Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

I’m kicking off my SXSW interview series with Kevin Ford - a prolific documentary and narrative filmmaker whose latest feature film The Pushback was programmed at SXSW 2020.Kevin’s list of credits is incredibly impressive. His films have screened at major film festivals like Tribeca, Slamdance, Berlin, SXSW and even at the Nobel Peace Awards Ceremony in 2017. What’s even more impressive, is that Kevin has achieved all this success by bootstrapping his projects, and crafting them in a truly DIY fashion. Over the course of this interview we talk all about his latest film, previous works, his tactical approach to making movies, and much more.Links from the show:Kevin's WebsiteThe Pushback FilmFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

In practically no time, the coronavirus has forced the world to nearly grind to a halt, and filmmakers of all types are being affected in countless ways. Whether you work as a freelancer, an employee or you own a production company, this crisis is surely already taking a toll.But despite productions shutting down left and right among other turmoil, many new opportunities are arising that we could all benefit from. Throughout the episode I expand on these potential growth areas, using new changes in my own business model as a template for navigating this new terrain.Links from the show:Micro-Budget Weekly Newsletter"I Need A Corporate Producer" Facebook Group

This week, DP Evin Grant joins me on the show to discuss his cinema camera shootout - a comparison of 9 of the most prominent full frame digital cinema cameras on the market:Arri Alexa Mini LFCanon Eos C500mIIRed MonstroSigma FPSony FX9 (S-Cinetone)Sony FX9 (S-Log3)Sony VeniceRed GeminiRed HeliumOver the course of our discussion, Evin details his findings at length, touching on everything from autofocus capabilities to dynamic range, color science to compression, and everything in between. This is a must listen for any full frame shooter looking to deepen their understanding of the current market.Links from the show:The Full Frame Cine Shootout On VimeoEvin's Website

Joining me this week is fellow LA based filmmaker Marcus Mizelle, a true DIY auteur in his own right and the brains behind The Micro Film Tournament: "A 16 film, 4 round tournament dedicated to micro-budget filmmakers who’ve made the most with the least."Throughout the course of the episode, we discuss Marcus' unique career path, the benefits of working within the constraints of a micro-budget, film festival experiences, and of course his brand new tournament - which is currently open for submissions. Enjoy!Links from the show:Marcus' WebsiteMarcus on InstagramChameleon Film WebsiteActor For Hire Film WebsiteThe Micro Film TournamentFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Many commercial directors want to make the leap to directing features films, but don’t know where to start. Our guest this week - Cody Stokes - successfully made that transition after raising just under $500K for his debut feature The Ghost Who Walks.Using the film as a case study, Cody walks us through every step in his process from building out the concept to fundraising to post-production and beyond. Cody’s story shows us that you don’t need industry connections or easy access to financing in order to make your movie a reality.Links from the show:Cody's WebsiteThe Ghost Who WalksFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Every filmmaker dreams of submitting their indie film to Sundance, winning the festival and landing a major directing gig. Our guest this week - Carter Smith - didn’t just dream of doing it, he pulled it off.After his short film Bugcrush (2006) won the Sundance film festival, he was given the opportunity to pitch on a major Hollywood feature called The Ruins. After getting the seal of approval from Steven Spielberg himself, Carter’s debut feature film was underway. Since then, he’s returned to his indie roots with the 2014 feature Jamie Marks is Dead, and most recently a Hulu/Blumhouse picture called Midnight Kiss (2019).Throughout the episode, we discuss Carter’s unique career trajectory, his experience in the studio system, why he’s revisiting independent productions, and so much more.Links from the show- Carter On InstagramFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Smartphones have truly become a viable camera option for filmmakers on a budget. They provide more freedom, flexibility and anonymity than any traditional cinema camera, which gives them some major advantages… But in order to reap the rewards, you need to be able to work around some substantial technological limitations. Joining me this week to discuss all of this and more is filmmaker, colorist, and mobile cinematography expert Richard Lackey. We get in depth about the benefits and drawbacks of shooting on a phone, maximizing image quality by understanding your technical constraints, the future of iPhone filmmaking and so much more. This is a great introduction for anyone even considering using their phone for professional use.Links from the show:Richard on YouTubeRichard on TwitterRichard on InstagramFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

This week on the show, filmmaker Shaun Colón takes us on a deep dive into the world of documentary filmmaking. We chat at length about his debut documentary feature: A Fat Wreck - a 3 year long DIY project that found incredible success with film festivals and fans alike, even generating interest from the Sundance Institute. Building off of this success, Shaun moved into production on his second documentary feature (Age Of Audio), which features interviews with Kevin Smith, Ira Glass and other monumental voices in the podcasting space. Over the course of our discussion, Shaun outlines his process for financing, producing, and releasing his documentaries using his own DIY tactics, and shares a roadmap for how others can do the same.Links from the show:A Fat Wreck - WebsiteA Fat Wreck - FacebookA Fat Wreck - TwitterA Fat Wreck - InstagramA Fat Wreck - Sundance Institute ArticleAge Of Audio - WebsiteAge Of Audio - InstagramAge Of Audio - TwitterFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Returning to the show this week is Alex Ferrari of the Indie Film Hustle podcast. Alex has been educating filmmakers for years through a multitude of platforms, and has just written a new book that truly takes things to the next level: Rise of the Filmtrepreneur.The film industry has gone through a massive change over the past few years and most filmmakers are not prepared to make a living with their work in this new ecosystem. Alex's new book brilliantly outlines an approach and system that can serve as an antidote to this issue, arming filmmakers with the tactics needed to build a profitable career. We discuss all this and much more in today's episode.Links from the show -https://www.filmbizbook.comFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

This week, my guest is Brad Raider - a fellow LA based filmmaker who made his debut feature Kensho at the Bedfellow on a budget of $250,000.Over the course of our chat, Brad speaks at length about his fundraising process which uniquely leveraged his meditation community to bring his vision to life. We also talk about his challenging production process that spanned 30 locations and 29 shooting days. Other topics covered include: The importance of creating space for your creativity, distribution options for micro-budget features and much more.Links from the show:kenshofilm.comreddogsquadron.commdt8.combradraider.comFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com