In this empowering episode of the Filmmaking Stuff podcast, seasoned filmmaker Tom Malloy shares his experience over two decades ago when his script was held hostage by an unscrupulous producer. He details the deception, the broken promises, and the eventual tough decision that saw him take control of his script and destiny.
Tom opens up about his early days ... Show More
Feb 5
Most Producers Only Pay $1 for a Script (Here’s Why)
What is an option agreement and how do indie producers legally control a screenplay without buying it upfront? In this episode, Tom breaks down film option agreements, $1 options, term lengths, writer payments, and how rights revert if a movie doesn’t get made. A practical, no-no ... Show More
3m 18s
Jan 29
EFM Berlin: Where Serious Filmmakers Make Real Deals
Thinking about attending the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin? In this episode, I break down how EFM compares to Cannes and AFM, why it’s considered the most professional film market, and why filmmakers with finished projects and real credits get the most value from it. If yo ... Show More
3m 28s
Jan 27
Rethinking Film Distribution Windows
Film distribution windowing is changing fast. In this episode, Tom Malloy breaks down modern release windows — theatrical, transactional VOD, subscription streaming, and AVOD — and explains why the old rules don’t always apply anymore. Using real-world examples like Netflix films ... Show More
3m 36s
Sep 2018
How Do You Know What to Cut on the Editing Floor? The First Short: THE GUY [Episode 3]
It seems that many short films even after they wrap a successful shoot never end up seeing the light of day. And why is that? Because they dry up in the post-production process.
Whether it's for lack of money, lack of inspiration, lack of enthusiasm, or just plain destitution at ... Show More
1h 7m
Mar 2024
Dunkirk (2017) and Dangerous Minds (1995)
With Christopher Nolan now an Oscar-winner, this particular episode of Film Stories begins by zipping back to 2017, when he had a his first serious drive-by of the Academy Awards. That'd be with Dunkirk, the first time he told a true story on film. It took him a long time to be i ... Show More
56m 19s
Sep 2021
Donald Burt - Production Designer
<p>EPISODE 147 - DONALD BURT - Production Designer</p> <p>Team Deakins delves into the craft of production design with the great production designer, Donald Burt (THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, HOSTILES, MANK). We loved hearing about his path to the film business! We talk a ... Show More
1h 13m