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.

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IFH 799: What Every Indie Filmmaker Can Learn from a $5K Zombie Movie with Bojan Dulabic

IFH 799: What Every Indie Filmmaker Can Learn from a $5K Zombie Movie with Bojan Dulabic

A spark of madness is often the first step toward creation. On today’s episode, we welcome Bojan Dulabic, a passionate Vancouver-based filmmaker who pulled off a small miracle—he made a full-length zo...

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IFH 798: From Pills to Pictures: Cynthia Hill's Unlikely Path to Documentary Filmmaking

IFH 798: From Pills to Pictures: Cynthia Hill's Unlikely Path to Documentary Filmmaking

Cynthia Hill, a filmmaker from North Carolina, discussed her journey from pharmacy school to filmmaking, highlighting her documentaries "Tobacco Money," "Private Violence," and the upcoming eight-part...

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IFH 797: From Instagram Mysteries to Indie Horror: The Bold Experiments of Joe Kowalski

IFH 797: From Instagram Mysteries to Indie Horror: The Bold Experiments of Joe Kowalski

When the winds of curiosity rustle the mind and stir the soul, they often bring with them storytellers—those rare beings who don’t just recount events but breathe life into them. On today's episode, w...

8 Apr 20251h 10min

IFH 796: No Film School, No Problem: Gary King's Journey of Grit and Creativity

IFH 796: No Film School, No Problem: Gary King's Journey of Grit and Creativity

Gary King is a filmmaker who transitioned from a career in psychology and human resources to independent cinema, building a body of work that balances heart, hustle, and deeply human storytelling.In t...

1 Apr 20251h 13min

IFH 795: Balancing Hollywood Productions and Indie Passion Projects with Jamie Buckner

IFH 795: Balancing Hollywood Productions and Indie Passion Projects with Jamie Buckner

Some stories unfold not with a bang, but with the echo of a bowling ball rolling down a waxed lane—steady, unpredictable, and brimming with hidden intention. On today’s episode, we welcome a filmmaker...

25 Mars 20251h 11min

IFH 794: The Art of Film Marketing: How to Make Your Movie Impossible to Ignore with Danielle Raiz

IFH 794: The Art of Film Marketing: How to Make Your Movie Impossible to Ignore with Danielle Raiz

A blank canvas. A single frame. The quiet hum before a film breathes life into a screen. But what happens after the final cut? How does a filmmaker's vision transcend the void and reach the hearts and...

18 Mars 202533min

IFH 793: Comedy, Confidence, and the Art of Reinvention with Rhonda Shear

IFH 793: Comedy, Confidence, and the Art of Reinvention with Rhonda Shear

Some moments in life are stitched together like the seams of a well-loved garment, their fabric woven with laughter, reinvention, and a refusal to let the world dictate what is possible. On today's ep...

11 Mars 202557min

IFH 792: The Power of the Cut: Storytelling Secrets from Michael Trent

IFH 792: The Power of the Cut: Storytelling Secrets from Michael Trent

A film editor’s job is much like the work of a sculptor. You take a massive block of material—raw footage—and with a series of delicate, precise cuts, you shape it into something cohesive, something m...

4 Mars 202542min

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