IFH 521: How to Create a Compelling Documentary with Julie Cohen & Betsy West

So I know working in the film industry can be tough. Breaking in is even tougher. Many people tell you you have to work for free or intern somewhere to get a foot in the door. Now those people aren't totally wrong. The question is when do you work for free? When is trading your time, energy and effort really worth it? In this episode I break down when you should work for free or cheap and when you need to stand your ground and get paid. This episode is not just for film students. I tell you my story of when I got to Los Angeles and what I choose to do and why even after having 10 years of experience, credits and work under my belt. Enjoy this eye opening episode. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

12 Jan 201617min

We've all read in Variety or The Hollywood Reporter of some no name screenwriter selling his or her screenplay for a million bucks. Ever wonder how they did it? What structure did they use? What tricks of the trade were employed?May I introduce Paul Castro, the writer of one of my favorite films August Rush. Paul Castro is a produced, award winning screenwriter and world-renowned screenwriting professor."Structure...is the canvas on which we paint with words." - Paul CastroHis project, August Rush was produced by Warner Brothers and starred the late great Robin Williams, Keri Russell, Freddie Highmore, Danny Glover, Kelsey Grammer, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The film took Paul Castro into the belly of the Hollywood beast.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

7 Jan 20161h 24min

OK, I wanted to start off the new year on the right foot. Over the course of my career I've seen so many filmmakers obsess over film gear, to a paralyzing end. They focused so much on gear that they never make actual films.No one is saying you shouldn't keep up to date on the latest film gear. You need gear, without it you can't make films but cameras, lenses, drones, and grip equipment are just tools.Do you think Chris Nolan, Martin Scorsese, or Quentin Tarantino obsessed about film gear? No. They learned to tell stories first and then grabbed the tools available to them to tell those stories. Sure now they play with all the latest toys but I can guarantee you Quentin Tarantino worked on The Hateful Eight script first before he thought of shooting it on 70mm.You can pay $1 for a hammer or $100 but both will put the nail in the wood. It’s the master carpenter who practiced and took the time to learn how to hit that nail just right, with one swing, that is the craftsman.Don’t rely so heavilyly on film gear to tell your stories, because gear is not the storyteller, you the filmmaker are. A good filmmaker tells a story with a RED Dragon or an iPhone as this year's Sundance Film Festival Winner 'Tangerine' proved.Don’t believe the hype from all the gear companies having you run out and upgrade your cameras or lenses everytime they release something new. Stop obsessing over gear and start making movies! Take a listen to hear my argument against this "gear porn" epidemic.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

5 Jan 20168min

Happy New Year! I has been ana amazing 2015 for Indie Film Hustle. We launch five short months ago and have grown at a alarming rate. Thanks to the IFH Tribe the Indie Film Hustle Podcast has become the #1 filmmaking podcast on iTunes, just three months after launch...CRAZY!The Indie Film Hustle Youtube Channel is closing in on over 1000 subscribers and I was able to gather over 23,000 followers throughout all the IFH social media platforms. Again I have all of you to thank. This is a special New Years 2016 edition of the the show. I want to let you know what to expect from IFH in 2016 and wanted to give you a little motivation as well. Sit back and get ready to be motivated! Keep that hustle going in 2016 and beyond. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

1 Jan 201615min

Surviving the Hollywood Implosion with Scott McMahonIs there an implosion coming to Hollywood? Film Trooper Scott McMahon thinks so and he's not alone. Think its crazy, think again. Listen to what the king of the blockbusters Steven Spielberg had to say,“There’s going to be an implosion. Mega budget movies are going to go crashing into the ground and that’s going to change the paradigm.”If the Hollywood implosion does come to fruition, then where do aspiring filmmakers go to make a living? Step in Film Trooper Scott McMahon. Scott created a book entitled "How to Make and Sell Your Film Online and Survive the Hollywood Implosion While Doing It."There are a lot of books on how to make a movie and how to be part of the Hollywood machine; but this step-by-step guide will show you, the über independent filmmaker......how to bypass all of that and get to the heart of making and selling digital products (your film) directly to an online audience and survive the Hollywood implosion while doing it.I've known Scott McMahon for a while now and he's a wealth of information. He's truly trying to help the "über independent filmmaker" make it in the film business. His site Film Trooper is a perfect extension of his mission.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

31 Des 20151h 40min

Have you been confused and frustrated when directing actors? I think every director and actor has been frustrated with each other at one or more points in there career but don't worry Nina Foch is here to help. I'll get to who she is in a moment.For a filmmaker, directing actors can be a daunting task. Actors seem to have a language of their own which us directors have a very hard time understanding. For those masters like Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, and Martin Scorsese, directing actors is second nature.They are able to understand the language of the actor. They are able to make a scene come alive. No matter how well a scene is written, if the direct can not communicate with his or her actors then all is lost.What to do? Enter Nina Foch, the legendary film teacher from the gold standard of film schools, USC School of Cinematic Arts. As I was looking for filmmaking courses on-line I came across this gem of a course that I couldn't believe was available to us mere indie film mortals. A master class from USC School of Cinematic Arts called Directing the Actor by Nina Foch. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

29 Des 201511min

Have you always wonder what happens to indie filmmakers  who win HUGE film festivals like the SXSW Film Festival? Well wonder no more.I've invited one of my oldest friends onto the show, Brant Sersen, the writer and director of the SXSW Audience Award winning film "Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story" staring Rob Corddry.Some other films he's directed are Release, Splinterheads, and Sanatorium.Over the years I've heard Brant tell me all sorts of stories about his misadventures in Hollywood. So if you are expecting a "Entourage" style story you're on the wrong website.What I try to do with Indie Film Hustle is to give you the no BS info, stories and experiences you can only get by being in the heat of battle. Brant Sersen's story is no different.Take a listen...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

24 Des 20151h 3min

How can a VFX Supervisor make your indie film's VFX shine? I've been a VFX Supervisor on multiple feature films, shorts, commercial and music videos. My job was to get the shots the director wanted done at a high standard and on budget.I've seen many independent films come through my doors at Numb Robot with VFX dreams in their eye but also with no understanding or budget on how to achieve them, that where a good VFX Supervisor comes in.In this episode I breakdown what a VFX Supervisor does and also the things indie filmmakers need to understand before creating Jurassic World in their backyard.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

22 Des 201518min