Off The Lot

How MJ Alhabeeb Jr. Made His Award-Winning Feature For $60K and Landed Theatrical Distribution


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In this episode, we're joined by indie filmmaker MJ Alhabeeb Jr., whose debut feature Plight is racking up awards and heading to theaters. MJ takes us through his journey from shooting public access TV at 16, to premiering Plight in the very town where it was shot, to landing distribution with Indie Rights—all on a shoestring budget.

We dig deep into:

  • How he made Plight for $60K
  • Why failing forward matters
  • What filmmakers often get wrong about distribution
  • Building a film career without the studio system
  • His honest advice for every up-and-coming director

🎥 This is a must-listen for anyone who’s felt stuck or sidelined in their filmmaking journey. MJ proves you don’t need permission—you just need to get going.

📺 Plight is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

👉 Want to watch the show instead? Check out our YouTube channel here: Off The Lot YouTube

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Off The LotBy Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp