Today on the show, I’m joined by director/producer Joseph Mensch, here to talk about his new feature film Payback, which was just released last month.Throughout the interview, Joseph shares his journey from PA’ing on Martin Scorsese’s Aviator to directing a debut feature film with a budget in the millions. He also shares some critical insights into the importance of representation, while outlining how he was able to secure an agent at ICM by means of a local film festival screening. And of course, we talk about the development and production of Payback at some length, detailing every step of the process from A to Z.Links from the show:Joseph on InstagramFor more content like this, sign up for my newsletter here.

From PA’ing For Martin Scorsese To Directing Million Dollar Feature Films With Director & Producer Joseph Mensch

Every Thursday, Noam shares valuable insight into the world of micro-budget filmmaking, geared towards true DIY filmmakers looking to get out there and create their own films.

TV & Film

In this episode, I share a breakdown of some amazing and unconventional lens choices on the feature film Poor Things.While many lenses were used throughout production, there were 4 in particular that I believe contributed most critically to the distinct look of this film - Including a pair of Lomography Petzval lenses, and a 4mm lens adapted from Super 16. Throughout the episode, I cover each lens in depth, explore how they were used, and share other key takeaways from the film.Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

The Experimental Cinematography Of POOR THINGS - Petzval Lenses, Mixed Formats, And More!

In this episode I am joined by DIY filmmaker Marty McGowan, who recently completed his feature film Ava on a budget of just $200!Throughout the episode, we unpack Marty’s creative process, how he pulled off a feature with a 2 person crew, and his approach to building a strong visual palette on a budget. We also touch on his workflow for capturing great performances, the importance of building your own filmmaking model, and more.Links from the show:Marty McGowan - InstagramMarty McGowan - WebsiteSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

Making A $200 Feature Film With A Crew Of 2 - An Interview With Marty McGowan

In this new solo episode, I break down these 8 common issues that can kill your indie film:Big egosRushing the scriptDragging out developmentOverspending on equipmentNeglecting actors for cameraMaking sound an afterthoughtNot taking feedback from the teamNot caring about the small detailsThroughout the show I take a deep dive into the root cause of each of these issues, along with practical solutions for working around them.Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

8 Issues That Can Kill An Indie Film (And How To Avoid Them)

In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Steven Pierce to talk all about his latest feature film Herd.The film follows a woman that ends up trapped between a zombie outbreak and warring militia groups while trying to outrun her past. An ambitious concept for a micro-budget, making the execution of it all that much more impressive.Throughout the episode Steven and I speak about his new film at length. We cover his tactics for shooting action sequences on a budget, how he covered 20+ locations, the process of editing his own film, and much more.Links from the show:Herd - Movie WebsiteHerd - InstagramSteven Pierce - InstagramSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

Shooting A Micro-Budget ACTION Feature With Writer / Director Steven Pierce

In this new solo episode, I compare and contrast my experience directing and DP’ing two separate feature films, and share tips for other filmmakers looking to do the same.Throughout the episode we cover everything from camera & lens choice to on-set workflow. All with the intention of maximizing collaboration with actors, achieving great production value, and simplifying your on-set workflow.Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

From PA’ing For Martin Scorsese To Directing Million Dollar Feature Films With Director & Producer Joseph Mensch

Download our free app to listen on your phone