The Indie Film Place Podcast: Recent Episodes
Russ Cootey
Indie Film Talk, Interviews with filmmakers and others in the industry, product reviews, and more. Low to No Budget Practical Filmmaking for the indie filmmaker. Helping to bring Indie Film to the world.
Let's get back into The Screening Room with a great short film titled "The Neighbor's Window".
Starting the Writing Process is not as complicated as you are probably making it out to be. Especially your first time out. Let's talk about where the process starts, how to get it going and more.
In The Screening Room again with a cool time travel kinda short film called ReWrite by Crash Buist. Check it out!
Producing your ShowReel is a part of the business of being a filmmaker, actor, cinematographer, etc. Let's talk about actually "Producing" your showreel, and not just putting some clips together.
Hey Crew, we are all in this quarantine thing together. We are all affected. What do we do as filmmakers while being grounded. There are many things that we can do with our time to be productive. I want to focus on one.
Green Screening your Locations may or may not be something that you have considered. However, this is done more than you may think, and it's a great option for indie filmmakers. Let's get into it.
Let's talk about the things the indie filmmaker needs to get the job done. These are things that are very affordable and some are even just plain cheap, and you probably have some of them in your home.
Getting great sound for little to no budget has always been a challenge. It really doesn't have to be. You can get pro sound with very little investment. Especially compared to just a few years ago. Let's get into it.
"PICTURES" directed by S.L. Allred is another of those films that I like to spotlight because of it's minimalistic approach. This is a premise that could have ended up cliche' but because of the thought and creativity behind it, is a good short film. Check it out in The Screening Room.
We are back in The Screening Room with a very cool short film titled "THE SNAPSHOT". Check it out!!!
Director Hicham Hajji Just finished his feature film directorial debut "REDEMPTION DAY". This film Stars Gary Dourdan, Andy Garcia, Robert Knepper, and Ernie Hudson. Hicham chats with us about the film, and tackling a film like this, and directing the cast.
Your role as director has many aspects, but it all boils down to one thing. You are the creative guide for all involved. Let's chat about it.
One of the first things that we learn, or at least should learn as an indie filmmaker is to know your audience. Who are you making your film for? Let's get into that.
Lighting the interior of a car at night can be tricky. We like to see our subjects, but we want it to look natural. There is nothing like unnatural light to take us out of the moment. Let's chat about this.
Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday season, and wishing you a very happy new year!
The power of light is so much more than just setting up proper lighting, or using natural light to shoot a scene. We light with a purpose. Let's get into it.
Having the right lens for the right job is always a point of conversation, or at least thought. Budget and affordability are also a factor. Usually. Let's talk a bit about some lenses that get the job done.
Getting the proper coverage for your film can often be overlooked, especially early on in one's filmmaking career. Let's talk about how to get great coverage.
"An Interview with God" is a great indie film Written and Produced by Ken Aguado, and Directed by Perry Lang. The film is on Netflix, and definitely one to watch. Let's chat with Ken and Perry.
If you are thinking about either buying or renting a high dollar camera, this episode is a must listen. Let's get into the logic of both options.
Can you make a film with zero budget? This is a very common question. Some may say that even if you already have a camera, even a cell phone you already have spent a budget on your film. Let get in to this. Also, this episode is the first video episode on YouTube.
Camera movement is just as a crucial piece of the puzzle as any other part of filmmaking. It is part of the character, and helps convey energy and emotion. Let's get into it here.
Sometimes you need to record ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording) and sometimes you don't. Either way, recording ADR will be something that sets your film apart from other films that don't. If you are about to shoot your first film, the definitely plan for it. It's not hard to do at all. Let's get into it.
Having continuity in sound throughout your film is an absolute must! There really is no excuse to have sound that is inconsistant through your film. Let's chat about getting that sound continuity in your finished project.
We've talked about continuity, and we've talked about lighting. Now let's talk about continuity in lighting. This seems to be a very basic thing, but it is surprising how often mistakes are made here. Let's take a look at how it applies to beginners as well as those at the top.
Where do you get your inspiration from? Where do you find it? Is it the same thing that always inspires you? Could it be different things or activities? Let's talk about keeping what inspires us close to us. Also, officially announcing the title and publication date of my new book.
We would never think about starting a film project if we didn't think that we weren't going to finish it. Well things do happen. There are many reasons why this happens. let's discuss how to keep it from happening.
Paying attention to key lighting is so crucial. Even if you don't have lighting gear and no budget, your key lighting needs your attention. You may need to use all natural lighting, in which case you need to choose your location accordingly. The character in the frame may be dark and sinister or disconnected, but this needs to be a conscious choice. Let's chat about key lighting.
Being innovative and fresh means you gotta break some rules. There is only one rules that can't be broken in filmmaking. Let's chat about that, and breaking all the other rules.
The casting process is certainly one of the most important pieces of filmmaking. It is also one of the most stressful. We have so much at our disposal today to eliminate a huge amount of that stress. Let's chat about casting.
I have had this idea of writing a book kicking around in my head for some time now. As with directing, I thought that it would be later on. Well this is one of those things that just wants out now. It has to be shared, so here we go.
"THE INTERVIEWER" is a short film that focuses on our preconceived ideas of what is normal. It deals with our tendencies to judge others by how we see them on the outside.This is a must see film.
Director Ben Rock is a great guy, and a talented Director/Filmmaker. His short film "Future Boyfriend" is in The screening Room. Check out this interview with Ben. I had a great time, and you will enjoy it as well.
There is a time to buy, and there is a time to DIY. A few years ago it really made more sense to make as much as you can yourself. Now there are companies that offer decent products at a more affordable rate. Sometimes it may make sense just to buy something and other times you just gotta DIY.
"FUTURE BOYFRIEND" directed by Ben Rock is a really cool Sci-Fi short film with a great story. Shot in one location, this film tells a very good story in a cool and interesting way.
Music is a part of our film that we just simply cannot forget about. Many first time indie filmmakers sometimes tend to either forget about, or just not give much attention to. This is as crucial as any other part of filmmaking.
"THE ISLE" film's Matthew and Tori Butler - Hart talk about their film, filmmaking, and their production company "FIZZ & GINGER FILMS". Fizz & Ginger films has an exciting slate of films. We also talk about what is was like to film on this historic island.
Jenifer Westphal and Joe Plummer created Wavelength productions, a company that 90% helmed by women. Wavelength Productions fosters the female talent in all aspects of filmmaking. They focus on films with really great stories. Some of their films include "Where's my Roy Cohn?", "Selah and The Spades", and "Knock down the House" which can be seen on Netflix.
Director Dave Bundtzen and Actress Colleen Kelly of "Devil's Passenger" and "Window Dressing" chat with me about both films. Listen to the conversation here.
"WINDOW DRESSING" by Dave Bundtzen is another short film that utilizes minimalism very efficiently. Let's take a look at how Dave does this in his latest short film.
"THE LAST WHISTLE" is a film about football, and the human spirit. Director Rob Smat talks about the film, as well as the making of it
http://www.lastwhistlemovie.com
Writing and shooting for what you have allows us the freedom of creativity. Being creative with minimal resources stirs up the raw creativity to make something work. It forces us to creatively make the best from what little we have. This creativity is what makes magic.
#IndieFilmPlace
Veteran feature film editor Lawrence Jordan has been in the BIZ for several years, and has worked on many studio films. He has gained a great working knowledge, and loves to share and encourage filmmakers and editors to do what they love. Larry talks with me about filmmaking, editing, and his "Master the Workflow" course on editing, and more. This is really good stuff.
mastertheworkflow.com
The "HIT RECORD" platform, headed up by Joseph Gordon Levitt is really the ultimate colaborative platform for all artists. This is a community where anyone can take part in, and lend their talents to other artists projects. It doesn't matter if you are a musician, actor, voice actor, painter, or whatever. This platform bring artists from all over the world to colaborate, and do what artists love to do. Create.
hitrecord.org
Indie film director George Dibble talks about his new film titled "VOLKOV". Join us as we chat about the film, and some behind the scenes stuff. Also, find out more at volkovfilm.com
Let's chat about community. The indie film community is a unique community. There are many facets and layers within our community. Our community is always changing and growing, and that's what I want to address in this episode.
Filmmaker Eric Toms chats with me about his new film that he just finished shooting in Belgium. We talk about the film as well as his experience with production. We also talk about his monthly short film showcase called "Night of Shorts Night".
Alex Ferrari, filmmaker and host of Indie Film Hustle chats with me about his new film "On the Corner of Ego and Desire". We also discuss the business of filmmaking, being an indie filmmaker, and more.
Here are some links for Alex:
Indie Film Hustle - www.indiefilmhustle.com Indie Film Hustle TV: Netflix for Filmmakers - www.ifhtv.com Shooting for the Mob - www.shootingforthemob.com Bulletproof Screenplay - www.bulletproofscreenplay.com
Special effects can be subject to budget, although small to no budgets also have access to really cool FX techniques. The key is to be true and as real as possible without looking like you're trying to hard to do what you don't have the resources for. Be true, real, and committed to a truthful effect.
The most memorable characters are the ones that are relatable. They may be relatable to us personally, or they may be relatable as someone we know in our lives in some way. Making characters relatable and showing them as human make them memorable.
Filmmaker Usher Morgan (Prego, Pickings) talks about films, filmmaking, and his new book "Lessons from The Set". This book chronicles a filmmaker's journey from idea to distribution, and everything in between.
Let's chat about writing for what you know, real life, genre writing, and writer's block. Have you thought about crossing over genres? If nothing else, it could be a great exercise.
Writer/Director David McCracken and Josh Riedford join me to discuss their feature film "BULLITT COUNTY". This film was released theatrically in AMC theaters, and is now available on Amazon. Check out our conversation, and see this film.
You know Jay and Mark Duplass from films like "The Puffy Chair" and "BagHead". Their very first film "This Is John" is in The Screening Room. If you haven't seen this short film, you gotta go to The Screening Room and Watch. This is the perfect grab a camera and shoot something, and make it interesting film.
Zeke Zelker talks about his new film "BillBoard" and the medium of TransMedia. Zeke is a pioneer of transmedia, which is the method of telling a story simultaneously on multiple platforms.
Continuity is one of those all important must haves in your film, just like great sound inconsistencies in your film will leave a bad impression. Focus on continuity and keep the story fluid.
Shot composition is literally the window to our story. Without thoughtful and creative shot composition, the story will fall apart or at the very least have little impact on the audience. The importance of shot composition can't be overstated.
Director Ryan Alexander is back in The Screening Room with his new film "ILLEGAL". This film is done in one continuous shot, which is something that Ryan does very well. Definitely check out this film in The Screening Room.
theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
Sound is key. Not only in production quality, but also sound is key in telling your story. This film "WELCOME HOME" by Director Doug Smith is a great example of that Check it out.
Kario Salem directs "Stand Down" with Billy Bob Thornton, along with co director Dana Tynan. Kario chats about the making of this film, as well as another film that he wrote, one of my favorites, "The Score" with Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, and Marlon Brando.
David Krouse is the director of the new "Hollywood Feature Film Presentation Series". This series is a great space for filmmakers to have their feature films exposed to general audiences as well as distribution and other pros. Let's chat with David.
Actor/Filmmaker Eric Toms hosts a short film showcase called "Night of Shorts Night". He chats with us about acting, filmmaking, comedy, as well as a new micro budget feature film he's working on.
Green screen is our friend. It is now so much easier than before to use green screen effectively for your film. Let's chat about how to do this.
FACEBOOK and TWITTER: @IndieFilmPlace
The IFP Theater at The Indie Film Place is where you can now watch feature films. When filmmakers who are guests of The Indie Film Place have their films available on platforms such as Amazon Prime, you are now able to watch these film in the IFP Theater at theindiefilmplace.com
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"The Devil's Passenger" is a well paced, well shot and edited short film written and directed by Dave Bundtzen. Dave does a great job at keeping shots tight to focus on the characters. This film looks good, and smartly utilizes the minimal location scenario.
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This episode continues the "How to PR your Film series. Creating an interesting and eye catching EPK (Electronic Press Kit) is another crucial part of your film promotion. Let's chat about what goes in an EPK and why.
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Happy New Year everybody! Do you have something to be released in 2019? Let me know. The Indoe Film Place is adding videos, DIY tutorials, Product reviews and more. I will also be releasing some short films, web series, and a total filmmaking course.
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Let's talk again about promoting your film. We've talked about online as well as real world ideas for getting your film in front of your audience.This time we chat about both. The focus here is on being bold in your PR tactics.
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We know of course that being prepared is part of being the best actor that we can be. I want to talk about something that goes along with the symbiotic relationship between the actor and director. Let's chat.
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Making a shot list is as important as having a camera. The shot list is the first part of the director's execution of the vision for the characters, story, and feel of the flm.
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"That Never Happened" is the award winning documentary by filmmakers Ryan Boyko and Diana Cofini. This is the film's story line: "THAT NEVER HAPPENED reveals the story of Canada's first national internment operations between 1914 - 1920, when over 88,000 people were forced to register and more than 8,500 were wrongfully imprisoned in internment camps across Canada, not for anything they had done but because of where they came from. In 1954, the public records were destroyed and in the 1980s a few brave men and women began working to reclaim this chapter in history and ensure future generations would know about it."
Available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, and VUDU
armisticefilms.com
Cutting a trailer is a huge part of your PR strategy. This needs to start even before you shoot the film. How you ask? Great question. Let's chat about that right here.
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David Lynch's "Ant Head" is in The Screening Room. This film is really what I was talking about when I said to film anything that you can and make a story, or a statement, or a piece of art that means something to you. Don't be afraid to do anything. Be Fearless.
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Fearlessness is is the core characteristic of filmmaking. We all have a level of fearlessness to become a filmmaker. This is the characteristic we need to keep within us at all times. Let's chat about it.
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What camera should you get to shoot your film? I hear filmmakers ask this all the time. Let's chat about your objective first off. Are you looking for a certain functionality? Is it just to get the coolest new thing? Do you have a budget? Do you really need a new camera?
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Today let's chat about some real world grass roots PR stuff. Remember, the one thing we need to emulate when it comes to the studio machine is PR. In vol 1 we talked about rolling out a PR campaign early enough to get the buzz going in anticipation of your film with online images and such. Now let's talk about old school foot pounding fun.
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This is another perfect example of utilizing one location fully. A simple story of something anyone who has ever used social media can relate to. Well shot, well directed, and solid post production.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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(And no, the irony is not lost).
Marketing and promotion of our films is as big of a deal, if not bigger than making the film. It is the engine that makes any film go after production is finished. In these installments of "How to promote your indie film" we'll explore techniques to get your movie in front of your audience.
Website: theindiefilmplace.com
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"PHANTASM" Director Don Coscarelli Chats with me about filmmaking, being an indie filmmaker, and his new book "TRUE INDIE". Join Don and I for some great indie film discussion.
Follow Don on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and INSTAGRAM:
@DonCoscarelli
"The Professional" is an improv short film, and looks really good. Richard Amann who shot and directed this made great use of composition, and depth of field to achieve a really nice look. The soundtrack is really cool too.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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"FISH" is the short film in The Screening Room. This film is a light hearted take on an old story.Check it out in The Screeninf Room.
THE SCREEING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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Casting is one of the most important parts of making a film. Duh. Without cast, you have no film...unless it's that kind of film. This process can be the most daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Let's chat.
WEBSITE: theindiefilmplace.com
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"LIFTED" is another really great short film directed by Lin Oeding. Lin is very good at great composition, and capturing some really nice moments. This film is very touching and uplifting. Check it out in The Screening Room.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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"TIME TRAP" is a Sci-Fi adventure directed by Mark Dennis and Ben Foster. They chat with me about filmmaking, being an indie filmmaker, and of course the movie "TIME TRAP".
timetrapmovie.com
"The Jigsaw" is a short film that kinda reminds me of classic fare such as Ghost Story, Night Gallery, Circle of fear, and s really well done. Nice production value with excellent camera work.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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Let's talk about creative lighting with low to no budget. Just because you don't have a ton of lights, or maybe not really any at all doesn't mean you can't light your set effectively.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
Like and Follow on FACEBOOK and TWITTER: @IndieFilmPlace
"PARADOX" by Jeremy Haccoun is a time travel/suspense film, but maybe not quite what you might expect. Great characters that draw you into what's happening in the moment. Check out this film in The Screening Room.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
Like and Follow on FACEBOOK and TWITTER" @IndieFilmPlace
Post production is is the last element that makes your film either pop or fizzle. There is noo reason to get lazy in post and let your film fizzle. This is not the easiest part of filmmaking as a new filmmaker, but when you spend at least as much focus here, you will make a world of difference.
Watch short films in THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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Hey Kids! You like horror films? In The Screening Room is a horror short film titled "A Tap at the Window". This film is done in a classic suspense type of horror film. It's written and directed by Jimmy Ren and Jack Vang. These guys did a great job.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace/screeningroom
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Filmmaker Ryan Alexander chats with me about filmmaking, casting, working with actors, and more. Also, you can check out "ROADSIDE", and "HOLD'EM", which are two of his films in The Screening Room.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningrom
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"PEEPHOLE" short film is another example of taking one location, and one subject, and making a short film. If you are just starting out, and wonder what you can do to make something, You can do anything you want. Just make the film.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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One of the things that sets a professional apart from a non professional is being prepared. There are many things we can talk about here, but I want to focus on the camera build, and location.
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"HOLD 'EM" is another short film by Ryan Alexander and Jakob Owens, who also directed "ROADSIDE". What I really like about both of these films, is the "ONE SHOT" approach. This again is a testament to what you can do with what you have at hand.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
Let's chat about something we should all have in our tool box, grip truck/trailer, and all around bag of tricks. It is really dog gone useful, and we should not be afraid to use it.
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FELON is a short directed and shot by Cameron Radice. This is a great example of good pre production, set design, and camera movement. This film tells a story in a very short time.
THE SCREENING ROOM:
theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
Independent filmmaker Frank Parillo Talks with us about acting, producing, Casting, and the evolution of being a filmmaker. Frank is also founder of 1 Media productions, a production company and acting studio.
1mediaproductions.com
"The Call" Short film written and Directed by Ammar Sonderberg. This film is an example of what you can do with talent and imagination. This film was shot with ZERO budget, and minimal locations. Keeping the shots tight, and telling a great story in a short amount of time.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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Feeding your cast and crew is so very important. Even if you are working with low to no budget, it is priority. You don't have to go broke, or even spend very much to show appreciation and make everyone happy.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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"Maybe Another Time" is in The Screening Room this week. Here is a short film that really brings home what we just talked about in episode 102. This film tells a story in just 1 minute. Very simply done, and very well done.
THE SCREENING ROOM: theindiefilmplace.com/screeningroom
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Let's have a chat today with Susan Johnston. We're talking about acting, casting, the business of show business, and of course The New Media Film Festival which she founded and is the director.
susanjohnstoncasting.com
newmediafilmfestival.com