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Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BROADCAST NEWS (1987).

Director: James L Brooks

Screenplay: James L Brooks

Cast: Holly Hunter; William Hurt; Albert Brooks

SYNOPSIS

A highly strung news producer finds herself strangely attracted to a vapid anchorman even through she loathes everything he personifies. To make matters worse, her best friend, a talented but not particularly telegenic news reporter, is secretly in love with her.

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Stream INHABITANTS (2025) Now

There's no more fertile ground for indie filmmakers than horror, and for a few extremely talented directors like my guest Matt McClung, you can even exceed expectations of the genre with a film like INHABITANTS (2025). The film tells the tale of a young woman who moves in with her lapsed Catholic boyfriend, only to discover...uh oh.

In this episode, we discuss:

• how he got started in filmmaking;
• the benefit of film school -- he says the relationships were the most beneficial part;
• why he decided to take on such heavy themes -- religion, Catholicism, families, and stones -- for INHABITANTS -- he calls it a throwback film;
• the film has a "personal character driven component and a sort of an emotional mystery component";
• how he aimed for an element of "audience participation";
• the amazing potential of horror and what would he tell people who say they don't like the genre?;
• the marketing challenges associated with horror;
• the importance of casting in INHABITANTS and how he has a great casting director to thank -- thank you, Bess Fifer, CSA!
• his plans for the next year -- does he stay in the horror genre and does he feel like directors can get pigeonholed?

Matt's Indie Film Highlight: BONE LAKE (2024) dir. by Mercedes Bryce Morgan

Links:

Follow INHABITANTS on Instagram

Follow Mercedes Bryce Morgan on Instagram

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Attend A Screening Of PAPER MARRIAGE in Washington, DC

To paraphrase Walt Whitman, Jeff Man is a man that contains multitudes. He often plays a character, like in PAPER MARRIAGE (2024) and SANTA CLAUS (2017), that is reserved and unsure of himself, and the stories, at least partially, revolve around how he -- and the outside world -- reacts to those personality traits. During our conversation, he talks about how he grapples with these questions in his own life and utilizes his art to get to a greater truth.

And yet.

In many of his short films and his debut feature, PAPER MARRIAGE, he writes, directs, and acts in a lead role. He is an extraordinarily talented, supremely unique filmmaker, which I'd argue makes for a great podcast guest. I think you'll agree.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how he got started in filmmaking and the story behind his debut feature, PAPER MARRIAGE -- he originally thought he'd be a film critic;
• why he wrote, directed, and starred in his first feature -- the Duplass brothers forced him to do it! (out of love, of course);
• how he handled the work flow of directing...himself...and other characters;
• his thoughts on the current political debate surrounding immigration, DEI, and his film, especially on the eve of its Valentine's Day screening;
• his relationship with the Duplass brothers and how supportive they are of his vision as executive producers;
• why he loves Washington, DC;
• keeping up an active Instagram for a debut feature film;
• how much we love SMOKING TIGERS and the work of So Young Shelly Yo;
• the real-to-life feeling of PAPER MARRIAGE and how Jeff emotionally and intellectually got there to create such a film;
• what's next for him.

Jeff's Indie Film Highlights: 9500 LIBERTY (2009) dir. by Annabel Park and Eric Byler; DEAD TALENT SOCIETY (2024) dir. by John Hsu; BECOMING WHO I WAS (2016) dir. by Moon Chang-young; Jeon Jim; SMOKING TIGERS (2023) dir. by So Young Shelly Yo

Trivia:

The quote "chance favors the prepared mind" is from Louis Pasteur, not Thomas Edison.

Links:

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Follow Jeff Man on Vimeo

Attend A Screening Of PAPER MARRIAGE in Washington, DC

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: ONCE AGAIN (2019). The film is also on streamers as "una vez más."

Director: Guillermo Rojas

Written By: Guillermo Rojas; Kevin Dániel di Angelo

Cast: Silvia Acosta; Teresa Arboi; Beatriz Arjona

SYNOPSIS

Abril left Daniel behind 5 years ago, when she decided to try her luck in London. She is back home now, to bury her grandmother. Walking the streets of what was her home with the man who was her love, she realizes she had missed it all.

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Music is one of the most important parts of filmmaking and yet it's often left to the last minute or shortchanged; the dynamic Lauren Denemark and her company, Triple Threat Music Supervision, is aiming to change that for indie filmmakers.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how she got her start in music supervision;
• the challenges of taking on "favors" when starting a company;
• when to call Triple Threat for work on a film;
• what the career path for composers looks like in indie film;
• her thoughts on getting music from subscription services;
• her work with crowdfunding campaigns;
• what the negotiations with music rights looks like with streamers;
• the role of military members and spouses in indie filmmaking and music.

Lauren's Composer Highlight: Sean Philip Johnson

Links:

Triple Threat Music Supervision

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Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BABYSITTER (2022).

Director: Monia Chokrisd

Written By: Catherine Léger

Cast: Pierre-Marcel Blanchot; Fabrice Lambot; Catherine Leger; Martin Paul-Hus

SYNOPSIS

After a sexist joke goes viral, Cédric loses his job and embarks on a therapeutic journey. When he and his girlfriend hire a mysterious and liberated babysitter to help shake things up, everything seems too good to be true.

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Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: AFTER EVERYTHING (2018).

Director: Joey Power; Hannah Marks

Screenplay: Joey Power; Hannah Marks

Cast: Jeremy Allen White; Maika Monroe

SYNOPSIS

Elliot is a young and carefree New Yorker whose world gets turned upside down when he finds out that he has cancer. He soon finds comfort and happiness when he falls in love with Mia, a woman who sticks with him through the hard times.

The motto of the podcast is the future of filmmaking -- well, this is it. I'm joined by Marc Iserlis, head of film at Republic.

When you find out about Marc Iserlis' job in finance and film, you might make certain initial assumptions. Those would be wrong -- about nearly everything. Globally knowledgable, intellectually curious, Marc turns on its head what you might expect, and maybe that's why his work as Head of Film @ Republic is so innovative.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how he successfully used that international background to enter filmmaking;
• does he think having a knowledge about finance help get indie films made?
• how he went to Iraq to shoot a film on bro cultures in unexpected places (I told you this guy will surprise you) and come up with unique ways to shoot films;
• his work in solving the disconnect between filmmakers and financiers through alternative methods of finance, like his work at Republic;
• how he sees his work at Republic as revolutionary in film financing;
• who can participate in Republic's funding mechanism?
• his views on the current state of indie filmmaking financing;
• his views of the competition in this unique market;
• should somebody go to film school? how should they start their career?
• what's next for him and Republic (the Pressman raise beat its goal).

Links:

Film @ Republic

Connect With Marc Iserlis On LinkedIn

"Let's make a market for independent and student films" -- it sounds like an impossible dream, doesn't it? Not for the founders of Rise Flix. In this episode, I talk with Edouard Larouche, Ahmad Baqer, and Ralph Calle-Schulz about their new company, Rise Flix. Over the past year, it's burst on the indie film scene, hosting events in both New York and Los Angeles, and streaming dozens of films, all in the hopes of achieving the impossible dream: monetizing truly independent films and filmmakers.

In this episode, we discuss:

• how the three founders met and got their start in filmmaking;
• how Ralph Calle-Shulz saw the market of indie films and chose to do something about the disconnect between funders and filmmakers;
• their advice for independent filmmakers and monetizing their films, especially short films;
• the process for finding co-founders for a venture like Rise Flix and making it work as a team;
• how does the marketing process work when somebody signs up for Rise Flix;
• why should a filmmaker premiere their film on Rise Flix versus the set path for success coming out of film school;
• their strategy of working with film festivals;
• how does Rise Flix envision making money?
• why should a filmmaker work through Rise Flix?
• how do people start careers in independent filmmaking now, both in the United States and Europe?
• what's next for these visionary creators

Edouard's Indie Film Highlight: THE PIG (2023) dir. by Mark Foscolo & Peter Sussi (available on Rise Flix)

Ralph's Indie Film Highlight: BIRDMAN (2014) dir. by Alejandro González Iñárritu

Links:

Join Rise Flix Now

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Follow Ahmad Baqer On Instagram

Follow Ralph Calle-Shulz On Instagram

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: LISTEN UP PHILIP (2014).

Director: Alex Ross Perry

Screenplay: Alex Ross Perry

Cast: Jason Schwartzman; Elisabeth Moss; Jonathan Pryce

SYNOPSIS

After refusing to promote his eagerly awaited second novel, a self-absorbed writer (Jason Schwartzman) takes up residence at the home of his literary idol (Jonathan Pryce).

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