Truly Independent: Demystifying the Indie Film Journey

This season of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation – a nonprofit dedicated to supporting feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more at helpthemseefoundation.org.

In this episode, Garrett Batty and Darren Smith talk with cinematographer Jeremy Prusso (*The Saratov Approach, Aliens Abducted My Parents*, Hallmark movies, Benson Boon videos).

They cover:
• How Jeremy went from unhappy carpenter to full-time DP  
• Whether film school is worth it today  
• How to actually use your DP in pre-production  
• Scheduling with light, location, and crew sanity in mind  

If you’re an indie filmmaker or aspiring DP, this one will change how you prep your next shoot.

👍 Like, 🔔 subscribe, and share with a filmmaker friend.

In this episode of Truly Independent, Garrett Batty and Darren Smith sit down with Andrew and J. Huff — the filmmaking duo behind Doc Connor. They break down how they transformed a small, bootstrapped web series into a full-length feature film, secured theatrical release, and navigated the indie distribution maze without waiting for studio approval.

We cover:
• How they launched their production company
• Turning a kids’ web series into a feature film
• Funding the project and finding partners
• The realities of independent distribution
• Working with streamers, brokers, and platforms
• Building a brand, not just a movie
• Why 2025 is a strategic year for indie theatrical releases
• Tips for filmmakers creating content for kids and families
• How to think like a producer and push past “no”

This conversation is packed with real strategies, honest insights, and practical stories for anyone making their own path in film — whether you’re starting your first project or already grinding through distribution.

This season of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to championing films that inspire faith, hope, and human connection. Learn more or get involved at HelpThemSeeFoundation.org.

In this episode, Garrett and Darren welcome filmmaker Ross Booth to officially announce Brotherhood — a new cinematic musical now greenlit for production through Producer Fund One. We walk through how this project came together from a single idea to active development, the power of outlining and early audience read-throughs, and the principle of enrollment—why the right people show up when a story resonates deeply.

If independent filmmaking, meaningful storytelling, or following a project from script to screen interests you, this episode is an important one.

Follow along / Get involved:
Brotherhood updates → BrotherhoodMov.com
Darren’s producing & resources → CraftsmanFilms.com
Garrett & Darren on LinkedIn → Search their names

Support the podcast:
Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more independent filmmakers find this community.

Season 3 of Truly Independent is here—supported by the Help Them See Foundation, a nonprofit backing feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more or get involved: https://helpthemseefoundation.org

In this episode, Garrett Batty and co-host Darren Smith catch up after a festival road trip (Newport Beach, AFI, Austin) and break down a practical strategy that’s outperforming cold pitches: salon-style investor lunches. Then we tackle a big topic every filmmaker feels—the supply & demand imbalance—and how to align passion projects with real marketplace demand without selling your soul. We also dig into rights/ownership and why finished projects with clean rights win.

If you’re writing, producing, or trying to raise money for your film, this one’s for you.

👍 If you find value here, please like, subscribe, and share—it really helps.

This episode of Truly Independent dives deep into the journey of screenwriter David Plyler, known for Outlaw Trail and Forever Strong. Hosts Garrett Batty and Daren Smith talk with David about his path from LA Film School to working in the indie world, his experiences writing faith-driven and character-centered stories, and what it really takes to stay creative in a business built on rejection.

You’ll hear insights about:

Navigating film school and learning to find your voice

Balancing art, family, and finances as a creator

Building real relationships instead of chasing “networking”

The story behind Forever Strong and lessons from its release

Why persistence (and humility) are a screenwriter’s greatest tools

🎧 Truly Independent is produced by Three Coin Productions and supported by the Help Them See Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more or donate at helpthemseefoundation.org
.

👉 Subscribe to follow along as Garrett and Daren demystify the independent filmmaking process—from script to screen.

Independent filmmaker Matt Whitaker joins Garrett Batty and co-host Daren Smith to unpack the two-decade journey behind TRUTH & TREASON—from a PBS documentary to a nationwide theatrical release. We dive into financing (crowdfunding + private equity), securing distribution, why strong legal counsel matters, casting in the UK, shooting in Lithuania with incentives, and how a teen-led resistance story became surprisingly timely today.

In this episode you’ll learn:

How Matt stuck with a passion project for 20+ years—and finally got it financed

The inflection points that moved partners, investors, and distributors to act

Practical lessons on legal, casting, locations, and tax incentives

Why story (not “message”) is what truly moves audiences

About our guest:
Matt Whitaker is the co-writer/director of TRUTH & TREASON, a feature inspired by real WWII events and accompanied by a four-part series rollout.

Sponsor:
This season of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation—a nonprofit funding feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn how to support mission-driven cinema at helpthemseefoundation.org.

Call to action:
If you’re enjoying Truly Independent, please like, subscribe, and share. And go see TRUTH & TREASON in theaters now—bring a friend and support indie film.

Credits:
Edited by Michael Bradford • Produced by Three Coin Productions

#IndieFilm #TruthAndTreason #AngelStudios #Filmmaking #Distribution #Storytelling #WorldWarII #IndependentFilm

This season of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation— a nonprofit dedicated to supporting feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. By partnering with filmmakers, Help Them See brings meaningful stories to life and shares them with audiences worldwide. Learn more or get involved: helpthemseefoundation.org.

Welcome to Season 3! I’m Garrett Batty with co-host Darren Smith. This year we go deep on the script—from spark to polished draft to scheduling, budgeting, and finally shooting. In today’s kickoff, we unpack ICVM takeaways, how to turn events into real relationships (and funding), and why low-fi read-throughs can enroll partners faster than pitch decks.

What you’ll learn

How to get 50+ legit contacts in one weekend (and what to do next).

A practical playbook for staged read-throughs that create momentum and funding.

“Enrollment events”: what they are, why they work, and how to host your own.

Recording assets early (audio/video) to supercharge pitches.

Lessons from our Where the Dog Heals table read.

Chapters (approx.)
00:00 Cold open & Season 3 focus (the script)
01:10 ICVM recap & why conferences matter
07:30 Converting events into high-quality follow-ups
13:40 Enrollment events: turning attention into action
20:45 How to run a compelling read-through (low-fi to staged)
31:20 Where the Dog Heals table read—what worked, what we’d change
39:50 Capture video/audio early to enroll partners
45:15 Action items for indie filmmakers
49:30 What’s next + how to support the mission

Support the mission
Help Them See Foundation: helpthemseefoundation.org
Subscribe for more episodes on taking your film from page to production.

Credits
Edited by Michael Bradford • Produced by Three Coin Productions

This episode of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering filmmakers who tell stories of faith, hope, and connection. Learn more or get involved at HelpThemSeeFoundation.org
.

🎙️ In this week’s episode, Garrett Batty and Daren Smith share an exclusive Q&A from a producer retreat at Sundance, where they screened Faith of Angels for a room full of filmmakers. They discuss the real process behind producing an independent feature—from finding the story, securing rights, and building the budget, to navigating the challenges of distribution and staying true to your mission as a storyteller.

If you’re passionate about filmmaking or inspired by stories that make a difference, this one’s for you.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Supported by Help Them See Foundation
01:10 – Welcome to Season 3 of Truly Independent
02:00 – Producing Faith of Angels: The Backstory
09:30 – Building a Creative Partnership in Filmmaking
17:15 – Balancing Truth and Drama in “Based on a True Story” Films
24:40 – How to Distribute a Faith-Based Feature
33:00 – Lessons from the Set and Audience Q&A

In this episode of Truly Independent, Garrett Batty and Daren Smith welcome Emmy-nominated actor Kirby Heyborne to talk about creativity, collaboration, and the launch of the Help Them See Foundation — a new nonprofit model supporting faith-based and mission-driven films.

From behind-the-scenes stories of Faith of Angels to Kirby’s powerful work on Making Good, and finally to the vision for Help Them See, this conversation highlights how independent filmmakers can elevate their work without chasing traditional investor ROI.

👉 Learn how you can be part of the movement at: HelpThemSeeFoundation.org

🕒 Timestamps

0:00 – Sponsor intro: Help Them See Foundation
1:23 – Welcoming Kirby Heyborne  
3:30 – Behind the scenes of Faith of Angels casting & production
8:05 – The impact of Faith of Angels reaching 1M+ views
10:50 – Kirby’s Emmy-nominated Making Good series
14:20 – Writing heartfelt songs under pressure for nonprofits
18:45 – Launching the Help Them See Foundation
23:10 – A paradigm shift: from investors to donors
27:40 – How projects will be selected and supported
31:15 – Why bigger budgets matter for mission-driven films
34:50 – Future projects & exciting collaborations
37:30 – Closing thoughts & how to get involved

🔗 Resources & Links

🌐 HelpThemSeeFoundation.org
 – Learn more, donate, or submit your project

🎬 Faith of Angels
 – Watch the film

📺 Kirby Heyborne’s Making Good on BYUtv

👍 Support the Show

If you enjoyed this episode:

Like this video & Subscribe to Truly Independent

Share it with a friend who loves independent film

Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway

Check Out https://www.helpthemseefoundation.org

Garrett and Daren break down the real differences between a spec script written on speculation, no limits, showcase your voice and a production script written to be made, budget-aware, strategic. They cover when to write each, why treatments can sometimes be a smarter move, and how leverage shifts depending on your role as writer or filmmaker. Plus: updates on fall festivals and Garrett’s third act grind on Where the Dog Heals.

Spec = calling card. Written to showcase voice and originality; leverage lives in story resonance.
Production = blueprint. Written to be made; leverage comes from feasibility, attachments, and momentum.
Treatments are better then specs (often). Easier for producers to read, faster to generate, clearer story signal.
Constraints unlock creativity.  Small cast/locations can make indie projects viable.
Leverage compounds. Small production scripts can open doors Nolan, Gerwig paths.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Festival season & October plans
03:00 Defining spec vs. production scripts
10:00 Budget/scope realities
16:00 Portfolio specs vs. existing IP
22:00 Production scripts as blueprints
31:00 Camera direction dos & don’ts
35:00 Why treatments often win
47:00 Case studies: Nolan & Gerwig
54:00 Garrett’s Where the Dog Heals update
59:00 Audience-building & leverage

“A spec is imagination first; a production script is logistics first.”

Subscribe, comment your questions on writing specs vs. production scripts, and share this episode with a fellow filmmaker.