IFH 807: Making Your Own Damn Movies: Inside Dave Campfield’s Troma-Fueled Filmmaking Path
Indie Film Hustle® - A Filmmaking Podcast17 Jun 2025

IFH 807: Making Your Own Damn Movies: Inside Dave Campfield’s Troma-Fueled Filmmaking Path

When two Daves walk into a podcast, you don’t expect to stumble upon a meditation on art, failure, persistence, and horror-comedy. But that’s exactly what happened in this electric and delightfully unfiltered conversation with Dave Campfield, a filmmaker, actor, and host of the Troma Now Podcast, best known for his work in the cult Caesar and Otto comedy-horror film series.Dave Campfield is a fiercely independent filmmaker whose journey from a now-defunct film college in New Mexico to directing his own cult horror satires has been a long and winding road paved with hustle, humor, and horror.We start in the sand-colored surrealism of Santa Fe, where adobe buildings and the ghost of City Slickers set the stage for Dave’s early filmmaking dreams. In the land of tumbleweeds and tumble-down gym studios turned sound stages, Dave cut his teeth not just on film but on the art of adaptation.

The college no longer exists, but the memories—like chalk lines under studio lights—remain vivid in his story. “It was like going to school on Tatooine,” he says, laughing, but behind that joke is a bittersweet nod to the ephemeral.From there, Dave walks us through the illusion of success—early meetings with Universal and New Line Cinema where hopes were dangled like carrots in front of eager young dreamers. The industry, he quickly learned, speaks its own coded language: familiarity, marketability, and sometimes, plain deception. One mentor told him to “say you're young, from the streets, and have a dark comedy,” regardless of truth. Dave gave it a shot but came away with the haunting realization that "they were intrigued enough to keep me on leash, but not enough to make it happen."That experience seeded his first real film, “Dark Chamber,” a mystery-horror project which deliberately bucked slasher formulas. It took five years to make—five years of blood, sweat, and overdrafts. And yet, when the studios responded with, “We wanted something more familiar,” Dave knew he was swimming upstream. Still, he sold the film to a small distributor, endured its repackaging as something it wasn’t, and got it onto Netflix. A win—just not the one he envisioned.

But here’s the heart of it all: Dave didn’t stop. He pivoted, not with bitterness, but with evolution. “I decided I wasn't going to be one of those people waiting for opportunity. You had to make it happen on your own.” And so, he leaned into comedy horror—a genre he describes as “Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein, but for the splatter generation.” Thus, Caesar and Otto were born: two absurdly lovable doofuses bumbling their way through massacres, monsters, and paranormal mayhem.One of Dave’s secret weapons is loyalty to what’s real. Whether recounting how Lloyd Kaufman forgot him (then remembered) or editing commercials for the Philadelphia Pet Expo, he keeps a kind of grounded magic about his craft. He shares a deeply personal new project, “Awaken the Reaper,” born from a decade of introspection and struggle, calling it “the most personal thing I’ve ever written.” He says, “It’s about being stuck—feeling like every day you’re not moving forward—and finally getting out of your own way.”All along, Dave’s been quietly building a reputation for casting future stars before they break—Trey Byers (Empire), Peter Scanavino (Law & Order)—and hosting a podcast that thrives not just because of brand synergy with Troma, but because he genuinely knows how to talk to people. “They’ve never rejected an episode,” he remarks. “I tease Troma a lot, and they’re always game. It’s a beautiful collaboration.”The conversation wraps not with grandiosity, but a recognition that even the smallest cult followings can keep a creator going. “My fanbase is small, but intense,” Dave says with pride. “I can rattle them off on two hands.” Maybe that’s enough. Maybe that’s everything.

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

Episoder(980)

IFH 258: Making Money with Documentaries & Sriracha with Griffin Hammond

IFH 258: Making Money with Documentaries & Sriracha with Griffin Hammond

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 Aug 201856min

IFH 257: Complete Guide to Understanding Film and Production Equipment Insurance

IFH 257: Complete Guide to Understanding Film and Production Equipment Insurance

Understanding the minefield that film production and production equipment insurance is a challenge.  I wanted to bring on the show Kathrine Wong and Aylene Villarin from  Athos Insurance to left the vail on all things filmmaking insurance. Now I know what you are saying...a podcast about insurance, snore! but to be honest it's a fun episode with tons of knowledge bombs.Enjoy my conversation with Kathrine Wong and Aylene Villarin from Athos Insurance.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

30 Jul 201848min

IFH 256: Desiderata: Blueprint for Being a Successful Filmmaker, Screenwriter and Person

IFH 256: Desiderata: Blueprint for Being a Successful Filmmaker, Screenwriter and Person

We have a special show this week. I've always have loved the poem Desiderata and thought it would be of value to the IFH Tribe. I hope reading or listening to Desiderata brought a bit of light and hope to you on your filmmaking or screenwriting journey. Keep that dream alive and I'll speak to you next week!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

26 Jul 20185min

IFH 255: Behind the Curtain of Blackmagic Design with President Dan May

IFH 255: Behind the Curtain of Blackmagic Design with President Dan May

If you are an avid listener of this podcast you know how much I LOVE Blackmagic Design products. From giving away Davinci Resolve for free to releasing a 4K Pocket Camera with RAW, Blackmagic is truly in the corner of every filmmaker. Their motto is..."Power to the people!"I always wanted to know how and why they make such amazing products for filmmakers at such ridiculously affordable prices. Today's guest, Dan May - President of Blackmagic Design, would be the man to ask. I go deep into the weeds on how the company works, why they make their products so accessible to so many people and why they care so much about the little guy.Just to clarify, no I was not paid for this interview at all. I really wanted to get into the mind of one of my favorite camera and post-production companies. We also talk a little bit about gear.Enjoy this rare look behind the curtain at Blackmagic Design with President Dan May.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

24 Jul 20181h 4min

IFH 254: What Does a First Assistant Director Really Do? with Brandon Riley

IFH 254: What Does a First Assistant Director Really Do? with Brandon Riley

What does a First Assistant Director actually do on set? Do you need one? The short answer is YES! I've directed with no First Assistant Directors, with bad 1st Assistant Directors, and with world-class First ADs and trust me I rather work with the latter. Today's guest is First Assistant Director, Brandon Riley. Brandon started out in the entertainment industry working as an Assistant Director and later joined the DGA. With a vast knowledge of how a set operates and functions, Brandon has since gone on to produce, line produce and UPM features and TV projects. Brandon is a natural born leader who aims to lead every show in a calm assertive manner. He prides himself in aiming to create an environment where both cast and crew are treated well and have an enjoyable experience on set.  Brandon is one who continually tries to bring the best out in others and always pushes for excellence in every area. He has a passion for problem-solving and is an invaluable team player.Enjoy my conversation with Brandon Riley.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

17 Jul 201848min

IFH 253: No Film School Needed - Direct & Sell Six Features in Two Years with Elizabeth Blake-Thomas

IFH 253: No Film School Needed - Direct & Sell Six Features in Two Years with Elizabeth Blake-Thomas

I have an inspirational treat for you today. On the show, we have writer/producer/director Elizabeth Blake-Thomas. She has recently financed, written, directed and sold six feature films in the past two years, with no professional film school training. Elizabeth has been involved in the creative industries for over 30 years. Studying drama from a young age led her to run theatre schools, train other students and companies and work in various creative industries, culminating in where she is now, a director and writer.When I heard her story I had to hunt her down and find out how she did it. BTW, she's not stopping, Elizabeth is currently in prep for three more feature films. Talk about hustle. She is the definition of the phrase "INDIE FILM HUSTLE." Enjoy my conversation with Elizabeth Blake-Thomas.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

10 Jul 201841min

IFH 252: Rebel without a Crew - $7000 Feature Film Robert Rodriguez Style with Alejandro Montoya Marin

IFH 252: Rebel without a Crew - $7000 Feature Film Robert Rodriguez Style with Alejandro Montoya Marin

Today on the show we have writer/director Alejandro Montoya Marin. He had the pleasure of being selected to be a director on Robert Rodriguez's Rebel without a Crew Television Show. If you've been following me at all over the past three years you'll know how much of a fan I am of Robert Rodriguez (check out How to Make Rodriguez's Guacamole Gun). Here's some info on the show.Armed with a ridiculously low budget and just 14 days to shoot his movie, Robert Rodriguez created El Mariachi an award-winning film that changed independent filmmaking. The 12-part "Rebel Without a Crew: The Series" follows Scarlet Moreno, Alejandro Montoya Marin, Bola Ogun, Josh Stifter, and Bonnie-Kathleen "BK" Ryan as they shoot their own feature-length film in 2 weeks with a budget of only $7,000.I had a ball talking with Alejandro Montoya Marin about filmmaking, working with Robert Rodriguez, his experience being on a reality show and making his film MONDAY for $7000 and in 14 days.Enjoy my conversation with Alejandro Montoya Marin.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

3 Jul 201843min

IFH 251: How to Get Your Indie Film on Netflix with Neil Ames

IFH 251: How to Get Your Indie Film on Netflix with Neil Ames

Today on the show we have Neil Ames from Distribber. Neil is the Netflix Yoda over at Distribber. He's been working with Netflix since before they were a streaming juggernaut. I wanted Neil to come on the show and pull back the curtain on the inner workings of Netflix. We discuss:What Netflix is looking for?How to submit an indie film to Netflix?How does Netflix decide what to license?What you can do as a filmmaker to have a better chance of getting on Netflix.What Netflix typically pays for acquisitionsand a ton more.So if you ever wanted to get your film on Netflix get ready to take some notes, my friend. Enjoy my conversation with Neil Ames.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

28 Jun 201850min

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