A few months ago, as I was scanning through Netflix, I came across the poster for The Taking of Deborah Logan. The image had always stuck out to me, but for one reason or another, I hadn't seen the film. I finally clicked the icon and started watching, and was really glad I did. Co-Writer and Director Adam Robitel's first feature film grabs you and pulls you in from the first scene. A documentary crew is starting production on a woman who they believe has Alzheimer's. As they study Mrs....

Today we're discussing comedy in writing with Steve Kaplan. Steve is the author of the book "The Hidden Tools of Comedy" as well as the founder of the HBO Workspace and the HBO New Writer's Program. He is a consultant and script doctor for Dreamworks, Disney, Paramount, Touchstone and many others. and is also a highly sought-after instructor at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other top universities. Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network! For more great filmmaking and screenwriting podcasts: 👉...

Today we're talking with Script Consultant and Author Linda Seger about how to develop as a screenwriter. You can find more information about Linda at her website: http://www.lindaseger.com/ Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network! For more great filmmaking and screenwriting podcasts: 👉 http:///www.ifhpodcastnetwork.com Access IFH Academy's Film Distribution: Confidential Course 👉 http://www.indiefilmhustle.com/letmein Listen to more at Indie Film Hustle: 👉...

PILAR ALESSANDRA is the director of the popular writing program “On The Page” and author of “The Coffee Break Screenwriter.” A sought-after teacher and lecturer, she’s traveled the world teaching screenwriting, pitching and story analysis. As a consultant, Pilar has helped thousands of writers create, refine and sell their scripts and was named “Cream of the Crop” in Creative Screenwriting’s Script Consultant Survey. Her students and clients have sold to Disney, DreamWorks, Warner Brothers...

Darious Britt (aka D4Darious) started posting filmmaking videos back in 2012. Through the years he has learned what works and what doesn't and ways that filmmakers can grow their personal brand by connecting with an audience. Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network! For more great filmmaking and screenwriting podcasts: 👉 http:///www.ifhpodcastnetwork.com Access IFH Academy's Film Distribution: Confidential Course 👉 http://www.indiefilmhustle.com/letmein Listen to more at Indie Film...

Chris Soth joins us today to discuss his career as a screenwriter, including his film Firestorm which made him $750,000 straight out of film school. He also discusses his book "Million-Dollar Screenwriting: The Mini Movie Method." We discuss the idea of mini movies and how screenwriters can use mini movies to structure their screenplays. Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network! For more great filmmaking and screenwriting podcasts: 👉 http:///www.ifhpodcastnetwork.com Access IFH Academy's...

There is no better way to learn how the studio system works than talking to someone who used to be in the center of it all. Stephanie Palmer worked in the studio system for years starting as an intern on Titanic and quickly working her way up through the ranks. She worked for Jerry Brukheimer and was privy to many of the inside dealings that went on there over the years and later worked as a development execultive for MGM. Stephanie left the studios to focus on her coaching program,...

Joss Whedon, Howard Stern, Rob Cordrey, and many other filmmakers swear by the method taught by David Allen. Published in 2001, his book Getting Things Done has not only changed the way we think about working towards goals but also outlines a better way of living that involves living in the present rather than trying to hold everything in your head. Getting Things Done® (GTD®) is the proven path for getting in control of your world, and maintaining perspective in your life. Much more than a...

Corey Mandell is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written projects for Ridley Scott, Wolfgang Petersen, Harrison Ford, Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, John Travolta, Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title, Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films, Touchstone, Trilogy, Radiant, Kopelson Entertainment, and Walt Disney Pictures. His Professional Screenwriting and Television Writing Workshops offer an alternative to the same old tired rules and...

Hot off the premier of their two films, both for Black Fawn Films, Chad Archibald and Cody Calahan join us to talk about their process for making films and how they are able to crank out 4 features in one year. Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network! For more great filmmaking and screenwriting podcasts: 👉 http:///www.ifhpodcastnetwork.com Access IFH Academy's Film Distribution: Confidential Course 👉 http://www.indiefilmhustle.com/letmein Listen to more at Indie Film Hustle: 👉...

Brendan McCarthy is a legend in the world of comics and now the world of Mad Max. His series Freakwave was inspired by Mad Max 2, The Road Warrior, and was later copied by the film Waterworld (without giving credit to McCarthy). In this episode, we talk with McCarthy about his relationship with Mad Max and how he went from being a film of The Road Warrior to actually co-writing the latest installment with writer/director George Miller. Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network! For more...

Today I'm talking with producers Briand Udovich and Justin Duprie of Rough and Tumble Films. We discuss the ways independent filmmakers working in the sub 1 million dollar range can compete with other larger budget films. Starting with his film All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Udovich has had a track record of delivering high production value and star power at a fraction of the cost of independent films in the same league. His latest film, Bad Turn Worse, stars Mackenzie Davis, Jeremy Allen...

My film is done, now what? Many filmmakers are so concerned with the making of their film they forget to come up with a distribution launch strategy. If you want to learn what it takes to have success in the world of distribution, this is the podcast for you my friend. Linda Nelson of Indie Rights walks us through her strategies for the successful launch of a film. Linda's strategy follows a simple timeline. You start with Film Festivals to get the word out. Then a short theatrical release...

Screenwriters who would like to get their screenplays in front of producers, this episode is for you. Today I talk with Intip founder Jerrol Lebaron about his service which links producers with scripts. This is a wonderful link for filmmakers to really pay attention to. Inktip, along with The Blacklist, are setting a trend that is likely to grow in the coming years. Producers desperate to find good screenplays and Inktip makes the process easier. A number of producers I have spoken with...

Screenwriter Thunder Levin: Thunder Levin was born and raised in New York City, graduated from Hunter College High School, and received a BFA in Film from NYU before moving to Los Angeles at age 23. His father Michael was an award-winning journalist before retiring from WCBS radio. His mother Glenis was an immigrant from Liverpool, England, where she worked across the street from the Cavern Club while the Beatles were playing there... and never went to see them! He credits the original Star...

I first became aware of Kevin Shahinian's work a few weeks ago while watching some of the presentations at Cinesummit. Kevin's company Pacific Pictures specializes in ultra high end films for weddings however, I want to stay away from using a term like Wedding Videographer, because if you have seens Kevin's work, it is truly inspiring. His company specializes not only in creating films that spotlight weddings, but also in creating short narrative films starring members of the wedding party...

John Trigonis, Film Campaign Specialist at Indiegogo, discusses strategies for making sure you film's crowdfunding campaign is successful. Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network! For more great filmmaking and screenwriting podcasts: 👉 http:///www.ifhpodcastnetwork.com Access IFH Academy's Film Distribution: Confidential Course 👉 http://www.indiefilmhustle.com/letmein Listen to more at Indie Film Hustle: 👉 http://www.indiefilmhustle.com Read the Making of this film in Rise of the...

Today I'm talking with one of my heroes, legendary film producer Roger Corman. In this interview we discuss what filmmaking is like today for the Hollywood veteran and we discuss some of Corman's favorite memories and films. We also hear from Jonathan Demme and Ron Howard about their experience working with Mr. Corman as well as a fun clip from Conan. Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network! For more great filmmaking and screenwriting podcasts: 👉 http:///www.ifhpodcastnetwork.com Access...

Oscar Winner Alex Dinelaris (Birdman) talks with us about screenwriting and what it was like working with Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, and Armando Bo. We discuss Alex's process for putting together a story and do a deep analysis of various scenes of Birdman. Alex was in a rare position to be on-set during the filming of Birdman, so of course, I took the opportunity to ask about what it was like to watch Alejandro and Chivo on set with Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward...

Today we are talking with Seed&Spark founder Emily Best. Emily talks to us about the ways that Seed&Spark has been able to not only survive but thrive in the midst of other larger crowdfunding platforms. What makes Seed & Spark unique is that it is the only crowdfunding platform specifically designed for filmmakers. They have created a number of innovations, such as their own platform for distribution as well as the concept of creating a gift registry where supporters can offer...

Mark Litwak is a veteran entertainment attorney and founder of the Law Offices of Mark Litwak & Associates based in Los Angeles, California. His practice includes work in the areas of copyright, trademark, contract, multimedia law, intellectual property, and book publishing. As a Producer’s Representative, he assists filmmakers in arranging financing, marketing, and distribution of their films. He is a law professor and serves as an expert witness on motion picture industry cases. ...

Youtube allstars Neumann Films has been delivering high quality and entertaining tutorials for filmmakers since before it was cool. Today I talk with Luke Neumann about the origin of Neumann Films, their Web Series "The Beacon", shooting with a 3 person crew, diy filmmaking, visual fx, and film scoring using virtual instruments. To learn more about Luke and Neumann Films, check out their Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/Neumannfilms Proud Member of the IFH Podcast...

Distribution Nightmares! Many filmmakers spend years making their film only to give away the rights to an unscrupulous distribution company. Today we're talking with Jerome Courshon about things you can do to protect yourself when it comes to distribution. Jerome is offering a very special discount on his training program "The Secrets of Distribution" to the listeners of this podcast for a very limited time. So if you're seeing this, you're probably too late. Proud Member of the IFH Podcast...

Ashley Scott Meyers joins us to talk about how he has been able to build a career as a screenwriter outside of the Hollywood system. Ashley has created a blog over at www.sellingyourscreenplay.com and hosts a podcast dedicated to talking with other screenwriters who have been able to option and sell their work. We discuss the nuts and bolts of selling a screenplay. How options work? What do producers typically pay for screenplays? What you can do to attract producers and what turns them...

Geeking out with Caleb about camera gear and discussing the real difference between consumer DSLR's as well as lenses and other gear. Whoever you are, if you want to be a filmmaker there has never been a better time to run out, buy an inexpensive DSLR like the Canon t3i, and a 50mm f1.8 lens and start shooting absolutely beautiful video. Two of the main cameras that Caleb recommends are the Panasonic GH3 and the Sony A7s. We also talk about why, at the time, there is really no reason for...