IFH 553: How to Build a Production Company with Michael D. Ratner

Today on the show we have returning champion producer Suzanne Lyons. Suzanne was one of my first guests (IFH 015) on the podcast. Her episodes are some of my most downloaded episodes so I had to have her back on to talk shop.Suzanne will go over a ton of information on how to produce an indie feature film. She covers:The dos and don'ts of Low Budget FilmmakingWhat is Soft Prep?ContractsWorking with unionsThe hell of deliverablesand much moreWe also discuss Suzanne's new course Indie Film Producing Masterclass:Here's some info on the Indie Film Producing Masterclass:Have you ever wondered what it really takes to produce an independent film? How raise money, dealing with contracts, SAG agreements and putting together sales presentations for investors? Then this masterclass is for you.Award-winning film producer Suzanne Lyons is about to take you from script to screen and beyond in this Mastermind workshop. After producing a number of bigger budget features Suzanne thought producing the SAG ultra-low and modified budget films would be a piece of cake. Boy, was she wrong? Wearing 100 different hats was a challenge and she learned so much. And now she will be sharing all that great info with you.In this Mastermind workshop, you’ll learn from her experience and benefit from her success. Suzanne will take you through a structured crystal, clear step by step process that will actually make low budget filmmaking easy and fun!This workshop is unique in that it will literally guide you through the entire process of making your film. From her own hands-on experience, she will be addressing every detailed facet of filmmaking.“Suzanne has that rare ability to combine artistic creativity and smart business sense… she’s proven that by taking a SAG ultra-low budget and somehow squeezing out a quality film that looks like it cost a million!” Academy Award® Winner Mark L. Smith, Writer/Director “Séance” Writer, “The Revenant”“Suzanne is brilliant… take her workshop and put her suggestions to work and you’ll be amazed at the extraordinary results you’ll produce.” Ross Grayson Bell, Producer “Fight Club”From option a screenplay, development, designing your business plan, opening your film company, hiring your line producer and director. Finessing your budget, schedule and film timeline. Being smart about contracts and paperwork. Casting and working with actors. The details of pre, principle, and post, choosing your sales agent, preparing for film delivery and festivals, and so so so much more.You'll also get a BONUS PACK of the real world used contracts, agreements and business plans word and PDF worth over thousands.Enjoy my conversation with producer Suzanne Lyons.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

11 Syys 20181h 8min

As promised today's guest is Jamie Adams, the writer/director of the new film Alright Now starring (Cobie Smulders, “How I Met Your Mother, Avengers”) You can listen to her interview here. I wanted to chat with Jamie because he has made a career of shooting feature films fast, cheap and completely improv.As you all know I shot my first two features, This is Meg and On the Corner of Ego and Desire, using the same style and techniques. They're not a ton of film directors shooting features films like this, let alone films with major movie stars in them, so I had to have him on to discuss his process.in this interview Jamie breaks down:- How he was able to cast Cobie Smulders- What his process is when writing the scriptment- How he works with actors- How he covers a scene and much moreHere's a bit about the film:ALRIGHT NOW follows Joanne (Cobie Smulders, “How I Met Your Mother, Avengers”) a rock musician who drunkenly enrolls in college after she breaks up with her boyfriend and her band falls apart. Convinced she will give the youngsters a run for their money, Joanne is shocked to discover that no one knows who she is and they could care less about her rock star past. Completely improvised and Directed by Jamie Adams (Black Mountain Poets), ALRIGHT NOW is a feel-good comedy about love, life and the search for new beginnings.Enjoy my conversation with writer/director Jamie Adams.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

6 Syys 201851min

Today's guest is actress Cobie Smulders. You may recognize Cobie from blockbuster films like The Avengers, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Winter Soldier and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. She'll also be in the new Spidey film Spider-Man: Far from Home. I've been a fan of Cobie's for a while now. Her ability to jump from mega-blockbuster to ultra-low budget indie film has always fascinated me.One of the main reasons I wanted to chat with Cobie was to discuss her new film Alright Now. What makes her new film unique is that it was shot 100% Improv-style, just like I shot my film This is Meg and On the Corner of Ego and Desire. I wanted to see why an actress used to shooting big studio tentpoles would be attracted to making a low budget improv indie in the UK. What was her experience being out there acting with no net. Also what it was like working with Jamie Adams (who will be a guest in the show soon), the writer/director of Alright Now. Here's a bit about the film:ALRIGHT NOW follows Joanne (Cobie Smulders, “How I Met Your Mother, Avengers”) a rock musician who drunkenly enrolls in college after she breaks up with her boyfriend and her band falls apart. Convinced she will give the youngsters a run for their money, Joanne is shocked to discover that no one knows who she is and they could care less about her rock star past. Completely improvised and Directed by Jamie Adams (Black Mountain Poets), ALRIGHT NOW is a feel-good comedy about love, life and the search for new beginnings.Enjoy my conversation with actress Cobie Smulders.Alright Now is out Sept 9th on VOD from Gravitas Ventures. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

4 Syys 201822min

On today's episode, I go over my top ten books that ROCKED my world! I get asked all the time what are a few books I could recommend. So I decided to just put a list together of these books. The books on the list have transformed me into the person I am today.  They have opened my mind, showed me new ideas, changed the way I thought about life and most importantly shook the foundations of my existence. Enjoy and may you find value in this list, my friends. Now get to reading!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

30 Elo 201832min

Today's guest gough, from Berrnuts Productions, really doesn't let anything get in his way. When the rest of us are making excuses on why we can't do this or that this legally BLIND director is making films he wants to make. You heard correctly, gough is legally blind and yet he's a prolific film director running a production company, with employees I might add, and doing it his way. He has shot 14 short films and 1 feature film.He's a true inspiration to any filmmaker out there who says they can't do it. When you listen to his story you will see what an amazing journey he has had to get to this point.Here's a bit on gough and his company:Beernuts Productions is Australia’s most exciting and innovative production company. Founded by gough in 2006, Beernuts Productions has set out to prove itself as a prolific producer of contemporary, cutting-edge and award-winning cinema, television, downloads and books with a wide range of topics and projects to be undertaken.“I Will Not Go Quietly” was Beernuts Productions first feature film project, a documentary discussing the important topics of mental health and disability. gough is the first legally blind person to write, produce, edit, direct and star in a feature filmmaking this project a world first. Since then gough has gone on to write, produce and direct many other projects, including a number of films, audio downloads, and books. Beernuts Productions has worked with some of Australia’s finest actors, artists, and production crew, helping make all content on the Beernuts Productions website world class.Beernuts Productions also has numerous other projects in development and prides itself on its diversity and challenging range of topics and projects were undertaken, clearly demonstrating Beernuts Productions skills, fortitude and determination to entertain no matter the genre.Enjoy my inspirational conversation with filmmaker gough.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

28 Elo 201845min

Well, I finally have news for all of you IFH Tribe members who have been asking what the heck is going on with On the Corner of Ego and Desire. Our film has been accepted to the Raindance Film Festival in London, England. It will be the UK Premiere of Ego and Desire. Raindance is the largest and most prestigious film festival in all of the United Kingdom and we can't be more excited to be a part of it.I wanted to do this quick bonus episode for the IFH Tribe to show you all that dreams do come true. You can do it. You have to follow your dreams if not why are we here?This is the first stop of hopefully many for On the Corner of Ego and Desire. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew. More updates to come soon.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

27 Elo 20184min

Today episode is a CROSSOVER between the IFH Podcast and the Bulletproof Screenplay Podcast. I do this every 6-8 weeks when I find a guest that would be great on both podcasts. On this episode, we have Michael Tucker from Lessons from the Screenplay. LFTS is a YouTube channel that analyzes movie scripts to examine exactly how and why they are so good at telling their stories.I’ve become a HUGE fan of what Micahel is doing and wanted to have him on the show to drop some knowledge bombs on both tribes!Enjoy my conversation with Michael Tucker from Lessons from the Screenplay.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

16 Elo 201846min

Today on the show we have an OG in the online filmmaking education space, Griffin Hammond. I've followed Griffin for years and was so excited to sit down and talk shop with him. Griffin Hammond is a documentary filmmaker in New York City, known for producing DIY filmmaking tutorials for indie filmmakers, and his award-winning documentary Sriracha. We discuss how he made over $90,000 with a documentary short film.In 2014, Griffin moved from Bloomington, Illinois to New York City to cover the U.S. presidential election for the Bloomberg Television/MSNBC show With All Due Respect.The University of Southern California and the U.S. State Department named Griffin a Film Envoy for the 2017 American Film Showcase—a cultural diplomacy program that sends independent filmmakers around the world to teach.Previously, he worked for YouTube Next Lab, as executive producer of the YouTube channel Indy Mogul, and started his career as a video producer and social media strategist at State Farm Insurance.Griffin Hammond studied film at New York University, earned a Masters in Communication from Illinois State University, taught video production at Millikin University, and produced an online course—Shooting Documentary Short Films.Enjoy my conversation with Griffin Hammond.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

6 Elo 201856min