Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker and YouTuber Blake Calhoun to talk about his new feature film Casey Makes A Mixtape, his long-running channel iPhoneographers, and his highly entrepreneurial approach to building a sustainable filmmaking career.

Throughout the interview Blake shares how he got his start selling work to Warner Bros. after finding an audience on YouTube, and why he believes every filmmaker should consider having a YouTube channel - even if they don’t want to become a “YouTuber.”We also dig into the making of Casey Makes A Mixtape, a 1981-set coming-of-age feature that Blake made on a micro-budget.

He breaks down how he wrote the script around resources he already had access to, directed and DP’d the film himself, used a small crew, incorporated iPhone footage alongside RED Komodo, and even licensed well-known songs on a tight indie budget.

Topics covered include:
Why indie filmmakers are inherently entrepreneurs
Blake’s early success in web series and selling a show to Warner Bros.
How YouTube has changed since the early days of online video
How Casey Makes A Mixtape evolved from an iPhone-shot short film
Making a period piece on a low budget
Directing and DP’ing your own feature
Working with a small crew of roughly 10 people
Licensing famous songs for an indie film
Much More!
Links from the show:

Casey Makes A Mixtape - Film

Casey Makes A Mixtape - Trailer

iPhoneographers - YouTube

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In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker Wade Patterson to discuss his micro-budget feature Death Cipher - a contained thriller shot in just 12 days for only $4,000.

Throughout the interview, Wade shares how multiple failed feature attempts led him to radically simplify his process, why he embraced a single-location concept shot in his own apartment, and how limitations ultimately became the film’s greatest creative advantage.

We also dive into the realities of making a feature with almost no money, wearing multiple hats as writer/director/cinematographer/editor, navigating festival rejection, finding distribution through Filmhub and Tubi, and much more:Why several failed feature attempts led to Death Cipher 
The mindset shift that led Wade to design a film around his resources
Shooting the film over weekends and treating each room like a company move
Creating props, puzzle elements, websites, and pre-shot video material
How prioritizing actor comfort and a relaxed set environment improved the work
What changed in post, including reshoots after early test screenings
How Death Cipher landed on Tubi through Filmhub
Links from the show:

Death Cipher - Tubi

Death Cipher - Instagram

Wade Patterson - Instagram 

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In this episode I'm joined by filmmaker and entrepreneur Stefan van de Graaff, whose $75,000 micro-budget feature Simmer landed on HBO after going viral on Facebook. Stefan also co-founded a video agency that grew from a two-person team into a 100-employee business before selling for $17 million, which we discuss at length.

Throughout the episode we talk about Stefan’s unconventional path - from Midwest filmmaker to running a digial advertising business. We also cover how his commercial production work became the foundation for financing and producing indie features, and what it took to scale from a scrappy first feature to a $1M international production.

Topics covered include:
How uploading Simmer to Facebook led to 1M views and sales agent interest
How indie films without stars can land on major platforms like HBO
Financing a micro-budget feature with personal funds, partners, and partial fundraising
The jump from a $75K film to a $1M feature using tax incentives, grants, and talent deals
Why having the right producer dramatically increases credibility with agents and financiers
Lessons from building and selling an ad agency - and why strategy beats fulfillment
How reducing friction (locations, permits, crew, logistics) makes indie filmmaking possible
Why building an audience can be a more reliable path than the traditional Hollywood ladder
Links from the show:

Stefan - Instagram

One of Us - Instagram

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In this episode, I sit down with Academy Award nominee and ASC Award-winner Curren Sheldon to discuss his gritty new narrative feature Beatdown - a boxing drama made for just $60,000.

Throughout the interview, Curren shares how his background in vérité documentary shaped the film’s style, why he cast real fighters and non-actors, and how they filmed key fight scenes inside a live event with 4,000 spectators.

We also dive into the practical realities of transitioning from documentary to narrative, self-financing a feature for under $60K, navigating today’s distribution landscape, and tons more:
Why The Wrestler was a key stylistic reference for Beatdown
The doc-to-narrative transition: what gets easier, what gets harder
Using non-actors (real boxing personalities) without losing story control
Shooting inside a real “Toughman” event with 4,000 extras and a tiny window to film
How he sold two prior films to Netflix, and what it took to break through
A practical cinematography mindset shift that instantly elevates visuals
Links from the show:

Beatdown - Full Film on YouTube

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In this special episode, we celebrate today’s release of our new feature film Teacher’s Pet - Now available where you rent or buy movies!

Two days ago, we hosted a special advanced screening for members of my filmmaking community, and they took part in a virtual Q & A afterward. This episode includes the full live session with myself and lead actor / producer Luke Barnett.

Topics covered include:
Achieving high production value on a budget
Luke’s approach to bringing levity to a dark character
The casting process & landing great actors
Moving from a $0 production into a larger project
Our hardest days on set and how we problem solved
Directing & DP’ing the film simultaneously 
Much more
Watch the film on Apple now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/teachers-pet/id1868537677
Full list of platforms where you can watch:
Amazon Prime Video (US, CA)
Apple TV (US, CA)
Google Play / YouTube (US, CA)
Fandango at Home (US)
Comcast / Xfinity (US)
Cox (US)
Spectrum (US)
DirecTV (US)
Dish (US)
Altice (US)
Verizon / Fios (US)
Telus (CA)
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