In this episode I'm joined by filmmaker Nick Toti - one half of the DIY filmmaking duo behind the viral 80-second short Dead Grandma, the TIFF Midnight Madness sensation It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This, and the upcoming feature Homebody.

Throughout the episode Nick breaks down the decade-long origin story of Dead Grandma, from an improvised game he invented while working as a nursery school teacher in Austin to a 35mm short film that blew up in Variety and landed him on this podcast.

We also discuss how his $5,000 found footage feature It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This unexpectedly landed in TIFF's Midnight Madness, the unconventional theatrical-only release strategy he's used to screen it across multiple continents without a distributor, and why Nick is now trying to convince A24 or Blumhouse to fund a studio remake of Homebody.

Topics covered include:

• The real-life origin of Dead Grandma and how it developed over a deade
• Co-directing with his wife and creative partner Rachel Kempf
• Shooting on 35mm film - and everything that went wrong before they even rolled
• How It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This got into TIFF Midnight Madness
• The aesthetic of Homebody: making a movie that feels like a lo-fi demo tape
• Actively pursuing failure as a creative strategy - and why it eventually worked
• Nick's 25-hour real-time experimental documentary project
• Die Die Books - the horror film criticism press Nick and Rachel run
• Much more!

Links from the show:

Dead Grandma Short Film

Homebody Trailer

Die Die Books

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In this episode, I'm joined by actor, filmmaker, and musician Nathan Xia to talk about his unconventional path into the industry - from making YouTube sketches with a flip camera to acting in studio projects, getting repped as both an actor and writer-director, and developing his deeply personal feature Adam's Song.

Throughout the conversation Nathan shares how he fell into acting out of necessity while co-directing a scrappy COVID road trip feature with his roommates, and how that unexpected pivot eventually led to representation, festival success, and a role in Danny Madden's Downbeat.

He also breaks down the relentless hustle behind landing his producer at Vanishing Angle, getting into the Blacklist Project Lab after 14 rejections, and signing with management company M88 - all before turning 26.

Topics covered include:

• How Nathan discovered filmmaking through a flip camera and YouTube sketches
• Making a $2,000 road trip feature across six states during COVID
• Falling into acting out of necessity - and finding it on the festival circuit
• Cold-emailing his way to representation at Momentum Talent Agency
• How attending festivals (not just submitting) changed his career
• Landing veteran indie producer Benjamin Wiesner through responsiveness and rewrites
• Going 0-for-14 on labs and fellowships before getting into the Blacklist Project Lab
• Developing the feature version of Adam's Song and scouting in West Texas
• Why being a writer-director-actor gives him a unique advantage in attaching talent
• Much more!

Follow Nathan on Instagram

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In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker and YouTuber Blake Calhoun to talk about his new feature film Casey Makes A Mixtape, his long-running channel iPhoneographers, and his highly entrepreneurial approach to building a sustainable filmmaking career.

Throughout the interview Blake shares how he got his start selling work to Warner Bros. after finding an audience on YouTube, and why he believes every filmmaker should consider having a YouTube channel - even if they don’t want to become a “YouTuber.”We also dig into the making of Casey Makes A Mixtape, a 1981-set coming-of-age feature that Blake made on a micro-budget.

He breaks down how he wrote the script around resources he already had access to, directed and DP’d the film himself, used a small crew, incorporated iPhone footage alongside RED Komodo, and even licensed well-known songs on a tight indie budget.

Topics covered include:

• Why indie filmmakers are inherently entrepreneurs
• Blake’s early success in web series and selling a show to Warner Bros.
• How YouTube has changed since the early days of online video
• How Casey Makes A Mixtape evolved from an iPhone-shot short film
• Making a period piece on a low budget
• Directing and DP’ing your own feature
• Working with a small crew of roughly 10 people
• Licensing famous songs for an indie film
• Much More!

Links from the show:

Casey Makes A Mixtape - Film

Casey Makes A Mixtape - Trailer

iPhoneographers - YouTube

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In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker Wade Patterson to discuss his micro-budget feature Death Cipher - a contained thriller shot in just 12 days for only $4,000.

Throughout the interview, Wade shares how multiple failed feature attempts led him to radically simplify his process, why he embraced a single-location concept shot in his own apartment, and how limitations ultimately became the film’s greatest creative advantage.

We also dive into the realities of making a feature with almost no money, wearing multiple hats as writer/director/cinematographer/editor, navigating festival rejection, finding distribution through Filmhub and Tubi, and much more:

• Why several failed feature attempts led to Death Cipher 
• The mindset shift that led Wade to design a film around his resources
• Shooting the film over weekends and treating each room like a company move
• Creating props, puzzle elements, websites, and pre-shot video material
• How prioritizing actor comfort and a relaxed set environment improved the work
• What changed in post, including reshoots after early test screenings
• How Death Cipher landed on Tubi through Filmhub

Links from the show:

Death Cipher - Tubi

Death Cipher - Instagram

Wade Patterson - Instagram 

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In this episode I'm joined by filmmaker and entrepreneur Stefan van de Graaff, whose $75,000 micro-budget feature Simmer landed on HBO after going viral on Facebook. Stefan also co-founded a video agency that grew from a two-person team into a 100-employee business before selling for $17 million, which we discuss at length.

Throughout the episode we talk about Stefan’s unconventional path - from Midwest filmmaker to running a digial advertising business. We also cover how his commercial production work became the foundation for financing and producing indie features, and what it took to scale from a scrappy first feature to a $1M international production.

Topics covered include:

• How uploading Simmer to Facebook led to 1M views and sales agent interest
• How indie films without stars can land on major platforms like HBO
• Financing a micro-budget feature with personal funds, partners, and partial fundraising
• The jump from a $75K film to a $1M feature using tax incentives, grants, and talent deals
• Why having the right producer dramatically increases credibility with agents and financiers
• Lessons from building and selling an ad agency - and why strategy beats fulfillment
• How reducing friction (locations, permits, crew, logistics) makes indie filmmaking possible
• Why building an audience can be a more reliable path than the traditional Hollywood ladder

Links from the show:

Stefan - Instagram

One of Us - Instagram

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In this episode, I sit down with Academy Award nominee and ASC Award-winner Curren Sheldon to discuss his gritty new narrative feature Beatdown - a boxing drama made for just $60,000.

Throughout the interview, Curren shares how his background in vérité documentary shaped the film’s style, why he cast real fighters and non-actors, and how they filmed key fight scenes inside a live event with 4,000 spectators.

We also dive into the practical realities of transitioning from documentary to narrative, self-financing a feature for under $60K, navigating today’s distribution landscape, and tons more:

• Why The Wrestler was a key stylistic reference for Beatdown
• The doc-to-narrative transition: what gets easier, what gets harder
• Using non-actors (real boxing personalities) without losing story control
• Shooting inside a real “Toughman” event with 4,000 extras and a tiny window to film
• How he sold two prior films to Netflix, and what it took to break through
• A practical cinematography mindset shift that instantly elevates visuals

Links from the show:

Beatdown - Full Film on YouTube

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In this special episode, we celebrate today’s release of our new feature film Teacher’s Pet - Now available where you rent or buy movies!

Two days ago, we hosted a special advanced screening for members of my filmmaking community, and they took part in a virtual Q & A afterward. This episode includes the full live session with myself and lead actor / producer Luke Barnett.

Topics covered include:

• Achieving high production value on a budget
• Luke’s approach to bringing levity to a dark character
• The casting process & landing great actors
• Moving from a $0 production into a larger project
• Our hardest days on set and how we problem solved
• Directing & DP’ing the film simultaneously 
• Much more

Watch the film on Apple now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/teachers-pet/id1868537677
Full list of platforms where you can watch:

• Amazon Prime Video (US, CA)
• Apple TV (US, CA)
• Google Play / YouTube (US, CA)
• Fandango at Home (US)
• Comcast / Xfinity (US)
• Cox (US)
• Spectrum (US)
• DirecTV (US)
• Dish (US)
• Altice (US)
• Verizon / Fios (US)
• Telus (CA)

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In this episode filmmaker Alec Goldberg joins the show to break down how his micro-budget comedy pilot Soft Boil went from a bootstrapped production to a blind submission acceptance at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

We talk about Alec’s path from documentary and commercial work into scripted narrative, how a key creative partnership with lead actor / co-writer Camille Wormser shaped the project, and what it took to pull off a festival-ready pilot on $30,000 across a handful of shoot days.

Topics covered include:

• Why Alec believes casting + voice was the “X factor” (and how to recognize it)
• The tactical micro-budget choices that mattered most (locations, rehearsals, scheduling)
• How to direct comedy with improv-friendly actors without losing the spine of the scene
• The producer “role-splitting” approach that let Alec focus on directing
• How Alec thinks about finding your “voice” as a filmmaker, and why it's so critical
• The films and filmmakers shaping his taste (Kaufman, PTA, Von Trier, Aronofsky, Kubrick)

Links from the show:

Alec D. Goldberg - Instagram

Camille Wormser - Instagram

Madison Shamoun - Instagram

Vivian Kerr - Instagram

Patrick Tabari - Instagram

John Gemberling - Instagram

Alec Goldberg - Website

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In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker West Eldredge to break down how he made his debut feature Take From Me on a budget of $80,000 - and turned it into a real-world release on major platforms.

We talk candidly about what actually moves the needle on an ultra-low budget feature: prioritizing casting, building a crew that can adapt under pressure, using festivals as a testing ground, and leveraging a strong trailer to start distribution conversations early.Topics covered include:

• Why West chose micro-budget filmmaking as a solution to finally making a feature
• How crowdfunding, personal investment, and favors helped build an $80K budget
• Why he prioritized casting above almost everything - and what 4,000+ submissions taught him
• Chemistry reads, ensemble casting, and avoiding the “name actor trap” on low budgets
• Skeleton crew realities and what happens when a key crew member is suddenly gone
• Festival strategy lessons and how audience feedback helped define the film’s genre
• Pitching distributors andwhy a great trailer matters more than you think
• Post-production burnout, bringing in new collaborators, and staying motivated

Links from the show:

West Eldredge - Instagram

West Eldredge - Website

Take From Me - Watch on Prime Video

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In this episode I’m joined by filmmaker Anna Elizabeth James, whose psychological thrillers Deadly Illusions and Held Hostage in My House both found major success on Netflix, including top-chart placement on the platform.

Throughout the interview we break down Anna’s unconventional approach to building a sustainable filmmaking career outside the traditional studio system. We dive deep into intellectual property ownership, licensing vs selling films outright, and how filmmakers can retain long-term leverage while still working with major distributors and streamers.

We also explore how shifting industry economics are creating new opportunities for independent storytellers who understand how to position themselves strategically. 

Topics covered include:

• How Deadly Illusions and Held Hostage in My House reached Netflix
• Licensing vs selling films, and why IP ownership matters more than ever
• What filmmakers should know about distributors, streamers, and rights reversion
• Navigating the post-streaming-boom slowdown and emerging opportunities
• Why film festivals aren’t the only viable path anymore
• Thinking entrepreneurially without sacrificing creative integrity
• The future of branded storytelling and creator-led business models

Links from the show:

Anna Elizabeth James – IMDb

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