In filmmaking, things fall through all the time—financing disappears, actors drop out, deals change, and rejection comes with the territory. In this episode, I explain my Ant Theory and how I’ve used it throughout my filmmaking career: instead of sitting around thinking about what went wrong, figure out what you need to do next and take action. It’s a simple ... Show More
Oct 7
The Mexican Fisherman Story: Rethinking Success
What if you already have the life you’re working toward? In this episode, I take a break from film financing and distribution to share the Mexican Fisherman Story. It’s a simple, inspiring reminder to think about what success means to you, enjoy time with your family, and appreci ... Show More
2m 33s
Sep 30
How Much Is Your Indie Film Really Worth?
Your indie film isn’t automatically worth what you spent making it. In this episode, I break down how the marketplace actually determines an indie film’s value—and why cast, genre, audience, festival exposure, buzz, timing, and buyer demand can matter far more than your productio ... Show More
4m 1s
Sep 23
Why Box Office Gross Does NOT Equal Profit
Why doesn't a $20 million movie that grosses $30 million at the box office automatically make a $10 million profit? Because that's not how theatrical movie economics work. In this episode, I break down the real numbers behind a theatrical release, including production budgets, P& ... Show More
3m 4s
Sep 2017
Pitching Do's and Don’ts: How to Get Your Film Funded
This week’s guests have heard over 10,000 pitches between them and, in this episode, they reveal what works and what doesn't when you're trying to raise money for your films. No Film School’s Liz Nord is joined by Molly O’Brien (Chief Business Development Officer of Fork Films), ... Show More
35m 7s
Oct 2023
Adventures in Indie Filmmaking and Leveraging Famous Faces
How do you handle post set blues? How do you properly adapt something you don’t have the rights for? What can we all learn from Taylor Swift’s recent movie?
In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, and Jason Hellerman discuss:
Shooting an indie film in p ... Show More
56m 59s
Jan 2024
Crucial Advice on Pitching Your TV Show
If you want to network, grow, and succeed as a filmmaker, you have to learn to get comfortable talking about your work. Luckily there are programs, like the Moonshot Initiative, which help emerging filmmakers successfully pitch their projects without feeling confused or afraid.
... Show More
41m 31s
May 2023
Is Your Project Fellowship-Ready? Plus, Find The Perfect IP For You
With the WGA being on its third week of strike, we can’t help but start to think about all the ways the industry is changing and what that looks like for us filmmakers. Will Hollywood still seek out our creative ideas, or will we be pushed to only making IP projects in order to m ... Show More
52m 22s
Apr 2023
Golden Elevator to Indie Film? Plus, Rolling Calls
How can a truly independent film find success at the large film festivals? How does one manage to get well-known actors to star in your film? The answer is simple, yet takes effort. You need to get in the mix!
In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine and GG Hawkins dis ... Show More
44m 52s