This is one of my lost episodes—an incredible deep-dive with writer-director Travis Malloy, known for the cult sci-fi hits Pandorum and Infinity Chamber. We explore how he went from indie shoots in Minneapolis to selling a film in Hollywood, building sets in his garage, and writing stories that studios actually wanted. Travis shares the gritty truth behind low-budget filmmaking, working without a script, and learning to trust his artistic gut. This one’s packed with hard-earned lessons every screenwriter and indie filmmaker should hear.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Travis sold his first indie film and broke into the studio system
• The origin and evolution of Pandorum from a shelved idea
• How Infinity Chamber was made with no crew, no money—and a ton of grit
• The danger of chasing trends vs. writing what lights you up
• Why limitations can unlock creativity on a contained sci-fi film

Key Moments:

• (01:01) From Minneapolis to Hollywood: Travis’s breakout moment
• (04:08) Turning a failed script into Pandorum
• (09:04) Building Infinity Chamber before writing it
• (20:26) Cutting a twist to strengthen emotional impact
• (35:34) Advice to indie filmmakers: stop waiting, start shooting

About the Guest:
Travis Malloy is the writer-director of Pandorum (starring Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid) and the mind behind the cult hit Infinity Chamber. With deep experience in both studio writing and garage-level indie filmmaking, Travis brings a rare and inspiring perspective to the craft.

About the Host:
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level. Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

• Pandorum (2009)
• Infinity Chamber (2016)

 Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun:

• Podcast Website
• Instagram @screenwriterpod
• TikTok @screenwriterpod

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