Indie Film Podcast

You can rent the most expensive camera in the world, but if you point it at a blank wall, your movie is still going to look like a student film.
In Part 3 of our "7 Deadly Sins of Low-Budget Indie Filmmaking” series, we’re tackling Art Department. We break down why production design is the actual secret to making a micro-budget film look cinematic, and share scrappy, actionable secrets to dressing a set when you have no money.
In this episode, we cover:
"Addition by Subtraction": How to dress a real, lived-in location without it looking cluttered.

The Dollar Store Hack: Building believable sci-fi props on the cheap.

The Art Dept Checklist: Victoria’s foolproof, 6-step blueprint for indie sets.

Cheap Trick: Why you need candles (and a fire extinguisher) on set.

Plus, we highlight Featured Filmmaker Tijuana Layne, and how she saved her film The Science of Fear from a post-production disaster!
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Show Links: 
Filmmaker of the Week, Tijuana Layne: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2893587/  
Be Our Next Featured Filmmaker: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit
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Follow Indie Film Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiefilmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@indiefilmpodcast
Web: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com
Newsletter: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072

If your actors look like amateurs who are actively searching their brains for their lines, you didn't save time by skipping rehearsals, you just ruined a great performance. Welcome back to Week 2 of The 7 Deadly Sins of Indie Filmmaking! Over the next seven episodes, we’re breaking down the biggest mistakes that kill micro-budget movies and how to avoid them.
This week, we tackle Sin #2: Skipping Rehearsals. It is truly the fastest and easiest way to sink your film (and your friendships?) on set. We’re busting the biggest excuses in the industry, from the myth that Steven Spielberg doesn't rehearse to the ultimate indie film lie: "We'll fix it in post.” If you want your film to look professional, preparation is a non-negotiable.
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Show Links: 
Filmmaker of the Week, Gregory Pellerito: https://linktr.ee/GregoryMPellerito 
Be Our Next Featured Filmmaker: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit
_____________________________________
Follow Indie Film Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiefilmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@indiefilmpodcast
Web: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com
Newsletter: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73sAVvvHVMl7KwoYc4zTxo

If your actors look like amateurs who are actively searching their brains for their lines, you didn't save time by skipping rehearsals, you just ruined a great performance. Welcome back to Week 2 of The 7 Deadly Sins of Indie Filmmaking! Over the next seven episodes, we’re breaking down the biggest mistakes that kill micro-budget movies and how to avoid them.
This week, we tackle Sin #2: Skipping Rehearsals. It is truly the fastest and easiest way to sink your film (and your friendships?) on set. We’re busting the biggest excuses in the industry, from the myth that Steven Spielberg doesn't rehearse to the ultimate indie film lie: "We'll fix it in post.” If you want your film to look professional, preparation is a non-negotiable.
_____________________________________
Show Links: 
Filmmaker of the Week, Gregory Pellerito: https://linktr.ee/GregoryMPellerito 
Be Our Next Featured Filmmaker: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit
_____________________________________
Follow Indie Film Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiefilmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@indiefilmpodcast
Web: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com
Newsletter: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73sAVvvHVMl7KwoYc4zTxo

If your actors look like amateurs who are actively searching their brains for their lines, you didn't save time by skipping rehearsals, you just ruined a great performance. Welcome back to Week 2 of The 7 Deadly Sins of Indie Filmmaking! Over the next seven episodes, we’re breaking down the biggest mistakes that kill micro-budget movies and how to avoid them.
This week, we tackle Sin #2: Skipping Rehearsals. It is truly the fastest and easiest way to sink your film (and your friendships?) on set. We’re busting the biggest excuses in the industry, from the myth that Steven Spielberg doesn't rehearse to the ultimate indie film lie: "We'll fix it in post.” If you want your film to look professional, preparation is a non-negotiable.
_____________________________________
Show Links: 
Filmmaker of the Week, Gregory Pellerito: https://linktr.ee/GregoryMPellerito 
Be Our Next Featured Filmmaker: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit
_____________________________________
Follow Indie Film Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiefilmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@indiefilmpodcast
Web: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com
Newsletter: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73sAVvvHVMl7KwoYc4zTxo

The absolute worst reaction an audience can have to your indie film isn't hatred; it's pure indifference. If you want to stop writing "mid-tier," forgettable scripts, you need to master the science of storytelling. Don’t worry, we’re still working on it, too! Welcome to Week 1 of our brand new series: The 7 Deadly Sins of Indie Filmmaking! Over the next seven episodes, we’re breaking down the biggest mistakes that kill micro-budget movies and how to avoid them.
This week, Chuck and Victoria tackle Sin #1: The Forgettable Script. If you want to make sure your audience actually cares about your characters, we’re breaking down the exact storytelling frameworks you need (and covering the mistakes we’ve made). We cover Pixar's "Story Spine", Christopher Booker's 7 Archetypes, and the actual psychology of why character motivations drive the most interesting plots.
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Show Links: 
Filmmaker of the Week, Brad Young: https://youtu.be/BpN0yGp2_A4?si=O4C3dcDW99BE8_rz 
Siegfried and Roy Tiger Attack: https://www.rd.com/article/siegfried-and-roy-tiger-attack/ 
Be Our Next Featured Filmmaker: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit
_____________________________________
Follow Indie Film Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiefilmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@indiefilmpodcast
Web: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com
Newsletter: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072

How much does a “zero budget” film actually cost? We made a short film for $421, but the real cost was over $45,000.
Out-of-pocket, we spent just $421. But when we broke down the true cost (including time, labor, and actual industry rates) the number jumped to over $15,000, and more than $45,000 at union scale. So what does “zero budget filmmaking” really mean?
In this episode, we break down the real cost of indie filmmaking, how we kept our expenses low, and the trade-offs that come with making a film fast, cheap, and (hopefully) good.
We also cover:
The actual budget vs. real cost of our short film

How we shot a film in 28 days on a $421 budget

The truth behind “good, fast, cheap” filmmaking

Why audio matters more than visuals (and how it can save your film)

The ethics of volunteering vs. paying artists

When filmmakers should work for free (and when they shouldn’t)

If you’re making short films, working with little to no budget, or trying to understand what your film will really cost, this episode is for you.
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Show Links: 
Filmmaker of the Week, Carlos Garcia: https://www.youtube.com/@LosProductions 
Audio vs. Visuals in Film: https://emusicology.org/article/id/4555/ 
Get the finished Indie Film Podcast short: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Be Our Next Featured Filmmaker: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit
_____________________________________
Follow Indie Film Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiefilmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@indiefilmpodcast
Web: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com
Newsletter: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73sAVvvHVMl7KwoYc4zTxo
Get Featured on the Pod: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit

How much does a “zero budget” film actually cost? We made a short film for $421, but the real cost was over $45,000.
Out-of-pocket, we spent just $421. But when we broke down the true cost (including time, labor, and actual industry rates) the number jumped to over $15,000, and more than $45,000 at union scale. So what does “zero budget filmmaking” really mean?
In this episode, we break down the real cost of indie filmmaking, how we kept our expenses low, and the trade-offs that come with making a film fast, cheap, and (hopefully) good.
We also cover:
The actual budget vs. real cost of our short film

How we shot a film in 28 days on a $421 budget

The truth behind “good, fast, cheap” filmmaking

Why audio matters more than visuals (and how it can save your film)

The ethics of volunteering vs. paying artists

When filmmakers should work for free (and when they shouldn’t)

If you’re making short films, working with little to no budget, or trying to understand what your film will really cost, this episode is for you.
_____________________________________
Show Links: 
Filmmaker of the Week, Carlos Garcia: https://www.youtube.com/@LosProductions 
Audio vs. Visuals in Film: https://emusicology.org/article/id/4555/ 
Get the finished Indie Film Podcast short: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Be Our Next Featured Filmmaker: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit
_____________________________________
Follow Indie Film Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiefilmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@indiefilmpodcast
Web: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com
Newsletter: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73sAVvvHVMl7KwoYc4zTxo
Get Featured on the Pod: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit

What does it actually take to finish a zero-budget indie film in just 12 days?
In this episode of Indie Film Podcast, we break down the reality of indie film post-production, from DIY VFX and After Effects rotoscoping to building a full musical score with no budget and almost no time.
We talk about what worked, what didn’t, and the mistakes we made along the way, including:
The truth behind “fix it in post”

Indie film VFX workflows (Premiere Pro vs After Effects)

Turning rough ideas into fully produced music fast

The importance of creative collaboration and community

Common post-production mistakes (and how to avoid them)

If you're an indie filmmaker, film student, or trying to figure out how to actually finish your film, this episode is for you.
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Show Links: 
Filmmaker of the Week, Da’Rell Miller: https://www.royaltivirtue.net/
Find Da’Rell on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0NxoyanOiH1stfY_pybhJQ 
Get the finished Indie Film Podcast short: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Be Our Next Featured Filmmaker: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit
_____________________________________
Follow Indie Film Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiefilmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@indiefilmpodcast
Web: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com
Newsletter: https://indie-film-podcast.kit.com/68f74bc072 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73sAVvvHVMl7KwoYc4zTxo
Get Featured on the Pod: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit