In this episode of the Filmmaking Stuff Podcast, host Tom Malloy dives into three key situations where increasing your movie budget can significantly enhance the final product. Learn why raising your budget for cast, scope, and production value can drive better sales and improve your film’s on-screen quality. Malloy shares real-world examples and cautions fi ... Show More
Apr 15
Indie Film Distribution: What Filmmakers Get Wrong
Why do most indie films fail to make money? In this episode, we break down the real reason—filmmakers focus on production, not distribution—and how to build a clear path to sales, investors, and ROI from the start.
2m 53s
Mar 18
How to Avoid Making an Invisible Film
Why do some indie films completely disappear after release? In this episode, we break down the concept of the “invisible film” — movies that get uploaded to platforms but generate little to no revenue. Learn why platform saturation, over-reliance on distributors, and lack of film ... Show More
3m 8s
Mar 11
The Collapse of the Mid-Budget Indie Film
The mid-budget independent film model is collapsing — and most filmmakers don’t see it coming. In this episode, I break down why $750K–$5M films are struggling, how the loss of DVD revenue and platform saturation changed the market, why B-list cast no longer guarantees sales, and ... Show More
5m 17s
Aug 2024
Want To Make Worldbuilding Movies? ‘Borderlands’ EP Emmy Yu on Development, Production & Why VFX Should Be Onboard ASAP
Producers are involved in every step of creating a film, from development to post-production. The role of a producer is not only to keep everyone on the same page but also to remove barriers so the cast and crew can focus on the creative elements needed to create a fantastic film ... Show More
55m 59s
Feb 2018
Why You Need to Stop Making Excuses and Make a Short Film
To say that it’s tough to play your short at Sundance is an understatement. In 2018, 69 shorts were picked from 8,740 submissions. While there’s no simple formula on how to make a short film will get into Sundance, programmer Dilcia Barerra told No Film School that there is one i ... Show More
50m 53s
Dec 2023
'Share?' Director Ira Rosensweig on Full Stack Filmmaking
Ira Rosensweig is the director and editor of Share?, a science fiction thriller that was shot entirely from one fixed camera angle. This film will creep you out, but in a good way, as it prompts you to take an honest look at your relationship with social media.
In today’s episod ... Show More
46m 22s
Jul 2025
Run-and-Gun Risks and When Jim Cummings Becomes Your EP
In this episode, GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman dig into the behind-the-scenes business of micro-budget filmmaking. They tackle a fan-submitted Ask No Film School question about run-and-gun filmmaking risks, E&O insurance, and securing distribution when shooting without proper pe ... Show More
1h 11m
Jul 2024
How To Write a Movie To Shoot (In Three Months)
On this special episode of the No Film School podcast, host GG Hawkins shares her experience of writing her first feature, 'I Really Love My Husband' on a small budget and arguably, an even smaller timeline. She discusses the constraints she faced, the collaborative writing proce ... Show More
24m 50s
Aug 2024
HEM72: Mentoring the Next Generation and the Editing of GREEDY PEOPLE
Episode 72 features editor Jamie Kirkpatrick, ACE and assistant editor Amanda K. Romero (a former student of the Hollywood Editing Mentor program), discussing their work on the feature film Greedy People, directed by Potsy Ponciroli and starring Himesh Patel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt ... Show More
45m 40s
Oct 2024
How to Scale Video Editing With an AI Storytelling Partner
As AI continues to reshape creative industries, video editing is undergoing a major transformation. Tools like Eddie AI are making the editing process faster, more efficient, and more accessible to filmmakers. By acting as a storytelling partner, AI can quickly generate rough cut ... Show More
45m 43s