a former MGM Pictures executive and best-selling author of the book "Good in a Room: How To Sell Yourself (And Your Ideas) And Win Over Any Audience" She has heard thousands of pitches. She know how to and how not to pitch your screenplay or story idea. She ...

IFH 048: What to do when people DON'T BELIEVE IN YOU!

I know that everyone reading this has had a moment in time where someone did not believe in them for one reason of another. It is a part of life and a REAL BIG PART of the film industry. So many times in my career I was told that: "You nuts! That'll never work." or "That's never been done before." Well I love hearing that. I has taken time for me to enjoy when people say "it can't be done." I truly use it as fuel. You must first believe in yourself before anyone will believe in you. Now you a...

IFH 047: Yancey Arias - How to Make It as a Working Actor

Want to learn how to make it as a working actor? Well studying actor, producer and director Yancey Arias would not be a bad start. I met Yancey Arias years ago and since have worked on several projects together. I've always admired how Yancey was able to always keep working. To date Yancey Arias has over 70 acting credits in film, television and Broadway. His credit list is kind of nuts: Castle NCSI: New Orleans The Sopranos Bones Hawaii 5.0 Elementary Blue Bloods CSI: NY NCIS: Los Angeles B...

IFH 046: Film Festival Hacks: Secrets on How to Get Your Film Accepted

Getting into film festival is getting tougher and tougher everyday. Indie filmmakers can end up spending thousands and thousands of dollars submitting to every film festival around, and there are a ton. At last count there was over 3000 film festivals around the world. That’s a lot of submission fees. When I was doing my rounds with my films I learned a few things. A few tricks that I put into a FREE eBook: “Six Tips to Get into Film Festivals for cheap or FREE.” This eBook was such a success...

IFH 045: From Film Geek to Online Media Empire with Todd Brown

How does a film geek turn his love for movies into a media empire? Ask Todd Brown from Twitch Film. I met Todd Brown over ten years ago when I was promoting my short film "BROKEN." He did a killer review of the film and we became fast friends. His movie review site Twitch Film.com was just starting out then but it has grown into a leading voice in global cinema. Twitch Film focuses on more obscure, independent and international films; something that was missing from the movie review site blog...

IFH 044: How to Create Multiple Revenue Streams for Your Indie Film

The one thing more difficult than actually making an indie film is marketing and selling that film. I get asked all the time the same question: "How can I make CASH, MONEY, DINERO with my film?" So I decided to put together this very dense podcast with suggestions on multiple revenue streams for independent films. This podcast is probably one of the most info packed episodes I've ever done. So get your iPad ready to take some detail notes cause this episode is worth MUCHO DINERO for the filmm...

IFH 043: Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution & Marketing with Jon Reiss

Want to hear a crazy story on how one filmmaker used a hybrid distribution and marketing strategy to sell his film Bomb It. May I introduce Jon Reiss.  After hearing his story I had to have him on the show so he can tell his story to the IFH Tribe. Jon Reiss was named one of “10 Digital Directors to Watch” by Daily Variety, Jon Reiss is a critically acclaimed filmmaker whose experience releasing his documentary feature, Bomb It with a hybrid distribution and marketing strategy. This strategy ...