SPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle Podcast

I wanted to do something special for the Indie Film Hustle Tribe this year. I’m in Park City, UT interview some AMAZING filmmakers, producers, agents and actors. In celebration of Sundance I’ll be releasing a podcast a day during the week.

I wanted to launch this special Sundance Film Festival series with a bang. In this episode I speak to indie film favorite and all around amazing human being Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, Sin City) and his remarkable partners Josh Waller, Daniel Noah and Lisa Whalen (Company X) over at their company SpectreVision.

I have to say that this is by far one of my favorite interviews I’ve ever done. It was part filmmaking masterclass, branding lesson, James Lipton interview and party. I learned a ton from the gang and really felt the passion these friends and partners have for making the kind of films they want to see.

All of these Sundance Series episodes will be co-hosted by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films and a co-production with Media Circus PR.

Indie Film Hustle Podcast: Filmmaking | Film School | Screenwriting | Film Marketing | Independent Film | Cinematography | Film

IFH 130: Elijah Wood and the SpectreVision Team – Creating a Brand & Making Killer Films

Inside the Spec Script Market with Agent David Boxerbaum
SPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle Podcast

We all have heard about screenwriter selling a spec script for seven figures (see Max Landis) but who is the power brokers who are helping that process along? Enter Paradigm Literary Agent David Boxerbaum.

David is a senior agent at Paradigm, and his impressive client roster includes the likes of David Guggenheim, writer of Safehouse; Ken Marino, writer/producer of Wanderlust and writer of Role Models; Maria Maggenti, writer of MTV’s Finding Carter; and Ransom Riggs, writer/co-executive producer of the upcoming supernatural horror thriller, Black River.

At the age of 26, David was listed as one of the Hollywood Reporter’s “Next Generation 35 Under 35,” making him one of the youngest people ever to make the list. He is known for his impeccable taste and his strong industry relationships which help him garner six- and seven-figure sales for his clients in a shrinking spec marketplace.

What is an agent like David Boxerbaum looking for in a screenwriter? How does an agent work with a client to build a career? How do you approach a Literary Agent? All will be answered in this episode. Enjoy!

All of these Sundance Series episodes will be co-hosted by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films and a co-production with Media Circus PR.

Indie Film Hustle Podcast: Filmmaking | Film School | Screenwriting | Film Marketing | Independent Film | Cinematography | Film Festival | Filmmaking Podcasts I Moviemaker

IFH 131: Inside the Spec Script Market with Agent David Boxerbaum

Rebel in the Rye & How to Become a Producer with Jason Shuman

SPECIAL SUNDANCE EDITION of the Indie Film Hustle Podcast

Every once in a while we get a real Hollywood producer on the show. Jason Shuman is a producer and director, known for Lone Survivor (2013), Role Models (2008) and Bangkok Dangerous (2008) and this year's Sundance hit Rebel in the Rye (2017), written and directed by Danny Strong. Now not only is Jason a very accomplished producer but man is he a nice guy.

He was so generous with his time and knowledge. He was dropping knowledge bombs left and right. Jason Shuman started producing with indie films like one of my faves, Comic Book Villains (2002) and moved quickly up to studio films with horror classic Darkness Falls (2003) (based on a short film).

IFH 132: Rebel in the Rye & How to Become a Producer with Jason Shuman

I ran into many filmmakers while fighting the blizzard at this year’s Sundance Film Festival but one of the most impressive of the bunch was director Sydney Freeland. Sydney has had a challenging journey to become a director and her story is inspiring, to say the least.

Prior to making her first feature-length film, Sundance darling Drunktown’s Finest, Sydney Freeland previously worked as a production assistant, as a writer, and as a camera intern. Freeland worked in a number of areas, including; National Geographic, Walt Disney, The Food Network and Comedy Central. Freeland garnered her first taste of success with the six-minute short film, Hoverboard, utilizing Kickstarter to help fund the short. The film was inspired by her love of Back to the Future Part II.

Drunktown’s Finest is her second venture into filmmaking. The 95-minute long film is a coming-of-age story about the complex issues surrounding identity and the struggles faced by Native American people. The film’s name is inspired by a controversial 20/20 segment on ABC News, which branded the town of Gallup, New Mexico as “Drunk Town, USA“, after the increase of instances of alcoholism on the border of the Navajo Nation.

Freeland wrote, directed Drunktown’s Finest as means to combat the negative stereotype of her home community. Sydney Freeland, who is herself a transgender woman, is also directing a digital series about queer and trans women called Her Story.


Photo by: Netflix
At this year’s Sundance Film Festival Sydney Freeland is premiering her latest film Deidra & Laney Rob a Train, which was financed completely by Netflix. Two teenage sisters start robbing trains to make ends meet after their single mother’s emotional meltdown in an electronics store lands her in jail. Coming to Netflix March 17. Here’s the trailer.



We sit down and discuss how it was like to work with Netflix, if the rumors of creative freedom are true and what Sundance has done for her career.

All of these Sundance Series episodes will be co-hosted by Sebastian Twardosz from Circus Road Films and a co-production with Media Circus.

IFH 133: Sydney Freeland: Working with Netflix & Maintaining Creative Freedom

The Filmmakers Podcast meets the Indie Film Hustle !!
Giles Alderson (The Dare) and Alex Ferrari (This Is Meg) chat together about making indie films, podcasting and how Alex made his latest film On The Corner of Ego and Desire at the Sundance Film Festival when the festival was in full swing right under the noses of the every day public and staff.
We start at the beginning though and how Alex got started in film-making and his ups and downs before he finally made his first feature film This is Meg.

Alex discusses how being the problem as a first timer filmmaker/director and being the issue is one of the reasons why your film might not get made but sometimes it's good not to happen too early or he would have self imploded and destroyed himself with all that came with it.

Being so close before it gets taken away is brutal and devastating.

How he went after his dream and made This Is Meg. and wrote the Scriptment with the star of the film Jill-Michele Melean .

He decided to do what he preaches about and went out and made a movie. "Just do it. Find the resources you know and make it happen". and How he put it out on various platforms including Hulu.

People always think your first film has to be a breakthrough hit . It doesn’t. Just make a film and learn from your failings

Making On The Corner of Ego and Desire, a feature film at the Sundance Film Festival during the festival was a challenge but he made it happen. Getting the cast and crew together and making the ‘director’ role a female. Wanted to make a movie about trying to sell a movie at Sundance. A this is Spinal Tap for the movie makers

How people at teh festival were happy to help out. Managed to shoot in amazing places, Molly’s, outside nightclubs, on buses and Sundance head quarters without getting kicked out.

The only issue was the party scene they had at their own Sundance party were people were having too much fun to care about someone making a movie.

But Alex tells us how making the whole movie was like improvisation Jazz. It’s emotional and semi autobiographical

Distribution side of things . Going to see where the festivals takes it.

“Get out of your own way, stop being afraid and get out and do it. Don't wait for it to be perfect”

Fail as often as you can so you can get down to the work

You have to love this,

Not only does Alex run the Indie Film Hustle podcast and website but also now hosts the Bullet proof screenwriters podcast

Links
www.Bulletproofscreenwriters.com
www.Indiefilmhustle.com
https://indiefilmhustle.com/egoanddesire/
BUY This is Meg https://www.amazon.com/This-Meg-Jill-Michele-Mele%C3%A1n/dp/B074DQQN1M
Twitter @indiefilmhustle @IamAlexFerrari

WATCH World of Darkness documentary: https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Darkness-Documentary-Kevin-Lee/dp/B07BS35KQ2
Follow us at www.thefilmmakerspodcast.com
T @filmmakerspod @gilesalderson

The Filmmakers Podcast

Ep 54 HOW TO MAKE AN INDIEFILM AT SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL with Alex Ferrari

Running Indie Film Hustle I hear story after story about predatory film distributors screwing over, taking advantage, and just plain stealing from filmmakers every day. I either get emails or read about them in our Facebook Group Community: Protect Yourself From Predatory Film Distributors/Aggregators.

I'm so sick and tired of this. These parasites need a light shined on them. The only way we as filmmakers can stop these predators from continuing to hurt filmmakers and devastate lives is to make their actions known. Predatory film distributors continue to screw filmmakers because their actions are performed in the shadows. They bank on that filmmakers will not fight back, that they will keep quiet and just take it. Well, ladies and gentlemen that ends here.

I broke the Distribber story around the same time last year. They were able to take advantage of filmmakers for a long time until someone finally brought their actions to the surface. That is the only weapon we as filmmakers have against predatory film distributors. Our Facebook group has helped thousands of filmmakers not get taken advantage of. I know that the podcasts and videos I put out have helped as well but it's not enough. I'm only one voice.

We as a community need to stand up and demand change. The traditional film distribution system is BROKEN. I was just consulting with a filmmaker yesterday that told me that he too was screwed over by a film distributor. This distributor told him on the phone, once he confronted him about the theft of his film, and I quote,

"I'll see you in the court of who gives a f**k."

This distributor was in the UK and the filmmaker was in the US. The distributor knew that the chances of the filmmaker taking him to court in another country were slim to none. The filmmaker's lawyer advised him to let it go because the cost would be too much. THIS CRAP NEED TO STOP.

Then I came across a video on YouTube of Michael Daniel, a filmmaker telling his story about how a film distributor screwed him over and never paid him the money he was owed. Oh by the way this filmmaker also has stage 4 cancer. This is the video I saw that moved me to reach out to Micahel.



He told me that this film distributor was literally waiting around for him to DIE so he wouldn't have to pay him. Jesus Christ! I mean I thought I had heard it all but man this is a new low, even for predatory film distributors. Micahel has been fighting this fight by himself for over 18 months. He felt alone. No one would help him. If fighting terminal cancer is enough, he has had to deal with this situation as well. It's just not right.

I knew I had to help and shine a light on this situation. So I invited him to the show and asked him to write, in his own words, his story and add proof in the show notes at http://www.indiefilmhustle.com/413 

Both Michael and I are hoping this can help future filmmakers from making the same mistakes. I personally want to thank Michael for coming forward and sharing his story with the world. It takes a brave soul to do what he is doing. He's not only fighting cancer but he is also fighting to get his film back and receive the money he is legally owed.

This episode is brutal and painful to listen to but I believe it will help countless filmmakers. Stay strong Michael, you are no longer alone. Enjoy my conversation with filmmaker and fighter Michael Daniel.

#filmmaking #filmdistribution #filmmaking101

IFH 413: How a Predatory Film Distributor Screwed Over a Filmmaker with Terminal Cancer

Indie Film Hustle is dedicated to showing you how to hack filmmaking & the film business. Interviews with Acadamy Award® / Oscar nominees and industry professionals giving you the real deal from the inside with no BS, just the truth on what it takes to survive and thrive doing what you love. 

We discuss cinematography, RED Camera, Arri Alexa, Blackmagic camera, post production, color grading, filmmaking, visual effects, motion graphics, film festivals, editing, film crews, directing, producing, film business, screenwriting, movie scripts, film distribution, film marketing, VOD, VHX, iTunes distribution, DIY filmmaking stuff, short films, feature films, video training courses, web series and much more in this podcast, all in an effort for you to survive and thrive in the jungles of the film business. 

Hosted by Filmmaker Alex Ferrari 
http://www.indiefilmhustle.com

IFH 413: How a Predatory Film Distributor Screwed Over a Filmmaker with Terminal Cancer

IFH Filmmaking & Screenwriting Podcast Network

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