What does it actually take to go from writing and producing your first indie feature to directing a Netflix original—while starring in all of them?

In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with filmmaker and actress Leah McKendrick, whose journey from a $250K SXSW debut to a Netflix original is one of the most honest and hard-won stories in indie film right now. Leah wrote, directed, and starred in 'Scrambled' for Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions and just wrapped 'Voicemails for Isabelle' — a Netflix original she also wrote, directed, and acted in, out June 19th.

Whether you're writing your first script, trying to get your indie made, or figuring out how to protect your vision at the studio level—this conversation is packed with the kind of real, unfiltered insight that only comes from someone who has done it at every budget level.

We dive into:

• How she greenlit herself after two studio projects fell apart in one day

• What changes—and what doesn't—going from $250K to Netflix

• The truth about writing for studios vs. making your own work• How to handle notes without losing your voice

• Balancing writing, directing, and starring all at once

• Why "beginner's luck mindset" might be your greatest creative asset

• How to pitch from the heart and actually get investors on board

• Protecting what matters most in your scriptThis podcast documents the process of making a feature film from the ground up—sharing what works, what doesn’t, and everything in between.

Voicemails for Isabelle drops on Netflix June 19th. Leah wrote the script, which made The Blacklist in 2018. She directs and stars in the film, alongside Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Nick Offerman, Lukas Gage, Harry Shum Jr., and Ciara Bravo.

The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft.

Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis @jessicamichaeldavis🎬

New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast

For partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected] us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.

🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty

🎧 Episode presented by Executive Producer Mark Bazil

Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

I’m currently making my second feature film—and I’ve already made some mistakes along the way.

In this episode, I break down the biggest lessons I’ve learned in real time—from getting ignored by press to approaching major actors too early, and how I’m adjusting my strategy moving forward.

If you’re an indie filmmaker trying to get your film made, attach talent, or get press attention, this is the kind of information no one really talks about.

We dive into:

• Why press outlets weren’t responding to my emails (and what finally worked)

• The truth about approaching big actors without full financing

• Why we decided to bring on a casting director

• How packaging and strategy can change everything

This podcast documents the process of making a feature film from the ground up—sharing what works, what doesn’t, and everything in between.

The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft.

Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis @jessicamichaeldavis

New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast

For partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected] us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.

🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty

🎧 Episode presented with support from Executive Producer Mark Bazil

Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

What does it actually take to go from talking about movies to making one?

In this episode of The Next Film, I sit down with James and Anthony Devaney, hosts of the Raiders of the Lost Podcast—a film podcast with over 1,000+ episodes and a loyal audience of movie lovers.Now, they’re making their first feature film.

We dive into:

• How to prepare your film before seeking funding

• Building a proof of concept that actually attracts investors

• What goes into prepping a feature: script, team, funding, and vision

• How their podcast helped their creative process

• Lessons from working with VFX, prosthetics, and larger crews

• Why analyzing and watching movies is better than film school

• The rise of filmmaker-podcasters and content-driven careers

• The importance of rewriting, failing, and finding your voice

• How they’re leveraging their audience to fund and launch the film

This episode is packed with real-world insight on how to build momentum and create your own opportunities in today’s film landscape.

The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft.

Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis@jessicamichaeldavis

🎬 New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast

For partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.

📍 Shot at Bear Punch Studios in LA

🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty🎧

Episode presented with support from Executive Producer Mark Bazil

Support The Next Film:

If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

If you’re waiting for funding to start your film… this episode is for you.

In this second solo episode, I break down why funding shouldn’t be your first concern as a filmmaker—and what you should focus on instead if you actually want to get your film made.

I share real experiences from my own journey, including how being prepared to pitch at any moment led to unexpected funding opportunities.

This isn’t a “funding 101” breakdown—it’s a mindset and strategy shift to help you stop waiting and start moving forward.

We dive into:
• How to prepare your film before seeking funding
• Why knowing your budget and plan builds real confidence
• What investors are actually looking for
• How to be ready to pitch your film at any time
• The importance of momentum, deadlines, and “planting your flag”
• How to package your project so people take it seriously

Preparation + momentum = opportunity

This episode is based on my personal experience and approach to getting films funded—every project and path will look different.

The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft.

Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis@jessicamichaeldavis

🎬 New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast

For partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.

📍 Shot at Bear Punch Studios in LA

🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty

🎧 Episode presented with support from EP's Jeffrey Weber & Mark Bazil

Support The Next Film: If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

How do you go from making a micro-budget indie film to landing a 700-theater release—without getting into a single major film festival?

In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with filmmaker John-Michael Powell on his journey from his microbudget feature to IFC's 'Violent Ends'—sharing the real, unfiltered process of directing, casting, scheduling, editing, and distributing an independent film in today’s industry.

Whether you’re a director, indie filmmaker, actor, or creative navigating your next big leap—or figuring out how to break in—this episode is packed with real insights, industry truths, and the kind of perspective that only comes from doing it.

We dive into:

• How Violent Ends took 10 years (and multiple failed versions) to finally get made

• The biggest lessons from scaling up from micro-budget to million-dollar films

• Why film festivals are NOT the only path anymore

• Developing your visual style• Casting strategies • Building resilience in an industry full of rejection

• Why time—not money—is the most valuable resource on set

• Getting rejected from festivals and still landing 10 distribution offers

• Releasing in 700+ theaters and choosing the right distributor

• His transition from editor to writer/director

• The evolving world of indie film distribution

• Why you should make the movie instead of waiting for permission

The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft.

Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis 🎬

New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast

For partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.

📍 Shot at Bear Punch Studios in LA

🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty

🎧 Episode presented with support from EP's Jeffrey Weber & Mark Bazil

Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

How does an indie film with a limited budget and schedule make it all the way to the Oscars?

In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with with the Oscar-nominated artists behind 'The Ugly Stepsister', Thomas Foldberg and Anne Catherine Sauerberg, to talk about the craft, collaboration, and creativity that brought the film to life and garnered much attention & accolades — from premiering at Sundance to getting noticed by the Academy.

We dive into their approach to practical effects, working closely with actors, and what it means to compete alongside major studio films at the 98th Academy Awards.

This inspiring & insightful conversation is a reminder that great work isn’t defined by budget, but by vision, teamwork, craft, and execution.

We dive into:

- Practical effects

- Low-budget filmmaking challenges

- Collaboration across departments

- Working with actors in prosthetics and makeup

- How to prep for an indie film with special effects

- The journey to the Oscars

The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis

🎬 New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast

For partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.

📍 Shot at Bear Punch Studios in LA

🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty

🎧 Episode presented with support from EP's Jeffrey Weber & Mark Bazil

Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

In this episode of The Next Film, Jessica sits down with her own Executive Producer and film investor Jeffrey Weber to break down how independent films really get financed — and what makes an investor say yes to a project. Jeff has executive produced numerous independent films including the Tribeca-premiering documentary 'Chasing Chasing Amy', Jessica's award-winning feature debut 'Escaping Ohio', and several upcoming projects including 'Snare', 'C-Side', and 'Pancake Skank', as well as Jessica's next film, 'Candy'. In this conversation, Jeff shares exactly what he looks for when deciding to invest in a film, why he repeatedly works with the same filmmakers, and the biggest mistakes filmmakers make when pitching investors.If you're a filmmaker trying to finance your next movie, this episode is packed with real insight.We dive into:• What film investors actually look for before funding a project• Why investors often back the filmmaker, not just the script• How to approach investors • Why pitch decks are more important than scripts• The importance of LLCs, K-1s, and the right infrastructure• How repeat collaborations between filmmakers and investors happen• The “scrappiness” investors love to see in filmmakersThe Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis@jessicamichaeldavis🎬 New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcastFor partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected] us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.📍 Shot at Bear Punch Studios in LA🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty🎧 Episode presented with support from EP's Jeffrey Weber & Mark BazilSupport The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

In this first solo episode of The Next Film, I break down the beginning of my next indie feature, 'Candy' — from securing the rights to a short story, negotiating contracts, and collaborating with the original author, to raising development funds and setting up the legal foundation before writing a single word.

Walking you through the real, behind-the-scenes process, I share the exact emails I sent, how long negotiations really took (longer than expected), how I got funding for development, and the lessons I learned about patience, collaboration, and trusting the process.This project started as a short film adaptation of a story by Edgar-winning author Mindy McGinnis.

After festival success, I knew there was more to explore — but turning this short into a feature required:

— Securing IP rights

— Negotiating with literary agents

— Structuring deal points and writing credits

— Setting creative control boundaries

— Raising development funds

— Setting up an LLC and production bank account

— Protecting the project before entering the writing phase

The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis @jessicamichaeldavis🎬

New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast

For partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.

📍 Shot at Bear Punch Studios in LA

🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty

🎧 Episode presented with support from EP's Jeffrey Weber & Mark Bazil

Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

In this episode of The Next Film, actor Will Madden joins Jessica Michael Davis for an in-depth conversation about indie filmmaking, directing actors, and what actually makes filmmakers successful.Will has starred in multiple independent features that premiered at Sundance, SXSW, TIFF, Slamdance and beyond — and brings a rare perspective from both micro-budget productions and studio-backed indie films. Most recently, he stars in Erupjca, opposite Charli XCX. We dive into: — What actually makes indie films succeed — How filmmakers can best support their actors— Why simple and active directions work best— Acting without a script and improvised filmmaking— How energy on set matters— Why filmmakers must follow through and keep making workThe Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis@jessicamichaeldavis🎬 New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcastFor partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected] us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.📍 Shot at Bear Punch Studios in LA🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty🎧 Episode presented with support from EP's Jeffrey Weber & Mark BazilSupport The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu. https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/

In this episode, I sit down with the GOAT, Thom Kuo, to demystify shooting on film for an independent feature and help me best prepare for my next film on 16mm.

About the Guest:

Thom is a film scanner at Company 3 and has worked on some of the most iconic films of our time — including I,Tonya, Baby Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Little Women, Maestro, La La Land, Django Unchained, A Quiet Place, The Hurt Locker, and most recently, Marty Supreme- just to name a few. He’s also a director, writer, cinematographer, and runs the American Society of Cigars & Films- a club dedicated to keeping celluloid alive. @thom_kuo @ascf_official

We break down:

— Film vs digital misconceptions

— Shooting ratios & budgeting

— Camera reports & working with labs

— The resurgence of film in modern cinema

— How to advocate for shooting on film

— How to load a 16mm magazine (live demo)

We also talk about instinct, confidence, imposter syndrome, and why curiosity is the most important trait a filmmaker can have.

GIVEAWAY The Next Film is giving away 400ft of 35mm and a free spot to one of Thom's ASCF workshops here in LA (Transportation not included) Please check our instagram to find out how to enter.

The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis@jessicamichaeldavis🎬

New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you! @thenextfilmpodcast

For partnership inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.

📍 Shot at Bear Punch Studios in LA

🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty

🎧 Episode presented with support from EP's Jeffrey Weber & Mark Bazil

Support The Next Film:If you value these conversations and want to help keep them free and accessible to filmmakers everywhere, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link below. Simply select The Next Film from the dropdown menu.

https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/fiscal-sponsorship/