Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

By Noam Kroll

What's Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking about?

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.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking episodes:

04.12.2024
The Experimental Cinematography Of POOR THINGS - Petzval Lenses, Mixed Formats, And More!
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...
03.29.2024
Making A $200 Feature Film With A Crew Of 2 - An Interview With Marty McGowan
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...
03.07.2024
8 Issues That Can Kill An Indie Film (And How To Avoid Them)
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...
02.23.2024
Shooting A Micro-Budget ACTION Feature With Writer / Director Steven Pierce
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...
02.16.2024
How To Direct & DP Your Film At The Same Time (Without Sacrificing Quality)
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...
02.09.2024
From SXSW Shorts To Directing Bruce Dern in “Buck Alamo” - An Interview With Benjamin Epstein
Today I am joined by writer / director Benjamin Epstein to talk about his acclaimed feature film Buck Alamo, which stars Bruce Dern, Sonny Carl Davis, Lorelei Linklater, and premiered at the Oldenburg Film Festival.Throughout the episode we discuss Benjamin’s...
02.01.2024
From No-Budget Feature To Green Light: Making My Biggest Indie Feature Film To Date
After taking a brief hiatus while in production for our new feature Teacher's Pet, I am thrilled to return to the show!Before sharing a slew of new interviews with you, I wanted to first publish this solo episode to give...
12.22.2023
ANYONE BUT YOU Cinematographer Danny Ruhlmann On Achieving Beautiful Visuals In Camera
In this episode I am excited to be joined by acclaimed DP Danny Ruhlmann, whose latest feature film Anyone But You (starring Sydney Sweeney & Glen Powell) is out in theaters today.Throughout the episode Danny generously shares his wealth of...
11.10.2023
How To Make A $50K Feature In 5 Days And Land A Theatrical Release
Today I am joined by filmmaker, director, and actor Scott Monahan to talk all about his brand new feature film Anchorage.Anchorage was shot in just 5 days on a budget of barely over $50,000, but that didn’t stop the film...
10.06.2023
Blink 182’s TOM DELONGE On His Debut Feature Film MONSTERS OF CALIFORNIA
Today, I am thrilled to be joined by Tom DeLonge of blink-182, Angels & Airwaves, and To The Stars, here to talk all about his debut feature film Monsters Of California.As a longtime fan of Tom’s, it was a treat...
10.05.2023
From DIY Short Films To A Major Feature Film Debut With IT LIVES INSIDE Director Bishal Dutta
In this episode I am joined by writer / director Bishal Dutta to talk all about his debut feature film It Lives Inside.After making dozens of short films, Bishal leveraged his impressive body of work to develop an amazing feature...
09.04.2023
Jennifer Esposito On Writing & Directing Her Debut Feature Film FRESH KILLS
Today, I am thrilled to be joined by Jennifer Esposito, here to discuss the incredible journey making and releasing her debut feature film, Fresh Kills. Throughout the episode Jennifer documents her creative process at length - from conceptualizing the first...
08.25.2023
Developing Your Visual Language With Cinematographer & Columbia Film Professor Tal Lazar
In this episode I am joined by acclaimed cinematographer and Columbia University film professor Tal Lazar.Throughout the interview, Tal shares his perspective on the art of cinematography from a storytelling perspective. We discuss visual tactics for directors, how to achieve...
08.18.2023
Location Scouting For The Whale, Theater Camp, Reality, And More With Jillian Fisher
In this episode, I am joined by professional location scout Jillian Fisher - Known for her work on films like The Whale, Theater Camp, Reality, and countless others.Throughout the interview, Jillian shares a behind the scenes look at her career,...
07.24.2023
Making True Lies, Terminator 2, Platoon, Dirty Dancing, Mortal Kombat, And More With Producer Larry Kasanoff
Today I am thrilled to be joined by filmmaking legend Larry Kasanoff, known for his work on major feature films like True Lies, Terminator 2, Mortal Kombat, Platoon, Dirty Dancing, and countless others. Throughout the episode, we discuss Larry’s unique...
07.14.2023
Making A $135,000 Debut Feature Film In 17 Days With Filmmaker Jason Abrams
Today I am joined by filmmaker Jason Abrams, here to talk about the unique origin story and process behind his debut feature film.Jason was inspired to make Hungry Dog Blues - a small town crime thriller - after his father’s...
06.16.2023
How Filmmaker Joshua Caldwell Moved From DIY Feature Films To Theatrical Releases
Today, I’m thrilled to have Joshua Caldwell return to the show to discuss his latest feature film Mending The Line. Josh is a prolific filmmaker who got his start with the $6000 feature film Layover, before leveraging its success to...
06.16.2023
From $50K Features To Netflix Productions With Film Producer Sevier Crespo
In this episode, I am excited to be joined by acclaimed producer Sevier Crespo to discuss his path as a filmmaker over the past 20 years.Sevier’s career kicked off after a mentorship with Robert Townsend inspired him to pursue film...
06.07.2023
Creating A Powerful Feature Film Proof Of Concept With The Winners Of The Backlot Film Competition
In this episode, I am joined by filmmakers Craig Melville, Ben Yannette, and Andy Hassell - who I initially connected with through my filmmaking community The Backlot. Last summer, this filmmaking trio took part in a community-driven competition that required...
06.06.2023
Re-imagining Film Budgeting With Producer & Saturation Founder Jens Jacob
Today, I am excited to be joined by Jens Jacob - an acclaimed film producer, entrepreneur, and founder of the startup Saturation.io.Throughout this episode, Jens shares his journey building his new budgeting platform for filmmakers. One that re-imagines film budgets...
05.26.2023
How To Build Passive Income Using Stock Footage With Gray Jones
Today I am joined by editor, writer, and producer Gray Jones - who holds no less than 290 credits in film and television, and also runs a prolific stock footage business.Throughout this episode, Gray shares lessons from his new book...
05.12.2023
How I Wrote, Produced & Directed A Feature Film With No-Budget & No-Crew
In celebration of this milestone 200th episode, today I return to the origins of the podcast with a solo episode - all about my experience making our latest feature film (Disappearing Boy) with no crew. Throughout the episode, I break...
04.26.2023
Making A Critically Acclaimed $30,000 Feature Film With Director Tom Levesque
In this episode I am joined by filmmaker Tom Levesque to share the story behind his debut feature film Shut Eye.Shut Eye is the first feature film that delves into the strange world of ASMR, and is inspired by Tom’s...
04.13.2023
How To Get A Debut Feature Green Lit, Produced, And Distributed With Filmmaker Josh Guffey
In this episode I am joined by filmmaker Josh Guffey, here to share his journey and a behind the scenes look into the making his debut feature film "All Gone Wrong".Throughout the interview, we cover the process from end to...
03.24.2023
Making 19 Feature Films, Shooting A Movie In 3 Hours, Pioneering Folk Filmmaking & More With Dan Lotz
Today I am joined by folk filmmaking pioneer Dan Lotz, here to talk about his impressive body of work - which consists of no fewer than 19 feature films.Throughout the episode we discuss Dan’s innovate approach to filmmaking, which has...
02.24.2023
Carter Smith On Making His Latest Micro-Budget Genre Feature, Finding Festival Success, Landing Distribution & More
Today I am thrilled to have writer/director/photographer Carter Smith back on the show to talk about his latest micro-budget feature film Swallowed.Carter’s first short film (Bugcrush) won Sundance in 2006, and led to his feature film work which includes The...
02.17.2023
Making A Feature Film With No Crew, Premiering at SXSW, Landing Theatrical Distribution & More With Filmmaker Pete Ohs
Returning to the show today is writer/director/editor Pete Ohs, who you might know from his feature films Everything Is Beautiful Far Away, Youngstown, and his most recent - Jethica.Jethica was produced with no crew and on nearly no-budget, but that...
02.03.2023
Producing For Gary Vee, Growing An Audience, And Navigating Social Media - An Interview With DRock
In this episode I am thrilled to be joined by David Rock (AKA DRock), who you might know as Gary Vaynerchuk’s Executive Creative Director, and the man behind many incredible content pieces and social media innovations.Throughout this episode, we talk...
02.03.2023
Winning A Netflix Filmmaking Grant With Filmmakers Evelyn Lorena & Maris Lidaka
Today, I am joined by filmmaking duo Evelyn Lorena (writer/director) and Maris Lidaka (producer/editor) - the team behind Gabriela, a new short film. Evelyn and Maris were able to leverage the success of their short film to secure a filmmaking...
01.05.2023
Creating A Powerful Documentary Feature In 9 Weeks With Mike J Nichols
Returning to the show is acclaimed director and editor Mike J. Nichols, here to talk about his latest feature doc John Waite - The Hard Way.Mike’s latest feature was put together under incredible constraints, and was fully edited in just...
01.05.2023
Making A Debut Short Film With Writer / Director Marisela Grajeda Gonzalez
In this episode I am joined by actor, comedian, and filmmaker Marisela Grajeda Gonzalez to talk all about navigating a career as a filmmaker.Marisela began her filmmaking journey at age 35, when she went back to school to study acting...
12.03.2022
Late Bloomers: Making Your TV Directing Debut At 69 Years Old (With Faye Brenner)
Joining me in this episode is script supervisor turned television director Faye Brenner, who just made her directorial debut at age 69.As a script supervisor, Faye has worked on feature films like "Stand By Me," "Ghost," "Father of the Bride...
12.02.2022
Filmmaker & Entrepreneur Matt Osterman On His New Feature Film "Bitcon"
In this episode I am joined by filmmaker and entrepreneur Matt Osterman, known for his feature films "Ghost From The Machine", "400 Days", "Hover", and now "Bitcon.""Bitcon" tells the story of a missing hard drive with hundreds of thousands of...
11.22.2022
Building An Audience Of 11 Million+ With Filmmaker & Yoga With Adriene CEO Chris Sharpe
In this episode, I am thrilled to be joined by filmmaker Chris Sharpe - who you may know as the co-founder of the wildly popular Yoga With Adriene YouTube Channel.Over the past decade Chris has grown the YWA channel to...
11.22.2022
Senior Producer James P Axiotis On Producing For NBC, Disney, JPA Productions & More
Joining me today is producer, founder and CEO of JPA Productions - James P Axiotis. James started his career at NBC and quickly became one of the network’s youngest producers while still in his early 20s. Since, he has worked...
11.09.2022
Designing Final Cut Pro, Making Indie Films, And Publishing Books With Mike Wohl
In this episode I am honored to be joined by Mike Wohl - an award-winning filmmaker who has written, directed, and edited multiple independent films and shorts.Mike is also the author of many nonfiction books on the art and craft...
11.09.2022
Director & Author Paige Feldman On Filmmaking, Creativity, and Finding Your Path
This episode was originally recorded as a private stream in my Backlot filmmaking community.Our guest speaker for this live session is Paige Feldman - a writer and filmmaker with a decade of experience working in independent film and TV sales,...
10.20.2022
Filmmaker & Professor Marty Lang On The Future Of Independent Filmmaking
Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by filmmaker and assistant film professor (at the University of Memphis), Marty Lang.Some of Marty’s project highlights as a director, producer, actor and show runner include projects like The Ride (Sundance, 2022), Being Michael...
10.20.2022
How Film Students With An $8K Production Budget Produced A Compelling Feature Film
In this episode, I’m joined by writer/director Spencer Whiteout, producer Andrew Baer, and editor Alex Vollman - the filmmakers behind Space Waves, a feature film.This inspiring filmmaking team produced their first feature film while still in film school, beginning with...
09.08.2022
Producing & Directing A $35K Sci-Fi Feature Film With Filmmaker Zachary Gross
In this episode I am joined by filmmaker Zachary Gross to talk about his new sci-fi feature film "Harmony", which was produced for just $35,000.Throughout the interview, Zachary shares his 7 year journey with this project, from idea to final...
08.12.2022
Editing The Tribeca Feature Film “The Drop” With Daniel Garber
In this episode I am joined by Daniel Garber - editor of the feature film "The Drop", which premiered this year at the Tribeca Film Festival. Daniel’s creative and technical workflow on "The Drop" was really unique, as the film was...
07.29.2022
Turning A $12,000 Budget Into A Viral Feature Film Hit With Genre Filmmaker Tory Jones
Today I am joined by micro-budget filmmaker Tory Jones. He is known for his slate of genre feature films including the "The Wicked One", which developed a cult-like following after being released online and going viral.Throughout the episode we talk...
07.29.2022
Building Your Online Brand With Full Time Filmmaker Whit Ingram
In this episode I am joined by Whit Ingram. You may know her as “wittyfilmgirl” from her popular Instagram account, where she shares a behind the scenes look at her creative process as a filmmaker.Over the years, Whit has built...
07.15.2022
Shooting & Editing A Feature Film For Hulu With Filmmaker Bryan Mason
In this episode I am joined by the multi-talented Bryan Mason, here to talk all about his creative approach, career path, and latest feature film (now on Hulu): "Good Luck To You, Leo Grande"Bryan is an accomplished cinematographer and editor,...
07.08.2022
No-Budget Cinematography: Camera Choice, Lighting Techniques, Production Workflow & More
In today’s solo episode I share a practical breakdown for capturing amazing raw footage on a “no-budget” production. Even if you are working as a one person crew without traditional resources, it's possible to achieve strong production value - this...
07.03.2022
Directing Award Winning Experimental Feature Films With Slamdance Filmmaker Matthew Wade
In this episode I am joined by acclaimed director Matthew Wade, a four time Slamdance filmmaker known for his feature films "How The Sky Will Melt" and "A Black Rift Begins To Yawn."Matthew's films are incredibly original both in how...
06.17.2022
DP’ing For Adidas, Grey Goose & More With Cinematographer Liam Higgins
In this episode I am joined by acclaimed DP Liam Higgins for an in-depth discussion on cinematography, commercial filmmaking, and creativity.Liam has shot many commercial projects for Adidas, Grey Goose, SteamWhistle, and countless other brands, all while writing and producing...
05.28.2022
Directing an Award-Winning Watergate Feature With Filmmaker & Slamdance Co-Founder Dan Mirvish
This week I'm honored to have filmmaker and Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish return to the show to talk all about his brand new feature film - 18 1/2.18 1/2 is a Watergate thriller/comedy that stars Willa Fitzgerald, John Magaro, Vondie...
05.28.2022
Re-Inventing The Micro Budget Filmmaking Model: A Conversation With Sujewa Ekanayake
In this episode, I am joined by Brooklyn based micro-budget filmmaker Sujewa Ekanayake, for a discussion that re-imagines the way we approach making indie films.I first connected with Sujewa over Twitter, after discovering he and I share a similar filmmaking...
05.05.2022
How To Grow An Audience Of 700,000 Filmmakers With The Founders Of Film Up
Joining me today are the founders of Film Up - Aryeh Hoppenstein and Christina Chironna.After meeting in college, Aryeh and Christina partnered to create a business that would fuse their love of filmmaking with their passion for business. The result...

What's Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking episodes:

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

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

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

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

How To Direct & DP Your Film At The Same Time (Without Sacrificing Quality)

From SXSW Shorts To Directing Bruce Dern in “Buck Alamo” - An Interview With Benjamin Epstein

From No-Budget Feature To Green Light: Making My Biggest Indie Feature Film To Date

ANYONE BUT YOU Cinematographer Danny Ruhlmann On Achieving Beautiful Visuals In Camera

How To Make A $50K Feature In 5 Days And Land A Theatrical Release

Blink 182’s TOM DELONGE On His Debut Feature Film MONSTERS OF CALIFORNIA

From DIY Short Films To A Major Feature Film Debut With IT LIVES INSIDE Director Bishal Dutta

Jennifer Esposito On Writing & Directing Her Debut Feature Film FRESH KILLS

Developing Your Visual Language With Cinematographer & Columbia Film Professor Tal Lazar

Location Scouting For The Whale, Theater Camp, Reality, And More With Jillian Fisher

Making True Lies, Terminator 2, Platoon, Dirty Dancing, Mortal Kombat, And More With Producer Larry Kasanoff

Making A $135,000 Debut Feature Film In 17 Days With Filmmaker Jason Abrams

How Filmmaker Joshua Caldwell Moved From DIY Feature Films To Theatrical Releases

From $50K Features To Netflix Productions With Film Producer Sevier Crespo

Creating A Powerful Feature Film Proof Of Concept With The Winners Of The Backlot Film Competition

Re-imagining Film Budgeting With Producer & Saturation Founder Jens Jacob

How To Build Passive Income Using Stock Footage With Gray Jones

How I Wrote, Produced & Directed A Feature Film With No-Budget & No-Crew

Making A Critically Acclaimed $30,000 Feature Film With Director Tom Levesque

How To Get A Debut Feature Green Lit, Produced, And Distributed With Filmmaker Josh Guffey

Making 19 Feature Films, Shooting A Movie In 3 Hours, Pioneering Folk Filmmaking & More With Dan Lotz

Carter Smith On Making His Latest Micro-Budget Genre Feature, Finding Festival Success, Landing Distribution & More

Making A Feature Film With No Crew, Premiering at SXSW, Landing Theatrical Distribution & More With Filmmaker Pete Ohs

Producing For Gary Vee, Growing An Audience, And Navigating Social Media - An Interview With DRock

Winning A Netflix Filmmaking Grant With Filmmakers Evelyn Lorena & Maris Lidaka

Creating A Powerful Documentary Feature In 9 Weeks With Mike J Nichols

Making A Debut Short Film With Writer / Director Marisela Grajeda Gonzalez

Late Bloomers: Making Your TV Directing Debut At 69 Years Old (With Faye Brenner)

Filmmaker & Entrepreneur Matt Osterman On His New Feature Film "Bitcon"

Building An Audience Of 11 Million+ With Filmmaker & Yoga With Adriene CEO Chris Sharpe

Senior Producer James P Axiotis On Producing For NBC, Disney, JPA Productions & More

Designing Final Cut Pro, Making Indie Films, And Publishing Books With Mike Wohl

Director & Author Paige Feldman On Filmmaking, Creativity, and Finding Your Path

Filmmaker & Professor Marty Lang On The Future Of Independent Filmmaking

How Film Students With An $8K Production Budget Produced A Compelling Feature Film

Producing & Directing A $35K Sci-Fi Feature Film With Filmmaker Zachary Gross

Editing The Tribeca Feature Film “The Drop” With Daniel Garber

Turning A $12,000 Budget Into A Viral Feature Film Hit With Genre Filmmaker Tory Jones

Building Your Online Brand With Full Time Filmmaker Whit Ingram

Shooting & Editing A Feature Film For Hulu With Filmmaker Bryan Mason

No-Budget Cinematography: Camera Choice, Lighting Techniques, Production Workflow & More

Directing Award Winning Experimental Feature Films With Slamdance Filmmaker Matthew Wade

DP’ing For Adidas, Grey Goose & More With Cinematographer Liam Higgins

Directing an Award-Winning Watergate Feature With Filmmaker & Slamdance Co-Founder Dan Mirvish

Re-Inventing The Micro Budget Filmmaking Model: A Conversation With Sujewa Ekanayake

How To Grow An Audience Of 700,000 Filmmakers With The Founders Of Film Up