Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

In this episode I am joined by acclaimed DP Liam Higgins for an in-depth discussion on cinematography, commercial filmmaking, and creativity.Liam has shot many commercial projects for Adidas, Grey Goose, SteamWhistle, and countless other brands, all while writing and producing his own narrative productions. Throughout the interview, we discuss Liam’s work at length and his career path - from freelancer to gaining representation with APA agency. We also talk about the benefits and drawbacks of owning gear, the importance of great collaboration, and loads more.Links from the show:https://instagram.com/liamhigginshttps://higginsdp.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

This week I'm honored to have filmmaker and Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish return to the show to talk all about his brand new feature film - 18 1/2.18 1/2 is a Watergate thriller/comedy that stars Willa Fitzgerald, John Magaro, Vondie Curtis Hall, Catherine Curtin, Richard Kind, Sullivan Jones, Alanna Saunders, Claire Saunders and the voices of Ted Raimi, Jon Cryer, and Bruce Campbell.In just 15 days, Dan and his crew captured this amazing film that has a unique 1970s vibe and standout performances. Throughout the episode we discuss exactly how this film was made - from concept to theatrical distribution. Enjoy!Links from the show: 18 1/2 Movie Website - https://18andahalfmovie.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode, I am joined by Brooklyn based micro-budget filmmaker Sujewa Ekanayake, for a discussion that re-imagines the way we approach making indie films.I first connected with Sujewa over Twitter, after discovering he and I share a similar filmmaking philosophy that prioritizes creative expression above budget. Throughout the conversation, we unpack this concept at length and discuss various strategies and unconventional tactics that can be used to execute any feature film.Links from the show:Sujewa on Twitter - https://twitter.com/sujewafantasticSlow Romance - https://slowromancemovie.comSujewa's Website - https://sujewa.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

Joining me today are the founders of Film Up - Aryeh Hoppenstein and Christina Chironna.After meeting in college, Aryeh and Christina partnered to create a business that would fuse their love of filmmaking with their passion for business. The result was FilmUp.co, a powerful resource that automates the film production process, from crewing to payroll.To generate awareness and build a community around their brand, Aryeh and Christina developed a unique social media strategy that led to an Instagram following of nearly 700,000 filmmakers.Throughout the episode, they share a behind the scenes look of how they built their audience - from their first follower to becoming one of the leading filmmaking accounts on social media. Their insights can serve as a blueprint for any filmmaker looking to build their online presence, and curate an audience of their own.Links from the show:Film Up Website - https://www.filmup.coFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode I am joined by three amazing guests for a roundtable style discussion about crowd-equity fundraising for indie films.Our guests are: lawyer-turned film investor Michael Rekola, executive producer and actor Desiree Staples, and Ryan Pierce from WeFunder’s growth team.This in depth discussion covers tactics for raising funds through crowd-equity platforms (like WeFunder), painting a very clear picture of what it takes to succeed with this strategy. Topics covered include: Ideal genres for crowd-equity, key variables investors care about, reaching a wide audience, business & legal setup, and much more.Links from the show:Use Michael's link to start a project for free, and save on any platform fundraising fees when you successfully raise - https://wefunder.com/byrekola/discount“My Divorce Party” We Funder - https://wefunder.com/mydivorcepartythemovie/“Meet Cute Murders” We Funder - https://wefunder.com/meet.cute.murders.movieMichael Rekola on Twitter - https://twitter.com/byrekolaFor more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode I am joined by Joële Walinga, director of the SXSW 2022 documentary feature "Self Portrait". This is a brilliant experimental feature comprised entirely of footage collected from surveillance cameras, and produced with a highly unique creative process. Throughout the interview, Joële gives us a behind the scenes look into her four-year creative workflow, which involved sifting through thousands of publicly available surveillance videos and editing them together into a meaningful feature film. She also shares invaluable creative advice for other filmmakers looking to experiment with new formats, and use their original ideas to break new ground.For more exclusive content like this, sign up for my newsletter at https://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this solo episode, I share a behind the scenes look into my latest feature film, which is being shot with no crew and a highly unconventional workflow. I decided to experiment with this new filmmaking paradigm to test my own creative limits, and show that a great film can be produced on any level, regardless of budget or resources.Throughout the episode I outline how taking a "one-man-band" approach to filmmaking can actually increase production value, while also making for a more creatively rewarding process. Topics covered include:- How I balance directing, DP'ing, and sound recording myself- Why I'm shooting the film in 2-3 day blocks over several months- Editing the film while we are shooting to inform future script changes- The gear I'm using to shoot the film- Challenges and workarounds for filmmakers looking to take this approachFor more exclusive content like this, sign up at http://noamkroll.com/newsletter

Returning to the show is Emmy winning micro-budget filmmaker Marcus Mizelle. After directing a trilogy of micro-budget narrative feature films, Marcus turned his talents to the documentary filmmaking space, where he has recently found incredible success.His self-produced short documentary (Something In The Water) aired on PBS and was later awarded an Emmy. During the same period, he also directed a feature documentary (Belle Vie) which premiered last month at the prestigious Santa Barbara Film Festival.Throughout the interview we discuss each project at length, Marcus' decision to move from narrative to documentary, how he got his film on PBS and submitted for an Emmy nomination, and much more.Links from the show:Something In The Water - https://www.amazon.com/Something-Water-Kinston-Basketball-Story/dp/B08QLXGNCJGet a free exhibit pass to NAB Show by clicking here: https://amplify.nabshow.com/nab-show-sign-up/?r=maritz&marketing_code=BA20For more exclusive content like this, sign up at http://noamkroll.com/newsletter

In this episode I am joined by experimental filmmaker and accomplished painter, Chris Peters. Chris' films have screened at numerous Academy Award qualifying festivals, including Slamdance 2021 (where he later served as a programmer), and winning the Peter Wilde Award at the 2020 Ann Arbor Film Festival.Throughout our discussion we cover a slew of creative topics - from our shared love of Super 8mm, to the use of AI in filmmaking. We also touch on the benefits of "no-budget" productions, insights from his experience as a festival programmer, and loads more.Links from the show:http://www.chrispeters.comFor more exclusive content like this, sign up at http://noamkroll.com/newsletter

Today I’m joined by director Daniel Lafrentz and producer Sean Flanagan to demystify the fundraising process for narrative feature films.Daniel is an award winning filmmaker known for his debut feature film The Long Shadow, which was awarded a jury prize at the amazing New Orleans Film Festival. Sean made his name in film distribution, having overseen the release of over 1000 films including titles for Sundance Institute, FilmRise, Paradigm, CAA and more. Together, they are developing a new feature film called Meet Cute Murders, which is a focal point of our discussion.Throughout the interview we take a deep dive into Daniel and Sean’s experience making feature films, and how they are reverse engineering their new movie to ensure a successful release. We pay special attention to the WeFunder platform too, which is a cornerstone of their fundraising efforts, and a resource that all filmmakers could benefit from.Links from the show:Meet Cute Murders - WeFunderDaniel Lafrentz - WebsiteFor more exclusive content like this, click here to sign up for my newsletter.