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Ep 270 – Band on the Run: How 3 Friends Made a Feature in 8 Days
Geoffrey sits down with director Jeff Hupp and assistant directors Brian Cusac and Merritt Fritchie, the creative team behind the indie comedy Band on the Run. They share how they turned a pandemic-era script into a completed feature film—shot in just eight days. From grassroots funding to casting Detroit talent and landing distribution, this episode is a masterclass in passion-driven filmmaking.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
00:30 – The script that started it all
02:45 – Securing funding through local connections
05:24 – First reactions to reading the script
06:01 – Shooting a feature in just 8 days
07:16 – Casting Larry Bagby and local Detroit talent
09:14 – Community support and free locations
11:34 – Directing as a team of three
15:27 – Why they chose Freestyle Digital Media for distribution
17:29 – Navigating QC and post-production headaches
20:00 – Teasing their next film set on Mackinac Island
About the Guests:
Jeff Hupp is the writer and director of Band on the Run. Brian Cusac and Merritt Fritchie served as assistant directors and longtime creative collaborators. With deep experience in advertising and a shared love of music and film, the trio brought their vision to life through teamwork, local support, and relentless passion.
About the Host:
With films on network television and streaming platforms, Geoffrey is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and passionate about teaching.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Enjoyed the episode? Like, share, review, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes filmmaking stories and screenwriting insights.
#BandOnTheRunMovie #IndieFilm #ScreenwritingPodcast #DetroitFilm #BehindTheScenes #GeoffreyDCalhoun #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter #IndieFilmmaking #FilmmakerLife
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How to fund your indie film through professional connections
- Why a tight script is key to fast-paced productions
- What makes a multi-director team actually work
- How Detroit’s creative community rallied behind the project
- The honest truth about indie film distribution
00:30 – The script that started it all
02:45 – Securing funding through local connections
05:24 – First reactions to reading the script
06:01 – Shooting a feature in just 8 days
07:16 – Casting Larry Bagby and local Detroit talent
09:14 – Community support and free locations
11:34 – Directing as a team of three
15:27 – Why they chose Freestyle Digital Media for distribution
17:29 – Navigating QC and post-production headaches
20:00 – Teasing their next film set on Mackinac Island
About the Guests:
Jeff Hupp is the writer and director of Band on the Run. Brian Cusac and Merritt Fritchie served as assistant directors and longtime creative collaborators. With deep experience in advertising and a shared love of music and film, the trio brought their vision to life through teamwork, local support, and relentless passion.
About the Host:
With films on network television and streaming platforms, Geoffrey is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and passionate about teaching.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
- Band on the Run Official Website
- Follow @bandontherunmovie on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
- Podcast Website
- Instagram @screenwriterpod
- TikTok @screenwriterpod
Enjoyed the episode? Like, share, review, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes filmmaking stories and screenwriting insights.
#BandOnTheRunMovie #IndieFilm #ScreenwritingPodcast #DetroitFilm #BehindTheScenes #GeoffreyDCalhoun #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter #IndieFilmmaking #FilmmakerLife
View all episodes
By Geoffrey D. Calhoun
4.9
3030 ratings
Geoffrey sits down with director Jeff Hupp and assistant directors Brian Cusac and Merritt Fritchie, the creative team behind the indie comedy Band on the Run. They share how they turned a pandemic-era script into a completed feature film—shot in just eight days. From grassroots funding to casting Detroit talent and landing distribution, this episode is a masterclass in passion-driven filmmaking.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
00:30 – The script that started it all
02:45 – Securing funding through local connections
05:24 – First reactions to reading the script
06:01 – Shooting a feature in just 8 days
07:16 – Casting Larry Bagby and local Detroit talent
09:14 – Community support and free locations
11:34 – Directing as a team of three
15:27 – Why they chose Freestyle Digital Media for distribution
17:29 – Navigating QC and post-production headaches
20:00 – Teasing their next film set on Mackinac Island
About the Guests:
Jeff Hupp is the writer and director of Band on the Run. Brian Cusac and Merritt Fritchie served as assistant directors and longtime creative collaborators. With deep experience in advertising and a shared love of music and film, the trio brought their vision to life through teamwork, local support, and relentless passion.
About the Host:
With films on network television and streaming platforms, Geoffrey is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and passionate about teaching.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Enjoyed the episode? Like, share, review, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes filmmaking stories and screenwriting insights.
#BandOnTheRunMovie #IndieFilm #ScreenwritingPodcast #DetroitFilm #BehindTheScenes #GeoffreyDCalhoun #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter #IndieFilmmaking #FilmmakerLife
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How to fund your indie film through professional connections
- Why a tight script is key to fast-paced productions
- What makes a multi-director team actually work
- How Detroit’s creative community rallied behind the project
- The honest truth about indie film distribution
00:30 – The script that started it all
02:45 – Securing funding through local connections
05:24 – First reactions to reading the script
06:01 – Shooting a feature in just 8 days
07:16 – Casting Larry Bagby and local Detroit talent
09:14 – Community support and free locations
11:34 – Directing as a team of three
15:27 – Why they chose Freestyle Digital Media for distribution
17:29 – Navigating QC and post-production headaches
20:00 – Teasing their next film set on Mackinac Island
About the Guests:
Jeff Hupp is the writer and director of Band on the Run. Brian Cusac and Merritt Fritchie served as assistant directors and longtime creative collaborators. With deep experience in advertising and a shared love of music and film, the trio brought their vision to life through teamwork, local support, and relentless passion.
About the Host:
With films on network television and streaming platforms, Geoffrey is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and passionate about teaching.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
- Band on the Run Official Website
- Follow @bandontherunmovie on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
- Podcast Website
- Instagram @screenwriterpod
- TikTok @screenwriterpod
Enjoyed the episode? Like, share, review, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes filmmaking stories and screenwriting insights.
#BandOnTheRunMovie #IndieFilm #ScreenwritingPodcast #DetroitFilm #BehindTheScenes #GeoffreyDCalhoun #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter #IndieFilmmaking #FilmmakerLife
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