EP33: Behind the Scenes of Indie Movie Sets with Kody Newton

Kody Newton shot the movie that launched his filmmaking career on a phone. Not because it was trendy, but because it was 2016 and his business was starting to fail. That decision set him on the path to becoming a full-time independent filmmaker, and Dr. Scott Asmar gets the full story on his podcast Dr. Scott Asmar: The Man and Everything In Between.

Kody Newton is a cinematographer, writer and director based in Idaho. He tells Scott about the movie that changed his career, a family project called Ninja Cowboy Viking, shot on an LG V10 because iit could shoot at 24 frames per second. That project led to theater screenings, fundraising for Make-A-Wish, and a decision to go all in on film.

This episode covers what Kody learned from low-budget sets, how cinematography gear has changed, and why easier access to good cameras doesn’t replace strong storytelling. Scott and Kody also get into the business side, why Kody charges just $650 a day, and how Newton to Newton Productions reflects his family-friendly approach to filmmaking and his habit of bringing family members onto his sets.

If you're weighing a career reinvention or want indie filmmaking career advice from someone who turned a low-budget family film project into a real career, listen to this episode of The Man and Everything In Between.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meeting Kody Newton on set

00:37 Wyoming roots and the first backyard films

02:03 Ninja Cowboy Viking and the Make a Wish screenings

04:12 Making short films during a Mormon mission in Spain

06:39 How cinematography gear has changed

08:28 Why Kody stays anti AI on set

09:13 The bonfire shoot that taught him the most

11:43 Newton to Newton Productions and staying family friendly

13:23 Metal Kingdom and the robot religion concept

17:12 Life on the road between film sets

18:17 How to become an independent filmmaker and still get hired

21:07 Pricing, crew, and working with family

Links

Connect with Kody Newton:

Visit Kody's website

Follow Kody on Instagram

Connect with Dr. Scott Asmar:

Follow Dr. Scott on Instagram

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm