Indie Film Hustle® - A Filmmaking Podcast

How to Break into the Film Industry with Stage 32's RB BottoSPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle PodcastOne of my most downloaded episodes ever was my interview with Film Industry vet and CEO of Stage32.com, RB Botto (Click here to listen to that interview). Ever since then I've been wanting to bring him back on to the show. The stars aligned at Sundance and I didn't just get him on the podcast but I also recorded the interview for the IFH YouTube Channel.Here's a bit on our guest:Stage 32 is a US-based social network and educational site for creative professionals who work in film industry, television and theater. Stage 32 links professionals in the entertainment industry including directors, writers, actors and entertainment staff.It caters to film industry professionals with featured bloggers, online education taught by industry professionals, news from Hollywood and filming locations around the world, Stage 32 meetups page, an online lounge and a film business jobs page that allows members to connect with others on film ventures, along with standard social media functions.CEO and founder, Richard "RB" Botto, an Orson Welles fan, drew his inspiration for the name "Stage 32" from the old RKO Soundstage 17 where Citizen Kane was filmed. That sound stage is now Paramount's Stage 32.We had a ball talking and partying at Sundance this year. A lot has happened since our last interview. I've done over 100 more episodes of the podcast and Stage32 has grown into a juggernaut. Add the hangovers, snow storms and my co-host Sebastian Twardosz to the mix and you get a hell of an interview.Curl up to a warm fire and enjoy our conversation with RB Botto.All of these Sundance Series episodes are co-produced by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films and Media Circus.Right click here to download the MP3Download on iTunes DirectStage 32 is also having it's 1st Annual Online Film Finance & Producing ConferenceNo planes. No hotels. No expenses. No new wardrobe. No outrageous badge prices.Just you, your computer and your willingness to learn.This is 2 days and 16 hours of the most up to date and actionable information designed to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of film financing and producing to raise money for your projects!Stage 32, the leaders in online education for film creatives, is proud to present our First Annual Film Finance & Producing Conference. We understand that most film creatives are working off a strict budget and simply cannot afford the expenses related to attending in person conferences. Our First Annual Film Finance & Producing Conference is not only incredibly affordable  but can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home.For more info goto: 1st Annual Online Film Finance & Producing ConferenceTo get $50 off the conference use the coupon code: HUSTLE LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEStage 32 - Official SiteStage 32 - Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Disrupting Sundance & Helping Filmmakers with Slamdance Co-Founder Dan MirvishSPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle PodcastIn our journeys through the Sundance Film Festival, we ran into the David to the Sundance Goliath, Slamdance Co-Founder Dan Mirvish.  Dan has been a rebel, author, filmmaker, disruptor, festival creator, and true indie film hustler. This interview is one of the most entertaining I've ever done. Dan Mirvish tells stories of how he challenged the Oscars, had Robert Redford call him "a parasite" and why the best deals are done in a hot tub. Here's a bit on Dan Mirvish:A co-founder of the upstart Slamdance Film Festival, Dan Mirvish is also an active director, screenwriter, and producer. Labeled a "cheerful subversive" by The New York Times, and "Hollywood's Bad Boy" by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mirvish has been named as one of Variety's Top 50 Creatives to Watch, as well as one of Film Festival Today's Top 25 Most Influential People in Independent Film.Dan also has just written a new book: The Cheerful Subversive's Guide to Independent Filmmaking: From Preproduction to Festivals and Distribution. Here's a bit about the book.In The Cheerful Subversive’s Guide to Independent Filmmaking, celebrated Slamdance Film Festival co-founder Dan Mirvish offers a rich exploration of the process and culture of making low-budget, independent films. Once labeled a "cheerful subversive" by The New York Times, Mirvish shares his unfiltered pragmatic approach to scriptwriting, casting, directing, producing, managing a crew, post-production, navigating the film festival circuit, distributing your film, dealing with piracy and building a career. Readers will learn how to game the Hollywood system to their advantage, get their films accepted by respected festivals without going broke, and utilize a broad range of media and tactics to promote and distribute their work. A companion website features behind-the-scenes interviews and footage from Dan’s films, and much more.Learn everything you need to know to make, promote, and distribute your independent films, with time-tested lessons and practical advice on scriptwriting, casting and directing A-list actors, financing, producing, managing a crew, editing in post, creating visual effects on a budget, and successfully navigating the film festival circuitFind out what it takes to become a true "cheerful subversive" and adopt new and innovative approaches to producing your films, discover hidden loopholes in the Hollywood system and festival scene, take advantage of a broad range of media formats to promote and distribute your indie films, and generally make bold moves in service of your creative work, all while staying flexible enough to pivot at a moment’s noticeAn extensive companion website features in-depth interviews with filmmakers, more than an hour of behind-the-scenes footage from Dan Mirvish’s films, festival resources, and much moreGet ready for some very entertaining knowledge bombs with Dan Mirvish.All of these Sundance Series episodes are co-produced by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films and Media Circus.Right click here to download the MP3Download on iTunes DirectLINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Chasing Sly and the Family Stone Documentary for 12 years with Michael RubenstoneSPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle PodcastWe all hear stories of filmmakers working on films for years and years. Well, I don't know about you but I've never met one until now. In my journeys at Sundance and Slamdance I met one of these crazy and passionate filmmakers, his name is Michael Rubenstone. Michael the director of the documentary On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone, which premiered at this year's Slamdance Film Festival. When I heard his crazy story I had to have him on the show. Michael has been chasing Sly from Sly and the Family Stones for over 12 years. The stories he told us in the interview were insane. Talk about passion. We can all learn something about dedication, persistence and just plain nuts.Check out some teasers of the film below:Here's a bit about the film: Director and super-fan Michael Rubenstone sets out in search of long-time reclusive funk legend, Sly Stone. Along the way, he meets with some success but finds countless more failures in trying to capture a man who refuses to be contained.Have you ever sat in your parked car for several minutes, just to hear the end of a song on the radio or savor the feeling that such a song gave you? In On the Sly, a music fan’s archival fervor and optimistic investigation take us beyond a sensationalized or simplified history of Sly and the Family Stone and bring us into a world where it is unthinkable to turn off the radio before the song is through.The elusiveness of frontman Sly prompts both filmmaker and viewer to consider how much we project onto our heroes, and how their continued inaccessibility is, despite our frustration, often vital to continuing the work of discovering ourselves and how we use music and art to bond with one another beyond simply moving our bodies to the beat. - Beth Prouty, Slamdance ProgrammerSit back and enjoy the amazing conversation I and my co-host Teri Gamble had with director Michael Rubenstone.All of these Sundance Series episodes are co-produced by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films and Media Circus.Right click here to download the MP3Download on iTunes DirectLINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEOn the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone - IMDBTeri GambleSebastian TwardoszCircus Road FilmsMedia Circus PRSPONSORSDirecting Actors Master Course – (30% OFF – CODE: HUSTLE)Get Your Film on Netflix, Hulu & Amazon & Keep 100% off the Revenue - DistribberHollywood Camera Work: Mastering High-End Blocking and Staging (30% OFF – CODE: HUSTLE)Aaron Sorkin Screenwriting Master ClassHans Zimmer Film Scoring MasterClassBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Sydney Freeland: Working with Netflix & Maintain Creative FreedomSPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle PodcastI ran into many filmmakers while fighting the blizzard at this year's Sundance Film Festival but one of the most impressive of the bunch was director Sydney Freeland. Sydney has had a challenging journey to become a director and her story is inspiring, to say the least.Prior to making her first feature-length film, Sundance darling Drunktown's Finest, Sydney Freeland previously worked as a production assistant, as a writer, and as a camera intern. Freeland worked in a number of areas, including; National Geographic, Walt Disney, The Food Network and Comedy Central. Freeland garnered her first taste of success with the six-minute short film, Hoverboard, utilizing Kickstarter to help fund the short. The film was inspired by her love of Back to the Future Part II.Drunktown's Finest is her second venture into filmmaking. The 95-minute long film is a coming-of-age story about the complex issues surrounding identity and the struggles faced by Native American people. The film's name is inspired by a controversial 20/20 segment on ABC News, which branded the town of Gallup, New Mexico as "Drunk Town, USA", after the increase of instances of alcoholism on the border of the Navajo Nation.Freeland wrote, directed Drunktown's Finest as means to combat the negative stereotype of her home community. Sydney Freeland, who is herself a transgender woman, is also directing a digital series about queer and trans women called Her Story.Photo by: NetflixAt this year's Sundance Film Festival Sydney Freeland is premiering her latest film Deidra & Laney Rob a Train, which was financed completely by Netflix. Two teenage sisters start robbing trains to make ends meet after their single mother's emotional meltdown in an electronics store lands her in jail. Coming to Netflix March 17. Here's the trailer.We sit down and discuss how it was like to work with Netflix, if the rumors of creative freedom are true and what Sundance has done for her career.All of these Sundance Series episodes will be co-hosted by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films and a co-production with Media Circus.Right click here to download the MP3Download on iTunes DirectBTW, Here's a trailer to Sydney Freeland's first Sundance Film Festival film, Drunktown's Finest. Three young Native Americans- an adopted Christian girl, a rebellious father-to-be, and a promiscuous transsexual, strive to escape the hardships of life on an Indian reservation.LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEJason Shuman - IMDBRebel in the RyeSebastian TwardoszCircus Road FilmsMedia Circus PRSPONSORSDirecting Actors Master Course – (30% OFF – CODE: HUSTLE)Get Your Film on Netflix, Hulu & Amazon & Keep 100% off the Revenue - DistribberHollywood Camera Work: Mastering High-End Blocking and Staging (30% OFF – CODE: HUSTLEBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Rebel in the Rye & How to Become a Producer with Jason ShumanSPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle PodcastEvery once in a while we get a real Hollywood producer on the show. Jason Shuman is a producer and director, known for Lone Survivor (2013), Role Models (2008) and Bangkok Dangerous (2008) and this year's Sundance hit Rebel in the Rye (2017), written and directed by Danny Strong. Now not only is Jason a very accomplished producer but man is he a nice guy.He was so generous with his time and knowledge. He was dropping knowledge bombs left and right. Jason Shuman started producing with indie films like one of my faves, Comic Book Villains (2002) and moved quickly up to studio films with horror classic Darkness Falls (2003) (based on a short film). Check out the Darkness Falls short below:Get ready to have an inside look at what it takes to become a Hollywood producer.  Thanks to Jason Shuman for taking the time to do the interview. All of these Sundance Series episodes will be co-hosted by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films and a co-production with Media Circus PR.Right click here to download the MP3Download on iTunes DirectLINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEJason Shuman - IMDBRebel in the RyeSebastian TwardoszCircus Road FilmsMedia Circus PRSPONSORSDirecting Actors Master Course – (30% OFF – CODE: HUSTLE)Get Your Film on Netflix, Hulu & Amazon & Keep 100% off the Revenue - DistribberHollywood Camera Work: Mastering High-End Blocking and Staging (30% OFF – CODE: HUSTLE)Aaron Sorkin Screenwriting Master ClassHans Zimmer Film Scoring MasterClassKevin Spacey Acting Master ClassFreeFilmBook.com (Download Your FREE Filmmaking Audio Book)KILLER RESOURCES!!!INDIE FILM SYNDICATE Filmmaking CommunityIFH's Online Film SchoolSix Secrets to get into Film Festivals for FREE!Action Items:Subscribe to the Podcast on Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Inside the Spec Script Market with Agent David BoxerbaumSPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle PodcastWe all have heard about screenwriter selling a spec script for seven figures (see Max Landis) but who is the power brokers who are helping that process along? Enter Paradigm Literary Agent David Boxerbaum.David is a senior agent at Paradigm, and his impressive client roster includes the likes of David Guggenheim, writer of Safehouse; Ken Marino, writer/producer of Wanderlust and writer of Role Models; Maria Maggenti, writer of MTV’s Finding Carter; and Ransom Riggs, writer/co-executive producer of the upcoming supernatural horror thriller, Black River.At the age of 26, David was listed as one of the Hollywood Reporter’s “Next Generation 35 Under 35,” making him one of the youngest people ever to make the list. He is known for his impeccable taste and his strong industry relationships which help him garner six- and seven-figure sales for his clients in a shrinking spec marketplace.What is an agent like David Boxerbaum looking for in a screenwriter? How does an agent work with a client to build a career? How do you approach a Literary Agent? All will be answered in this episode. Enjoy!All of these Sundance Series episodes will be co-hosted by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films and a co-production with Media Circus PR.Right click here to download the MP3Download on iTunes DirecLINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEDavid Boxerbaum - TwitterParadigm Talent AgencySebastian TwardoszCircus Road FilmsMedia Circus PRSPONSORSDirecting Actors Master Course – (30% OFF – CODE: HUSTLE)Get Your Film on Netflix, Hulu & Amazon & Keep 100% off the Revenue - DistribberHollywood Camera Work: Mastering High-End Blocking and Staging (30% OFF – CODE: HUSTLE)Aaron Sorkin Screenwriting Master ClassHans Zimmer Film Scoring MasterClassKevin Spacey Acting Master ClassFreeFilmBook.com (Download Your FREE Filmmaking Audio Book)KILLER RESOURCES!!!INDIE FILM SYNDICATE Filmmaking CommunityIFH's Online Film SchoolSix Secrets to get into Film Festivals for FREE!Action Items:Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes,  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Creating a Brand & Making Killer Films with Elijah Wood and the SpectreVision TeamSPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle PodcastI wanted to do something special for the Indie Film Hustle Tribe this year. I'm in Park City, UT interview some AMAZING filmmakers, producers, agents and actors. In celebration of Sundance I'll be releasing a podcast a day during the week.I wanted to launch this special Sundance Film Festival series with a bang. In this episode I speak to indie film favorite and all around amazing human being Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, Sin City) and his remarkable partners Josh Waller, Daniel Noah and Lisa Whalen (Company X) over at their company SpectreVision.I have to say that this is by far one of my favorite interviews I've ever done. It was part filmmaking masterclass, branding lesson, James Lipton interview and party. I learned a ton from the gang and really felt the passion these friends and partners have for making the kind of films they want to see.All of these Sundance Series episodes will be co-hosted by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films.Right click here to download the MP3Download on iTunes DirectHere's a bit about SpectreVision:Founded in 2010 by partners Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah and Josh C. Waller, SpectreVision was created to tell character-driven stories tackling emotional and human experiences that test the boundaries of the genre space.The SpectreVision productions of Cooties and A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night made their premieres at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Cooties was acquired by Lionsgate Films at Sundance. A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night was acquired by Kino-Lorber. It has been the recipient of numerous awards from film festivals throughout the world, and was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards. SpectreVision has also served as Executive Producer on such critically acclaimed films including Toad Road, LFO:The Movie and Open Windows. Their production of The Boy, premiered at the 2015 South By Southwest film festival. It opened in the U.S. in August 2015, and continued to play at festivals worldwide throughout the year. In the five years since its inception, SpectreVision has expanded its focus, with new and exciting forays into the worlds of music, television, gaming and digital media.Wood, Noah and Waller were honored with the Visionary Award at the 2014 Stanley Film Festival for their contribution to independent film. They also delivered the Keynote Address for the Fantastic Market in Austin, leading into the 2015 Fantastic Fest. In January of 2016, SpectreVision announced a new partnership with gaming giant Ubisoft, to create, develop and produce original content for their virtual reality platform. The SV production of The Greasy Strangler made its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to wide acclaim and controversy, making it one of the most talked-about titles at the festival.LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODESpectreVisionSpectreVision - FacebookSpectreVision - TwitterCompany XSebastian TwardoszCircus Road FilmsSPONSORSBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

5 Rules to Make Money Selling Indie FilmsI feel that one of the reasons I was put on this earth was to help filmmakers and artist make money selling their films and art. There's no reason why filmmakers shouldn't be able to make a steady income from their films. You can here my inspiration rant on this topic here: Why Filmmakers are Always So Damn Broke & What They Can Do to Change It. So I came up with these 5 rules on how to make money selling indie films. I outline what I discuss in the podcast below. If you are going to listen to an episode of the IFH Podcast then this one and #88 (Why Filmmakers are Always So Damn Broke) are two episode you should listen too. Check out the outline below and then listen to the episode. I also go into other areas and core concepts that are not in the list below.1. Understand the initial cost of creating the factory that will build your productBuying gearBuilding a teamPost Production infrastructureDeliverables2. Understand the cost of creating your product vs the return Keep the budget low enough where you feel you can make a healthy return on investmentJoe Swanberg (watch his SXSW talk here)3. Understand your customer and how to engage with them Provide Value to your customerSocial MediaEmail ListWhere does your customer hang out, go there and engage with them4. Understand how you will be getting your product to the customerDistribution OptionsCost of distribution5. Understand revenue streamsDVD/Blu-RayTVODSVODWorkshopsMerchNow get to listening and make your film!Right click here to download the MP3Download on iTunes DirectSlamdance Workshop Discussed on the ShowJoin Blackmagic Design, Slamdance Grand Jury Award winner Andrew McPhillips, and filmmaker and host of Indie Film Hustle Alex Ferrari on Saturday, January 21 from 2:30pm to 4:30pm at the Filmmaker Lounge in the Treasure Mountain Inn for an in-depth workshop on the tools and techniques essential to the independent filmmaker.Andrew McPhillips will discuss lessons learned from shooting his upcoming film “The Doll,” including how to seamlessly switch from production to post. Andrew used an URSA Mini 4.6K to shoot the film, DaVinci Resolve for editing and grading, and Fusion for the VFX. Along with serving as CG Supervisor at SPINVFX, Andrew’s work includes his animated short film “Blood Will Tell” which previously premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and took home top awards at Slamdance.Alex Ferrari will discuss how filmmakers can make the most of DaVinci Resolve as a professional editing solution. Alex recently shot, edited and graded his new film “This Is Meg” using Blackmagic Design. He will dive into the ins-and-outs of what filmmakers need to know when editing with Resolve and how it can best fit into their workflows.A brief Q&A will follow the presentations along with raffles for prizes, including a Micro Cinema Camera, DaVinci Resolve Studio and Fusion Studio!Join Blackmagic Design afterward from 5:00pm to 7:00pm for a happy hour in the Filmmaker Lounge during which attendees can ask questions, demo gear and learn more about Blackmagic Design products for independent filmmakers.LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

No Budget Filmmaking with Mark StolaroffI've been trying to get today's guest on the show for months. Mark Stolaroff is a No Budget Filmmaking maestro. Here's a bit about our guest.Mark Stolaroff is an independent producer and a founding partner of Antic Pictures, an LA-based production company producing a slate of low-budget, high-quality digital features. He recently finished principal photography on DriverX, his 5th collaboration with award-winning writer/director Henry Barrial.DriverX stars Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul), Desmin Borges (You're The Worst), Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and many other talented actors.Stolaroff and Barrial's previous feature, The House That Jack Built, which premiered at the 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival, played theatrically in December 2015 and is now currently streaming on Netflix and other digital platforms.Mark produced Barrial's third feature, the micro-budget sci-fi film Pig, which was an official selection at over 35 film festivals worldwide, winning 10 awards, including 7 Best Feature award.Pig was distributed by Kino Lorber in 2014. With Ron Judkins, Stolaroff produced Barrial's second feature, True Love, which was developed in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and was a hit on the festival circuit. Stolaroff also consulted on Meera Menon's Farah Goes Bang, which premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival, winning the Nora Ephron Award.Other projects include:The Trouble With Men And WomenPaper ChasersSome BodyManic (starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Don Cheadle, and Zooey Deschanel)Keep The River On Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale...and others.He is currently producing the horror feature Devil's Whisper, directed by Adam Ripp, which will be shooting in June 2016. Stolaroff was formerly a principal of Next Wave Films, a company of The Independent Film Channel that provided finishing funds to exceptional, low budget films; and through its production arm Agenda 2000, financed and executive produced digital features.Included in Next Wave's 13 films are:Christopher Nolan's FollowingJoe Carnahan's  Blood, Guts, Bullets, & OctaneAmir Bar Lev's FighterSundance Grand Jury Prize winning documentary Southern Comfort.In all Next Wave took seven films to Sundance and five to Toronto; nine were released theatrically in the U.S. and two premiered on HBO; nine were shot digitally and six of those were transferred to film.Stolaroff has lectured on low/no budget and digital filmmaking throughout the world and at many of the major film festivals.He has taught film classes at UCLA Extension, the Maine Film Workshop, and The Learning Annex and has written for Scientific American, Filmmaker, Sight & Sound, Film Festival Reporter, and Film Arts Magazine.He has been on countless filmmaking panels over the last two decades, including serving as the Series Moderator for IFP/LA's Digital Filmmaking Series in 2001 and 2002.  He has sat on the juries of several film festivals and was on the Advisory Board of HBO's US Comedy Arts Film Festival. He currently serves on the advisory board of Filmmakers Alliance.Stolaroff founded No Budget Film School in 2005, and in addition to teaching his classes, has lectured at most of the major film schools.Mark has extensive production experience on several low-budget features and shorts, including production managing the Academy Award winning short film My Mother Dreams The Satan's Disciples in New York.His background also includes two years in Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch Capital Markets, and five years as the Managing Director of Curtains Theater, an innovative legitimate theater he founded in Houston.  A native Texan, Stolaroff received his BBA from the prestigious Business Honors Program at the University of Texas and minored in Film PrBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Should You Own Your Own Film Gear?Happy New Year IFH Tribe! We are now in 2017 and this will be ana amazing, creative and monumental year for us all. I wanted to start off the year with an "Ask Alex" episode. On this episode I answer the follow tribe member questions:Though I plan on hiring a DP for my movies, I'd like to invest in my very own camera equipment and lights. (Was thinking about investing in that BlackMagic Cinema you keep raving about.)However, I'm being advised NOT to buy my own camera and lights! I was told that unless I'm planning on being a DP myself, and unless I plan on keeping up with all the new models of cameras coming out (which can be expensive), that buying camera equipment makes no sense.What say you? Shouldn't an independent filmmaker seek to have his or her own filmmaking arsenal, just in case? Shouldn't directors at least try to go out, shoot, get a feel for the camera, etc., so that they are better directors, even if they'll never be DPs? What advice would you give someone working with non-acting actors who will be getting little to no pay?So If I go to submit my film to contests and festivals will I have problems with people in public in background shots? Would making the background more out of focus help? I have scenes in stores. Do I need to blur product labels?When is the perfect time in pre-production should you start casting?How important do you feel it is to shoot on film if your plan is to go to the big film festivals hoping to get a distribution deal?  Taking Dov Simens DVD class he stresses its important, but the content is in the age of miniDV, so technology has changed quiet a bit since those DVDs were produced.  Although I know the story is really more important than digital vs film, which do you feel the major film festivals are looking for today or does it matter any more?  I'm looking to shoot mostly film (~75%) and mix some shots and coverage that are shot digitally (~25%).Let's get to answering some questions.Right click here to download the MP3Download on iTunes DirectSlamdance Workshop Discussed on the ShowJoin Blackmagic Design, Slamdance Grand Jury Award winner Andrew McPhillips, and filmmaker and host of Indie Film Hustle Alex Ferrari on Saturday, January 21 from 2:30pm to 4:30pm at the Filmmaker Lounge in the Treasure Mountain Inn for an in-depth workshop on the tools and techniques essential to the independent filmmaker.Andrew McPhillips will discuss lessons learned from shooting his upcoming film “The Doll,” including how to seamlessly switch from production to post. Andrew used an URSA Mini 4.6K to shoot the film, DaVinci Resolve for editing and grading, and Fusion for the VFX. Along with serving as CG Supervisor at SPINVFX, Andrew’s work includes his animated short film “Blood Will Tell” which previously premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and took home top awards at Slamdance.Alex Ferrari will discuss how filmmakers can make the most of DaVinci Resolve as a professional editing solution. Alex recently shot, edited and graded his new film “This Is Meg” using Blackmagic Design. He will dive into the ins-and-outs of what filmmakers need to know when editing with Resolve and how it can best fit into their workflows.A brief Q&A will follow the presentations along with raffles for prizes, including a Micro Cinema Camera, DaVinci Resolve Studio and Fusion Studio!Join Blackmagic Design afterward from 5:00pm to 7:00pm for a happy hour in thBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.