Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Many filmmakers were told early on in their careers to specialize in only one field and to master a single skill. But as the landscape of content creation continues to evolve, creative generalists - especially those who emphasize post production - are proving that this theory may no longer hold the same weight.In this episode, I make a case for embracing a generalist approach to filmmaking, outlining how it allows DIY filmmakers to make better movies for less money, and in less time than ever before. Topics covered include: Breaking the "jack of all trades" stigma, the financial benefits of mastering post production, educating yourself on fundamental editorial/finishing skills, when you should (or shouldn't) hire outside help, and loads more.For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

This week, I’m excited to have Alex Ferrari of Indie Film Hustle back on the show. Alex was last on the podcast back on Episode 44, when we chatted about his film This Is Meg, and his process developing and producing his DIY film which eventually sold to Hulu.Today, Alex has returned to chat about his latest book: Shooting For The Mob. The book is based on Alex’s real life experience getting hired by the mob at age 26 to make a movie for them. He outlines the story behind the story, how he adapted this real life experience into a novel, and why it was absolutely critical for him to tell this story. Over the course of the interview, we also delve into many other topics, including: tackling the creative process as a whole, finding your way as a filmmaker, and achieving success on the business side of show business. Links from the show:IFH on Facebook - www.Facebook.com/indiefilmhustleIFH on Twitter - www.Twitter.com/indiefilmhustleIFH on Instagram - www.Instagram.com/ifilmhustleIFHTV - www.IFHTV.comShooting For The Mob - https://www.amazon.com/Shooting-Mob-based-Incredible-Story/dp/194808063X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3RAHIUEGZVN38&keywords=shooting+for+the+mob&qid=1551981886&s=gateway&sprefix=shooting+for+the+%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1 For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

On this week’s episode, I interview two amazing filmmakers - Hannah Black and Megan Petersen - who are in post-production for their $50K micro-budget feature Drought. Having never made a feature before, they were able to write an incredible script, raise $25K in crowdfunding through Seed & Spark, and an additional $25K through the Duplass Brothers who are Executive Producers on the project.Over the course of the interview we cover their entire process from A to Z - From the development of their first screenplay draft to shooting the movie in 18 days, and pushing through post-production with their sights set on a festival run - Not letting anything stop them along the way, including a massive hurricane that hit in the middle of production!Links from the show:Mark Duplass SXSW Keynote - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZeWOAliA6YHannah on Facebook - http://facebook.com/hannahblackHannah on Instagram - http://instagram.com/hannahfrazelleblackMegan on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/megan.petersen.545Megan on Instagram - http://instagram.com/megan.petersen.ilmDrought The Movie on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droughtthemovieDrought The Movie on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/droughtthemovieDrought The Movie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/droughtthemovieFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

In this episode, I sit down with Matteo Bertoli - the incredibly talented DP who shot my latest feature film White Crow. Despite working under tremendous time constraints, Matteo, myself, and the rest of our team were able to shoot nearly 90 pages of script in only 9 days. Over the course of our chat, we explain how we pulled it off without sacrificing quality.Other topics covered include: Camera choice, shooting minimal coverage, the importance of prep, developing a visual style, finding synergy on set, workflow issues, handling creative problems in production, and much more. This is a great listen for any director or DP working in the micro-budget realm.Links from the show:Matteo's Website - https://www.matteobertoli.meMatteo on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/matteobertoliMatteo on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOYko5i4zMPwmS-68hnhIOwMatteo on Twitter - https://twitter.com/matteobertoliFor more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Many filmmakers fall into the freelancing trap - They develop a relatively specialized skill, get great at their craft, gain lots of clients, but inevitably find themselves buried in work. Ultimately, this leaves them unable to focus on their passion projects (such as original feature films or new business ventures), as they are anchored to their client work day in and day out. Some people find themselves stuck in this situation for their entire careers, but all of us have the ability to choose a different path.In this episode, I outline how you can use passively generated income to avoid this problem entirely, by becoming far less reliant on a single revenue stream. The goal is to stop trading your time for money.Putting systems in place that will ultimately make money while you sleep is not easy, but it is possible. And once that goal is achieved, you will have infinitely more flexibility with how you spend your time. This means more time spent being creative, working on the projects you want to be working on, or developing new business ideas - a situation we should all be striving for.For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Over the years, I've learned that having too much time to work on any creative project can be a bad thing, but that having too little time can actually be helpful in some ways... So naturally, when it came time to edit my latest feature film (White Crow) I decided to give myself only 3 weeks to edit down a 23+ hour mountain of footage into a 90 minute assembly. While it may seem counter-intuitive to work this quickly, in my case it was actually a huge asset to the process.In this episode, I outline exactly how I used aggressive deadlines and other self-imposed time constraints to tap into my gut instincts, and turn around a great first cut in record time. I also touch on applying these principles to our work consciously, to reach an ideal state of creative flow every time we sit down to work.For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

In today’s episode, I interview Gabe Reiter - an incredibly accomplished commercial producer who has now entered the world of independent content creation with his new series “Bunkheads”. The series (which is now available on Amazon Prime) is a hilarious sitcom set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse, following four survivors as they not only attempt to survive the zombies outside, but also eachother.Coming from a background in high end commercial production, Gabe has produced million dollar + spots for brands like UPS, Levi’s, Tide, Hallmark, Nationwide, and countless others. Over the course of this interview, Gabe shares his philosophy on production, how he was able to utilize his expertise in the commercial realm to produce a DIY project with a tremendous amount of production value, and much more. Links from the show: Bunkheads on Amazon Prime -  https://www.amazon.com/Bunkheads/dp/B07K8TQCRCBunkheads Official Trailer - https://youtu.be/NZ1AoacIXQABunkheads Website -  https://www.bunkheads.net/ Bunkheads Facebook -  https://facebook.com/BunkheadsTV/Bunkheads Twitter   http://twitter.com/bunkheadsBunkheads Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/bunkheads/Bunkheads YouTube -  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRirlSdkRAWvtnPkBb7aGSwBunkheads IMDB -  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7070166/Gabe Reiter’s Website - http://www.gabrielreiter.com For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Succeeding in film takes far more than a basic understanding of the craft. While technical skills are undeniably important for any filmmaker to master, they alone will not equate to any type of artistic or commercial success. The degree to which any filmmaker succeeds has far more to do with their psychology and tenacity than it does their skill...For instance - Many of us understand the importance of goal setting and strategizing for our film careers, but few of us are able to actually follow through and deliver. This is usually a result of poor motivation, or self-limiting beliefs, which result in a lack of true effort and persistence when the going gets tough. I would argue that these issues - not skill - are responsible for the thousands of film ideas every year that never get off the ground.In this episode, I address this issue head on, discussing specific methods for setting and achieving your filmmaking goals, and using the concept of "obsession" to stay motivated even under the most difficult circumstances. The principles outlined are not only applicable to filmmaking, but also to business, creative entrepreneurship, and even achieving personal aspirations.For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Filmmakers are commonly taught to focus on story structure, plot, and formula while screenwriting, with scene writing usually falling into the background of the discussion. This lack of attention can lead to scenes that are underwritten or underdeveloped, and that ultimately won’t serve the story as a whole. In this weeks episode, we shift the focus away from general screenwriting theory, and discuss the granular principles of scene writing - Constructs that are not only designed to push the story forward, but more importantly to illicit an emotional response in the audience. Topics covered include: introducing conflict, writing with theme in mind, creating emotional undercurrents, and much more. Shadows On The Road - https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/shadows-on-the-road/id1436104543 For more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com

Before a film is even written, its success can be determined by the strength of the concept alone. Without a great concept, it can be extremely difficult to attract talent, producers, or investors to your project, and just as hard to market and sell the film once its done. In many respects, the concept development phase is the single most important part of the process, and one that can never be rushed.In today's episode, I outline my entire concept development process from start to finish, using my upcoming feature film WHITE CROW as a case study. Topics covered include: Picking the right idea, development tactics, using the logline as DNA for the screenplay, iterating & revising the core concept, and much more.To follow along with my upcoming feature film WHITE CROW, be sure to follow us on social media using the links below:http://www.instagram.com/whitecrowmoviehttp://www.twitter.com/whitecrowmoviehttp://www.facebook.com/whitecrowmovieAnd for more content like this visit www.noamkroll.com