IFH 497: Raiders! Making the Greatest Fan Film of All Tim with Eric Zala

IFH 497: Raiders! Making the Greatest Fan Film of All Tim with Eric Zala

Back in 1981, the action-adventure movie Raiders Lost Ark was a fan favorite for many. But the ultimate fans were a teenage trio who kind of took it a little bit further.

At age 12 and 11, in the summer of 1981, our guest today, director, Eric Zala, and friends devoted what turned out to be seven years of their childhood to shooting a shot-by-shot adaptation of Steven Spielberg’s, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Driven only by their fandom with no idea about editing, sound, or movie making, Eric, Chris Strompolos, and Jayson Lamb finished the film (except for the blown-up plane scene) and even had a hometown premiere.

Years later, after studying at NYU film school, Eli Roth got a hold of a copy of the film, showed it to Steven Spielberg, and the rest is history.

The guys decided to finalize the project with their new recognition by shooting the final scene they had abandoned.

Director Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen joined them to document their adventure. In 2015, The Raider! The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Made documentary was released.

Eric has credits on other films like An Early Twilight (1993) and Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (2003). After all these years, Eric’s start to indie filmmaking remains a fascinating dream-coming-through story. It was hilarious hearing about the making Raiders adaptation and their parents' reactions.

Enjoy my entertaining conversation with Eric Zala.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Jaksot(985)

IFH 819: How Quentin Tarantino Changed Independent Film: A Conversation with Dale Sherman

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In this episode, we welcome Dale Sherman, author of The Quentin Tarantino FAQ, who takes us deep into the life and career of one of cinema’s most unconventional directors. Known first for his books on...

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IFH 818: From Setbacks to Festival Wins: The Filmmaking Path of Dawn Fields

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Dawn Fields is a Los Angeles-based producer, writer, and director whose journey through the film industry is marked by both struggle and triumph. Beginning her career as a production assistant in Atla...

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IFH 817: Crafting Stories Frame by Frame with Jason Love

IFH 817: Crafting Stories Frame by Frame with Jason Love

In this episode, we welcome Jason Love, a multi-talented creator whose filmmaking journey began with nothing more than flip books and a VHS camcorder. What started as playful experiments soon grew int...

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IFH 816: From Extras to Director’s Chair: The Filmmaking Journey of Rocky Costanzo

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The journey of Rocky Costanzo is a testament to the raw, unpolished path of independent filmmaking. Beginning as an actor and extra on shows like The Wonder Years, he quickly discovered his true passi...

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IFH 815: Lessons in Filmmaking, Failure, and Persistence with Greg Travis

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In this episode, veteran actor and director Greg Travis dives into his decades-long filmmaking journey, culminating in the release of his once-abandoned 1984 feature Dark Seduction. Shot on 16mm black...

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IFH 814: Why Your Script Still Isn’t Getting Read; And What to Do About It with Whitney Davis

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In this episode, Whitney Davis, a seasoned literary manager and script consultant, breaks down the real-deal process of getting noticed in Hollywood—from landing a manager to crafting query letters th...

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IFH 813: Building Films from Scratch: Mastering Microbudget Movie-Making with Evan Kidd

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Evan Kidd is a passionate indie filmmaker who believes great stories don’t need big budgets—just big heart. In this episode, he shares how he created his feature film Son of Clowns using the resources...

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IFH 812: How Tremors turned into a Masterclass in Storytelling with S.S Wilson

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In this episode, screenwriter and filmmaker S.S. Wilson shares the behind-the-scenes journey of creating the cult classic Tremors, revealing how creative limitations, meticulous story structure, and a...

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