Podcast
Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking
Hosted by Noam Kroll · EN
Each week, filmmaker Noam Kroll shares valuable insight into the world of micro-budget filmmaking, geared towards true DIY filmmakers looking to get out there and create their own films.
25episodes
Episodes
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Getting a $5K Feature into TIFF & Going Viral With An 80 Second Short Film With Nick Toti
4d ago01:15:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode I'm joined by filmmaker Nick Toti - one half of the DIY filmmaking duo behind the viral 80-second short Dead Grandma, the TIFF Midnight Madness sensation It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This, and the upcoming feature Homebody.Throughout the episode Nick breaks down the decade-long origin story of Dead Grandma, from an improvised game he invented while working as a nursery school teacher in Austin to a 35mm short film that blew up in Variety and landed him on this podcast.We also discuss how his $5,000 found footage feature It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This unexpectedly landed in TIFF's Midnight Madness, the unconventional theatrical-only release strategy he's used to screen it across multiple continents without a distributor, and why Nick is now trying to convince A24 or Blumhouse to fund a studio remake of Homebody.Topics covered include:The real-life origin of Dead Grandma and how it developed over a deadeCo-directing with his wife and creative partner Rachel KempfShooting on 35mm film - and everything that went wrong before they even rolledHow It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This got into TIFF Midnight MadnessThe aesthetic of Homebody: making a movie that feels like a lo-fi demo tapeActively pursuing failure as a creative strategy - and why it eventually workedNick's 25-hour real-time experimental documentary projectDie Die Books - the horror film criticism press Nick and Rachel runMuch more!Links from the show:Dead Grandma Short FilmHomebody TrailerDie Die BooksSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
Transcribe →Making A $2000 Feature, Landing Vanishing Angle & Getting Into the Blacklist Project Lab - With Nathan Xia
1w ago01:12:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I'm joined by actor, filmmaker, and musician Nathan Xia to talk about his unconventional path into the industry - from making YouTube sketches with a flip camera to acting in studio projects, getting repped as both an actor and writer-director, and developing his deeply personal feature Adam's Song.Throughout the conversation Nathan shares how he fell into acting out of necessity while co-directing a scrappy COVID road trip feature with his roommates, and how that unexpected pivot eventually led to representation, festival success, and a role in Danny Madden's Downbeat.He also breaks down the relentless hustle behind landing his producer at Vanishing Angle, getting into the Blacklist Project Lab after 14 rejections, and signing with management company M88 - all before turning 26.Topics covered include:How Nathan discovered filmmaking through a flip camera and YouTube sketchesMaking a $2,000 road trip feature across six states during COVIDFalling into acting out of necessity - and finding it on the festival circuitCold-emailing his way to representation at Momentum Talent AgencyHow attending festivals (not just submitting) changed his careerLanding veteran indie producer Benjamin Wiesner through responsiveness and rewritesGoing 0-for-14 on labs and fellowships before getting into the Blacklist Project LabDeveloping the feature version of Adam's Song and scouting in West TexasWhy being a writer-director-actor gives him a unique advantage in attaching talentMuch more!Follow Nathan on InstagramSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
Transcribe →Building A 160K+ YouTube Channel & Making A 1980s Period Feature On A Micro-Budget
3w ago00:58:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker and YouTuber Blake Calhoun to talk about his new feature film Casey Makes A Mixtape, his long-running channel iPhoneographers, and his highly entrepreneurial approach to building a sustainable filmmaking career.Throughout the interview Blake shares how he got his start selling work to Warner Bros. after finding an audience on YouTube, and why he believes every filmmaker should consider having a YouTube channel - even if they don’t want to become a “YouTuber.”We also dig into the making of Casey Makes A Mixtape, a 1981-set coming-of-age feature that Blake made on a micro-budget.He breaks down how he wrote the script around resources he already had access to, directed and DP’d the film himself, used a small crew, incorporated iPhone footage alongside RED Komodo, and even licensed well-known songs on a tight indie budget.Topics covered include:Why indie filmmakers are inherently entrepreneursBlake’s early success in web series and selling a show to Warner Bros.How YouTube has changed since the early days of online videoHow Casey Makes A Mixtape evolved from an iPhone-shot short filmMaking a period piece on a low budgetDirecting and DP’ing your own featureWorking with a small crew of roughly 10 peopleLicensing famous songs for an indie filmMuch More!Links from the show:Casey Makes A Mixtape - FilmCasey Makes A Mixtape - TraileriPhoneographers - YouTubeSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
Transcribe →Making A $4000 Feature In 12 Days And Releasing Through Tubi
Mar 1201:02:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with filmmaker Wade Patterson to discuss his micro-budget feature Death Cipher - a contained thriller shot in just 12 days for only $4,000.Throughout the interview, Wade shares how multiple failed feature attempts led him to radically simplify his process, why he embraced a single-location concept shot in his own apartment, and how limitations ultimately became the film’s greatest creative advantage.We also dive into the realities of making a feature with almost no money, wearing multiple hats as writer/director/cinematographer/editor, navigating festival rejection, finding distribution through Filmhub and Tubi, and much more:Why several failed feature attempts led to Death Cipher The mindset shift that led Wade to design a film around his resourcesShooting the film over weekends and treating each room like a company moveCreating props, puzzle elements, websites, and pre-shot video materialHow prioritizing actor comfort and a relaxed set environment improved the workWhat changed in post, including reshoots after early test screeningsHow Death Cipher landed on Tubi through FilmhubLinks from the show:Death Cipher - TubiDeath Cipher - InstagramWade Patterson - Instagram Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
Transcribe →Getting a $75K Feature On HBO & Selling a Video Agency For $17MM With Stefan van de Graaff
Feb 2801:00:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode I'm joined by filmmaker and entrepreneur Stefan van de Graaff, whose $75,000 micro-budget feature Simmer landed on HBO after going viral on Facebook. Stefan also co-founded a video agency that grew from a two-person team into a 100-employee business before selling for $17 million, which we discuss at length.Throughout the episode we talk about Stefan’s unconventional path - from Midwest filmmaker to running a digial advertising business. We also cover how his commercial production work became the foundation for financing and producing indie features, and what it took to scale from a scrappy first feature to a $1M international production.Topics covered include:How uploading Simmer to Facebook led to 1M views and sales agent interestHow indie films without stars can land on major platforms like HBOFinancing a micro-budget feature with personal funds, partners, and partial fundraisingThe jump from a $75K film to a $1M feature using tax incentives, grants, and talent dealsWhy having the right producer dramatically increases credibility with agents and financiersLessons from building and selling an ad agency - and why strategy beats fulfillmentHow reducing friction (locations, permits, crew, logistics) makes indie filmmaking possibleWhy building an audience can be a more reliable path than the traditional Hollywood ladderLinks from the show:Stefan - InstagramOne of Us - InstagramSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
Transcribe →How an Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker Shot a $60K Boxing Feature With Production Value
Feb 1900:47:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Academy Award nominee and ASC Award-winner Curren Sheldon to discuss his gritty new narrative feature Beatdown - a boxing drama made for just $60,000.Throughout the interview, Curren shares how his background in vérité documentary shaped the film’s style, why he cast real fighters and non-actors, and how they filmed key fight scenes inside a live event with 4,000 spectators.We also dive into the practical realities of transitioning from documentary to narrative, self-financing a feature for under $60K, navigating today’s distribution landscape, and tons more:Why The Wrestler was a key stylistic reference for BeatdownThe doc-to-narrative transition: what gets easier, what gets harderUsing non-actors (real boxing personalities) without losing story controlShooting inside a real “Toughman” event with 4,000 extras and a tiny window to filmHow he sold two prior films to Netflix, and what it took to break throughA practical cinematography mindset shift that instantly elevates visualsLinks from the show:Beatdown - Full Film on YouTubeSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
Transcribe →TEACHER’S PET Feature Release - Q & A With Noam Kroll & Luke Barnett
Feb 700:52:24Tap to summarizeIn this special episode, we celebrate today’s release of our new feature film Teacher’s Pet - Now available where you rent or buy movies!Two days ago, we hosted a special advanced screening for members of my filmmaking community, and they took part in a virtual Q & A afterward. This episode includes the full live session with myself and lead actor / producer Luke Barnett.Topics covered include: Achieving high production value on a budgetLuke’s approach to bringing levity to a dark characterThe casting process & landing great actorsMoving from a $0 production into a larger projectOur hardest days on set and how we problem solvedDirecting & DP’ing the film simultaneously Much moreWatch the film on Apple now: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/teachers-pet/id1868537677 Full list of platforms where you can watch: Amazon Prime Video (US, CA)Apple TV (US, CA)Google Play / YouTube (US, CA)Fandango at Home (US)Comcast / Xfinity (US)Cox (US)Spectrum (US)DirecTV (US)Dish (US)Altice (US)Verizon / Fios (US)Telus (CA)Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
Transcribe →Getting Into Sundance With A $30K TV Pilot
Jan 2301:05:57Tap to summarizeIn this episode filmmaker Alec Goldberg joins the show to break down how his micro-budget comedy pilot Soft Boil went from a bootstrapped production to a blind submission acceptance at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.We talk about Alec’s path from documentary and commercial work into scripted narrative, how a key creative partnership with lead actor / co-writer Camille Wormser shaped the project, and what it took to pull off a festival-ready pilot on $30,000 across a handful of shoot days.Topics covered include:Why Alec believes casting + voice was the “X factor” (and how to recognize it)The tactical micro-budget choices that mattered most (locations, rehearsals, scheduling)How to direct comedy with improv-friendly actors without losing the spine of the sceneThe producer “role-splitting” approach that let Alec focus on directingHow Alec thinks about finding your “voice” as a filmmaker, and why it's so criticalThe films and filmmakers shaping his taste (Kaufman, PTA, Von Trier, Aronofsky, Kubrick)Links from the show:Alec D. Goldberg - InstagramCamille Wormser - InstagramMadison Shamoun - InstagramVivian Kerr - InstagramPatrick Tabari - InstagramJohn Gemberling - InstagramAlec Goldberg - WebsiteSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
Transcribe →West Eldredge On Making An $80,000 Debut Feature Film
Jan 1400:56:57Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker West Eldredge to break down how he made his debut feature Take From Me on a budget of $80,000 - and turned it into a real-world release on major platforms.We talk candidly about what actually moves the needle on an ultra-low budget feature: prioritizing casting, building a crew that can adapt under pressure, using festivals as a testing ground, and leveraging a strong trailer to start distribution conversations early.Topics covered include:Why West chose micro-budget filmmaking as a solution to finally making a featureHow crowdfunding, personal investment, and favors helped build an $80K budgetWhy he prioritized casting above almost everything - and what 4,000+ submissions taught himChemistry reads, ensemble casting, and avoiding the “name actor trap” on low budgetsSkeleton crew realities and what happens when a key crew member is suddenly goneFestival strategy lessons and how audience feedback helped define the film’s genrePitching distributors andwhy a great trailer matters more than you thinkPost-production burnout, bringing in new collaborators, and staying motivatedLinks from the show:West Eldredge - InstagramWest Eldredge - WebsiteTake From Me - Watch on Prime VideoSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
Transcribe →Building Netflix Thrillers While Retaining IP With Filmmaker Anna Elizabeth James
Jan 801:00:21Tap to summarizeIn this episode I’m joined by filmmaker Anna Elizabeth James, whose psychological thrillers Deadly Illusions and Held Hostage in My House both found major success on Netflix, including top-chart placement on the platform.Throughout the interview we break down Anna’s unconventional approach to building a sustainable filmmaking career outside the traditional studio system. We dive deep into intellectual property ownership, licensing vs selling films outright, and how filmmakers can retain long-term leverage while still working with major distributors and streamers.We also explore how shifting industry economics are creating new opportunities for independent storytellers who understand how to position themselves strategically. Topics covered include:How Deadly Illusions and Held Hostage in My House reached NetflixLicensing vs selling films, and why IP ownership matters more than everWhat filmmakers should know about distributors, streamers, and rights reversionNavigating the post-streaming-boom slowdown and emerging opportunitiesWhy film festivals aren’t the only viable path anymoreThinking entrepreneurially without sacrificing creative integrityThe future of branded storytelling and creator-led business modelsLinks from the show:Anna Elizabeth James – IMDbSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
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