In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Sripal Sama, who turned his engineering background into an advantage when crafting his debut feature How's That for Monday? While holding down his day job as an IT security engineer, Sripal managed to write, direct, and produce a compelling thriller for just $65,000 - and secured theatrical distribution in both the US and India. Our discussion dives deep into his filmmaking approach and distribution journey. Topics covered include:How Sripal benefitted from his background outside the film industryShooting a 68-page script in 16.5 days across 5 key locationsCreative approaches to minimal coverage that still tell a compelling storyNavigating theatrical releases in two countries without a major marketing budgetReaching 50% budget recoupment through strategic platform selectionDrawing inspiration from both American indie cinema and Indian filmmaking techniquesLinks from the show: Sripal Sama - Twitter Sripal Sama -  Instagram Sripal Sama - Email Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.