Episodes

  • FT 087: Making Money with Theatrical Self-Distribution with Steven Lewis Simpson

    FT 087: Making Money with Theatrical Self-Distribution with Steven Lewis Simpson
    Nov 15 2021
    I'm very excited to bring this episode to the IFH Tribe. Today on the show we have filmmaker, Filmtrepreneur, and self-distribution expert Steven Lewis Simpson. Steven has been able to generate hundreds of thousands in revenue for his film Neither Wolf Nor Dog without ever releasing it online. He made all his money self-distributing theatrically. Not only in the US but worldwide. In conversation, we discuss how we, as filmmakers, can create our own creative reality, even in an industry as inaccessible as the film business. No one has ever attempted the pan-European distribution he doing or released the way I have in the US. That amazes me as it seems so obvious. The key thing is that people don't want to try what has never been done. Neither Wolf Nor Dog is one of the most culturally important American films in years and stars a 95-year-old Lakota elder who takes the audience into a contemporary landscape and reveals the echoes of the massive American Genocide that they still feel today. Not exactly a blockbuster-style film. At eighteen, Steven Lewis Simpson was Britain’s youngest stockbroker and trader. Four years later he moved to Hollywood to work at legendary Hollywood producer, Roger Corman’s studio. At twenty-three, he directed his award-winning first feature film, Ties. He recently theatrically self-distributed his sixth feature film, Neither Wolf Nor Dog, as he saw the few independent films that actually found distributors in the US were being poorly released. As a result of his re-imagining the theatrical distribution model, his film became the most successful self-distributed film in some time. The film achieved the longest theatrical run of any 2017 release in the USA – a wider release than the last two Palme d'Or winners and often out-grossing blockbusters when heading to head, even though he had no distribution experience. He even has a new masterclass that can help you on your path. This episode might just change the way you look at making money with your film. Steven is a true Filmtrepreneur. Please enjoy my eye-opening conversation with Steven Lewis Simpson.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 25 mins
  • FT 086: How to Build a Profitable Horror Film with Stephen Follows

    FT 086: How to Build a Profitable Horror Film with Stephen Follows
    Nov 1 2021
    Today on the show we have returning champion Stephen Follows. In this Halloween themed episode, we dive into Stephen's opus, The Horror Report. The report was created by using data on every horror film ever made, a data-driven dive into everything from development, production, and distribution to recoupment and profitability. Stephen Follows is an established data researcher in the film industry whose work has been featured in the New York Times, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Evening Standard, Newsweek, The News Statesman, AV Club, and Indiewire. He acted as an industry consultant and guest on the BBC Radio 4 series The Business of Film, which was topped the iTunes podcast chart, and has consulted for a wide variety of clients, including the Smithsonian in Washington. He has been commissioned to write reports for key film industry bodies and his most recent study, looking at gender inequity in the UK film industry and was launched on the BBC Radio 4 ‘Today’ program. Stephen has taught at major film schools, normal business schools, and minor primary schools. His lessons range established topics from Producing at MA and BA level, online video and the business of film producing to more adventurous topics such as measuring the unmeasurable, advanced creative thinking and the psychology of film producing. He has taught at the National Film and Television School (NFTS), Met Film School, NYU, Filmbase, and on behalf of the BFI, the BBC, and the British Council. Stephen has produced over 100 short films and two features. Past clients range from computer game giants, technology giants, and sporting giants but sadly no actual giants. He’s shot people in love, in the air, on the beach, and on fire (although not at the same time) across over a dozen different countries in locations ranging from the Circle Line to the Arctic Circle. Enjoy my eye-opening conversation with Stephen Follows.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 51 mins
  • FT 085: Making and Selling a Niche Indie Film with Rob Smat

    FT 085: Making and Selling a Niche Indie Film with Rob Smat
    Oct 19 2021
    Today on the show we have writer/director Rob Smat. His niche film is THE LAST WHISTLE. It is a Football Drama with a budget of 125K, the crew was almost entirely film students, shot in 13 days in Texas, distributed worldwide by Vertical Ent. for 10 theater releases this past June, and originated as a pitch for Rebel Without a Crew TV show and was turned down so I made it myself Rob formed a cast from high-level B-list stars, fostered relationships with distributors before shooting, and focused on production value without losing sight of the story.  Trying to recoup the budget rather than use the festival circuit to find an audience he did not submit the film to any major festivals, we discuss the pros and cons of that strategy. He was 22 when I started developing the project and wanted THE LAST WHISTLE to lead him to a place where he could build a filmmaking business model that could sustain his filmmaking goals. Enjoy my conversation with Rob Smat.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 16 mins
  • FT 084: Building an Audience & Industry Lessons with RB Botto & Alex Ferrari

    FT 084: Building an Audience & Industry Lessons with RB Botto & Alex Ferrari
    Oct 11 2021
    After 500 episodes I need a break. To celebrate this insane milestone we are flipping the script. Many of you in the IFH Tribe has asked me to have someone interview me on the show. So I asked my long-time friend and current IFH Show appearance record holder (he’s been on the show 13 times) writer, producer, actor, and [REDACTED] to come in and take hosting duties for me. [REDACTED] and I sit down to look back at 500 episodes of Indie Film Hustle. [REDACTED] asks deep questions about my journey with Indie Film Hustle and the podcast. If you have heard any other episodes with [REDACTED] you’ll know that they were EPIC and this episode was no exception. [REDACTED] digs deep so I really think you will enjoy this episode. I also reveal some BIG NEWS. Indie Film Hustle has relocated cross-country to a new company location. I get into why I decided to move out of Los Angeles and much more. Here’s to another 500 episodes of the Indie Film Hustle Podcast. Thank you all for continue to allow me to serve you and do what I love. Thanks to my friend, [REDACTED] for interviewing me.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 21 mins
  • FT 083: The State of Self Distribution in Indie Film with Klaus Badelt

    FT 083: The State of Self Distribution in Indie Film with Klaus Badelt
    Oct 4 2021
    Today on the show I have Klaus Badelt. We do a deep dive into the state of independent film and self-distribution. We also discuss the Distribber debacle and how filmmakers can get access to their films back from Distribber. Klaus is not only a tech entrepreneur he also writes the occasional score for feature films including The Thin Red Line, The Prince of Egypt, Gladiator, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. He also founded Filmhub, a unique way to distribute your indie film. Filmhub allows filmmakers to upload your film for free, while streaming channels discover, order, and stream your work - worldwide. Once revenue starts flowing, 80% goes to you. No deductions or fees. That's it. Enjoy my epic conversation with Klaus Badelt.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 44 mins
  • FT 082: The NO Bullsh*t Guide to Making Your Indie Film with Jeff Leisawitz

    FT 082: The NO Bullsh*t Guide to Making Your Indie Film with Jeff Leisawitz
    Sep 13 2021
    Have you ever been in a place where nothing is going right creatively? Do you ever feel like you are standing in your own way? Me too. Today's guest is author Jeff Leisawitz who wrote Not F*ing Around— the No Bullsh*t Guide for Getting Your Creative Dreams Off the Ground.  This little pack is quite a punch. I wanted to have Jeff on the show to drop some knowledge bombs to wake up the tribe a bit. To help you get out of your own way; to get you out of any creative rut. This guidebook is a manual for creatives who can't quite get their creative juices flowing? The day job sucking your soul? Fizzled out before you put the finishing touches on your amazing creation? With relentless positivity, full-on authenticity, and a punk rock thunder spirit, author Jeff Leisawitz pulls back the curtain on the creative process and reminds us that we are all creative SuperStars. It's time to get off the couch and get on the path. It's time to tap into the cosmic heartbeat that thumps in your chest and shines from your soul. It's time to get NFA! About Jeff Leisawitz: Jeff is an award-winning musician/ producer, a critically acclaimed author, and an internationally distributed filmmaker who has devoted his life to creativity. As the guy behind Electron Love Theory, Jeff fused interviews with Seattle’s WTO demonstrators into electronic music, garnering more than a quarter-million downloads worldwide. Jeff has released five studio albums and has landed thousands of music placements in film, TV, and multimedia for clients like HBO, MTV, Discovery, Microsoft, NBC, and many others. As the founding writer for Seattle’s taste-making alternative rock station 107.7 The End, he chronicled the alternative grunge scene in the 90s. After training as a Life Coach and practicing NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Re-Patterning) Jeff landed a gig as an adjunct faculty member at Pacific Lutheran University— teaching college students to rock. (Seriously) When creative businesses, schools, and organizations like Brown Paper Tickets, Tacoma School of the Arts, Gage Academy of Art, Northwest Film Forum, and others need to amp up the creativity, Jeff leads workshops and events to fire up the creative spirit and empower people to tap into their true potential. Enjoy my conversation with Jeff Leisawitz.
    Show more Show less
    58 mins
  • FT 081: How to Shoot a Feature Film in Two Days with Grant Pichla

    FT 081: How to Shoot a Feature Film in Two Days with Grant Pichla
    Sep 6 2021
    Today on the show we have a director who shot a time travel feature film in two days, his name is Grant Pichla and his film is called Making Time. Making Time's 110 pages were shot in just two crazy, fast-paced days, separated by seven months and a house renovation. After traveling back in time, a divorced workaholic must repeat his past footsteps in order to return to an unaltered present but struggles when it means re-proposing to his ex-wife. How'd they shot​ a full movie in 2 days? This documentary series explains it all. This remarkable documentary is available on Indie Film Hustle TV. Grant and I discuss the insanity of shooting a film in two days, how he came up with this crazy idea, and what it took to put this beast together. Enjoy my conversation with Grant Pichla. 
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • FT 080: The RAW TRUTH about Film Distribution in Today's World with Shaked Berenson

    FT 080: The RAW TRUTH about Film Distribution in Today's World with Shaked Berenson
    Aug 9 2021
    Today on the show we have film producer and distributor Shaked Berenson. Shaked has been on the show a few times now and each time he brings a wealth of knowledge bombs to the tribe. Shaked is the CEO of The Horror Collective company---a community of independent horror filmmakers, connecting their films to fans, transparently. It provides direct distribution combined with a cost-effective, high-impact festival, marketing, and release strategy. Shaked Berenson produced, and executive produced 22 features and two television series including many horrors and cult favorites such as Turbo Kid (2015), Big Ass Spider (2013), The Aggression Scale (2012), and most recently, The Man Who Killed Hitler, and The Bigfoot (2019), Extra Ordinary (2019), Pretending I'm A Spiderman - The Tony Hawk Video Game Story (2020), and The Lodgers (2018). In the past 15 years, Shaked financed, marketed, and distributed over 120 films across all genres. He served as a Board Director for IFTA™ (Independent Film & Television Alliance) since 2011, a PGA (Producers Guild of America) member since 2013, and currently on the advisory board of The Film Collaborative, a non-profit committed to distribution education and facilitation of independent film. In this episode, Shaked and I discuss the realities of film distribution in today's world, why most indie films fail to make money, why many film distributors screw over filmmakers, and how filmmakers can better position their films for the marketplace. The RAW TRUTH that Shaked and I discuss is not for the faint of heart but I truly hope it helps filmmakers better understand the marketplace they are entering. Enjoy my conversation with Shaked Berenson.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 57 mins