How To Build A Following w/4MileCircus

Social Media! That ever elusive combination lock that we all struggle to get right. How to get followers, how to get shares, how to get likes, how to get people to pay attention to you and your film! Well, this week, we sit down with Sean Mannion and Nicole Solomon at 4MileCircus and discuss exactly that.

4MileCircus is a media company who offer their services in video production, social media management, teaching workshops, training seminars and more, all to help you create better content. They share a few of their methods on how to create a social media following for your first film. 

Don't forget to listen to the 4MileCircus podcast for this week as well, which feature Manny and Lindsay discussing making their first film, and a few other choice subjects which harp on why, sometimes, Filmmaking Sucks.

And a huge thanks to Sean and Nicole for usage of their equipment for this episode! Check them out at 4milecircus.com and see how they can help you make good films!

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
You can also now follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“The first rule of social media is that everything changes all the time. What won’t change is the community’s desire to network.”

— Kami Huyse

Staying Motivated and Creating Goals

Happy New Year everyone! Today marks the one-year anniversary of the first episode of Filmmaking Sucks AND the first episode of the new year, so we decided to do a bit of a year end wrap-up.

A huge part of this struggle is keeping yourself motivated in the face of so much rejection and, plain and simple, a lack of time. Between working to pay the bills, and shooting your films on weekends, how do you find the time to actually promote yourself at events? You lose sleep, you lose a social life and essentially free time as a whole. The road to getting noticed is definitely a long-game. It takes 20 years to become an overnight success, so you have to plan to put the time in, and try to not focus on doing too much at once. 

This week we will talk about some of our personal goals and how we budget some of our time in order to always keep ourselves working towards our long-term goals. 

You can catch us next weekend, Jan 12th-14th at the Macabre Faire Film Festival, where Lindsays film "Beneath" will be screening on Saturday and Sunday. Lindsay will also be part of the Women In Horror Panel, and Manny will be hosting the Cinematography Panel, featuring Jill Poisson and Phil Kral. Go to MacabreFaireFilmFest.com to buy tickets!

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
You can also now follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
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“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.”

— Neil Gaiman

Ax Wound Film Festival Filmmakers Panel

The 3rd annual Ax Wound Film Festival is a celebration of Women in Horror, and Lindsay's new film Beneath was selected to be part of the festival.

Hosted by Jay Kay of Horror Happens Radio, the panel includes Lindsay Serrano, Julia K. Berkey (Gemmas Monster), Aislinn Clarke (Childer), Stee McMorris (Strange Harvest), England Simpson (Prelude: A Love Story), Kathryn McManus (Knock Knock II), Jennifer Bonior & Dycee Wildman (Inside The House), Marinah Janello (Entropia), Nicole Solomon (Mare), Monika Estrella Negra (Flesh), and Christina Raia (Enough).

The panel discusses what it's like to be a woman working in media, and especially the horror industry. Their thoughts on the Ax Wound Film Festival and other female-centric festivals, as well as working with practical effects, the importance of being subversive towards the mainstream, and guerrilla filmmaking.

You can check out the Ax Wound Film Festival at the Women In Horror Month Website. Submissions for the 2018 fest open in a few months. Whether you are accepted or not, whether you are a male or female filmmaker, we advise you all to strongly consider making the trip out to Vermont to be part of the festival. 

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
You can also now follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
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“I don’t go up to another film director and say, Boy, you are a great male film director.’ So what’s curious to me is why it’s so gender specific with me. I get a lot of questions about ‘How could you make a film with this kind of subject matter?’ How could you do this as a woman and a mother?’ My answer: women can be terrible! Have you ever been to high school? Girls have as much love in them as they have viciousness because they’re human beings. Violence and horror films are not gender specific.”

— Jennifer Lynch

BONUS! Masters of Horror Panel from Fear NYC!

We attended the Fear NYC Horror Film Festival in October, and filmed the "Masters of Horror" panel hosted by Jay Kay of Horror Happens Radio, featuring producer and journalist Heather Buckley, Horror Historian Tyler Hixson, director Colin Adams-Toomey, Director & Actress Adrienne Lovette, and actor Nicholas Tucci. 

The panel discussed the past and future of horror, the importance of diversity in front of and behind the camera, the use of CGI in horror, indie filmmaking, budgets and so much more. 

Listen to HorrorHappens Radio hosted by Jay Kay every Tuesday afternoon at 4pm on HGRNJ.org and check out his future guests, as well as archived conversations and interviews at www.horrorhappens.com

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
You can also now follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

Tips for a Successful Seed & Spark Campaign

Crowdfunding is becoming a huge part of independent film production. A few weeks back, we attended the Ax Wound Film Festival, and were able to attend a workshop hosted by Christina Raia discussing crowdfunding and specifically the platform Seed & Spark. 

She discussed methods of starting your campaign, perks you can offer, different ways of promoting your film, keeping in touch with your contributors, and getting others involved in your film, among many other methods of launching a successful crowdfunding campaign.

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
You can also now follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“Before you even start building your crowdfunding page, Start building a crowd first.”

— Roy Morejon

The Stuff You Need To Get Your Film Made

We're back! 
After a lengthy hiatus, which we totally didn't intend, we're finally back. This week, we discuss a panel we sat in on at the New York Short Film Festival, about How To Get our Feature Made, and cover some of the talking points hit by the panelist Rob Margolies. 

Is it the right time to make the film? Do you have the right script? The right people? The right locations? The right budget? We talk what is the "combination lock" that many producers consider to be the way to get your feature film made, and be successful. 

So, just keeping it short, lets get into the episode! 

Upcoming Events:
Krampus AP Film Festival in Asbury Park Dec 1st & 2nd, our short film Grub vom Krampus will be screening there.
The Northeast Film Festival Horror Fest at Teaneck Cinemas, Teaneck, NJ on Dec 6th & 7th, our newest feature Theta States will screen Dec 6th at 830pm. 
Bizarre Haunted Flea Market in Old Bethpage, NY Dec 9th & 10th, Grub vom Krampus will also play there, and we will be there with a vendors table selling DVDs and some of our horror-inspired art! 

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
You can also now follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“When I was a kid, there was no collaboration; it’s you with a camera bossing your friends around. But as an adult, filmmaking is all about appreciating the talents of the people you surround yourself with and knowing you could never have made any of these films by yourself.”

— Steven Spielberg

Breaking Out Of Your Personal Bubble

Happy month of Halloween! We've spent the last couple of weeks at different film festivals, including the Shawna Shea Film Festival and Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. On top of winning two awards, we watched a lot of excellent films, and learned a lot about ourselves, our strengths, our weaknesses and were able to realize what some of our near-future goals are. 

An important part of being able to grow and improve your craft is the ability to self-reflect, self-critique and look at your own work objectively. It's not the easiest thing to do, but it is imperative to your personal growth as a filmmaker and artist. On this episode we discuss what we've learned over the past few weeks and how we (and you!) can work to improve our films. 

November 4th at 9:30pm, Linsdays new film "Beneath" is screening as part of the New York Short Film Festival at Cinema Village in Manhattan! Tickets go on sale this week. Join us for the New York Premiere of Lindsays first film! 

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
You can also now follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“I do not take constructive criticism from people who have never constructed anything.”

— Eric Thomas

The Seven Basic Plots in Horror Movies

To kick off the Halloween Season, we have decided to attempt to cover subjects that relate directly to horror films for this month, and we kick it off with a conversation relating to something we recently spoke about in our Production Apps episode: The Seven Basic Plots.

In writing, generally all stories can fall into one of 7 basic plots, which are explained heavily in the book The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker. By learning and understanding these guidelines for writing, you can gain a better perspective on your story, and will help you in creating more complex and interesting characters and stories. 

In a horror twist, we have decided to explain how these basic plot lines can be used in making great horror films. Every horror film ever made is the first plotline of "Overcoming The Monster" but what makes great horror is when you combine multiple structures into your stories. Using examples of some of the greatest horror films including The Shining, Alien, Rosemarys Baby, Nightbreed, Event Horizon, Night Of the Living Dead, and many others. 

Thursday, October 5th at 4pm is the New England Premiere of our film, Theta States! We will be the first film of the Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival! Both of us will be on-hand for all three days of the fest, so please come on out to support this wonderful charity and celebrate independent artists and filmmakers. Tickets for the screening are only $10!
#SwagBag https://www.shawnasheaff.com/

You can find the Shawna Shea Memorial Foundation, where donations are welcome, here: http://www.shawnafoundation.org/

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
You can also now follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“Scripts are what matter. If you get the foundations right and then you get the right ingredients on top, you stand a shot… but if you get those foundations wrong, then you absolutely don’t stand a shot. It’s very rare–almost never–that a good film gets made from a bad screenplay.”

— Tim Bevan

Prepping Deliverables and Credit Blocks

When your movie is complete, and you've found distribution, there is a list of items that the distributor (or sales agent) will ask for so that they can properly package and sell your film. This is called your Deliverables.

This list contains very specific requirements for your film including the final rendered version, M+E tracks, 5.1 audio, specific codecs, your script, dialogue tracks, and more. Unfortunately, most filmmakers do not know what the list will include until they are presented with a distribution contract, in which case they are then forced to scramble to get it all done, only to realize some they sometimes cannot meet these requirements. This doesn't mean your deal is finished, but it does handcuff your distributor on how far they can push your film. So, this week we will discuss many of the items that are on that list of requirements, and help you to prepare for this list. 

On that list as well, your distributor will ask for the Credit Block, and while most think its just a list of people who worked on the film, it turns out the credit block is something that is a high point of contention and negotiation with actors, producers, directors and all the unions. So, we will explain each piece of the credit block who gets credited, how they get credited, the order they are credited in, and how you can use your credit block to negotiate with your cast and crew. 

October 5th at 4pm has been announced as the official New England Premiere of our film Theta States! We have been selected to be part of the Shawna Shea Foundation Film Festival, and will be the opening film of the festival! Both of us will be on-hand for all three days of the fest, so please come on out to support this wonderful charity and celebrate independent artists and filmmakers. #SwagBag https://www.shawnasheaff.com/

You can find the Shawna Shea Memorial Foundation, where donations are welcome, here: http://www.shawnafoundation.org/

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
We have also (contrary to what was said in this episode) opened our Facebook page, so you can now follow the podcast at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“When a movie is about to come out on its initial debut, there are a lot of people involved - the financiers, the studio and the producers and also, many times, the foreign distributors. So it is a time of tremendous pressure and uncertainty.”

— Francis Ford Coppola

Low Cost Production Apps and Programs

This week on Filmmaking Sucks we discuss some of the low-cost production apps and programs which will help to streamline your production, especially wen shooting with a small crew!

We begin discussing CineSummit 7, which will go live next week, Sept 12&13. Cinesummit presents numerous video lectures and seminars over the course of two days, taught by industry professionals, and is completely free! Check out this great yearly resource of knowledge and information that can help bring your productions to the next level.

After that, if there's one thing you can never have too many of is apps and programs that make production smoother. So we discuss a few of the programs we use ourselves. Some are cheap, some are not, and some are free! We'll discuss what each program does, and how you can utilize it on your next production!

Wednesday, Sept 13th is the premiere screening of our newest short, An Act Of Concession at Neirs Tavern in Woodhaven, Queens! Free to attend, so come on out, see some indie films, along with ours, and #SupportIndieFilm!

October 5th at 4pm has been announced as the official New England Premiere of our film Theta States! We have been selected to be part of the Shawna Shea Foundation Film Festival, and will be the opening film of the festival! Both of us will be on-hand for all three days of the fest, so please come on out to support this wonderful charity and celebrate independent artists and filmmakers. #SwagBag https://www.shawnasheaff.com/

You can find the Shawna Shea Memorial Foundation, where donations are welcome, here: http://www.shawnafoundation.org/

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
We have also (contrary to what was said in this episode) opened our Facebook page, so you can now follow the podcast at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

How To Prep With Your Director of Photography

Film is a visual medium, and your Director Of Photography is the person who will bring your visual story to life. They help you craft the story through lenses, angles, lighting, movement and color. But, they are incapable of bringing your vision to life if they are ill-prepared. 

This week, we discuss a few of the basic elements of your film that needs to be decided upon during pre-production, so your DP can do their job efficiently, and create the film you set out to make.

If you are in the NYC area, come on out to Lovecraft Bar NYC on Friday, August 25th and join us for a screening of three of our short films, among many others, as we celebrate the 127th Birthday of HP Lovecraft! #HBHP
https://www.facebook.com/events/718929351624306/permalink/732927853557789/

October 6th-8th has been announced as the official New England Premiere of our film Theta States! We have been selected to be part of the Shawna Shea Foundation Film Festival. Both of us will be on-hand for the weekend, so please come on out to support this wonderful charity and celebrate independent artists and filmmakers. #SwagBag https://www.shawnasheaff.com/

You can find the Shawna Shea Memorial Foundation, where donations are welcome, here: http://www.shawnafoundation.org/

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
We have also (contrary to what was said in this episode) opened our Facebook page, so you can now follow the podcast at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“ And later I thought, I can’t think how anyone can become a director without learning the craft of cinematography. I was very glad later when I was directing that I wasn’t in the hands of a cinematographer and hoping that he would do it well. I would know what he was doing, and we could discuss how that scene would look. It was just lucky in a way that I didn’t go to film school and just learnt all this on the floor.”

— Nicolas Roeg

No-Budget Filmmaking Hacks

Keeping things low-budget can be difficult, and there are many things indie filmmakers do to stretch their budgets as far as possible. 

This week, we discuss a few of the methods we have used in the past to achieve professional results on an amateur budget. From home-made (and safe!) squibs and blood pumps, how to create a gun muzzle blast with ANY editing software, to inexpensive lighting diffusion and a $5 follow focus. We hit on all of these, plus more items that will help you get that shot you've always wanted, but thought you couldn't afford. 

Come on out to Lovecraft Bar NYC on Friday, August 25th at 6pm and join us for the HP Lovecraft 127th Birthday Party, and check out three of our short films there; Sleepless, The Au Pair and Knock Knock! 

50 Avenue B, New York NY, 10009
$5 entry donation, one drink purchase mine
21+ event.
HORROR Readings 6pm - 9pm
BANDS 9pm -midnight
HORROR ART SHOW/FILMS 6pm - midnight

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
We have also (contrary to what was said in this episode) opened our Facebook page, so you can now follow the podcast at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“Even a low-budget film costs way more money than a high-priced record. So, it’s mo’ money, mo’ problems. When you have more money, it just creates more people trying to get involved and you have more trouble.”

— Rob Zombie

Directors: What You Need To Know Before Shooting

On most Low and No-Budget films, the director is usually also the writer, and producer, sometimes camera operator and editor as well. With all of these hats to wear, there are a few key components to being a director that you need to know and have to consider before shooting your film. 

There's more to making a film that just writing it then grabbing a bunch of your buddies and calling yourself a director. Wanting to help you make the most out of your limited budget and means, pre-production is a big part of your film, and its not just for producers. Directors answer many important questions during pre-production that will allow them to walk onto the set ready, with a clear head and on a definitive track of what you're getting out of this movie. This week, we discuss some of the duties of the director, and how to mentally prepare yourself for your film, shooting, editing and the release.

We also cover some of the things we have been working on, updates on Lindsays' new film, and a few of the people we've been working with lately, as well as a slight touch on post-production audio. 

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
We have also (contrary to what was said in this episode) opened our Facebook page, so you can now follow the podcast at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“Your film is like your children. You might want a child with certain qualities, but you are never going to get the exact specification right. The film has a privilege to live its own life and develop its own character. To suppress this is dangerous. It is an approach that works the other way too: sometimes the footage has amazing qualities that you did not expect”

— Werner Herzog

48 Hour Film Races - Shooting Under Pressure

Film Races are something we've always enjoyed doing, ever since we began making movies. Our first film race was in 2007 for the Alamo Drafthouse Bloodshots Competition. We have competed in three others since then, we hosted a panel discussion about them at Macabre Faire in 2014, and Manny recently was a judge for the Madison, WI wing of The 48 Hour Film Project contest. 

This week on the podcast, we discuss our time spent competing in these races, how we got the work done, and tell you about the three films we shot over the last two weeks, which have taken up all of our time, which is the reason we haven't had a new episode! haha

If you want to check out our Annabelle-Inspired short at MyAnnabelleCreation.com: go to View Gallery and click the one labeled "Manny S. Woodhaven, NY" and help us get noticed by the Filmchilla Film Festival by posting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram the hashtags #Filmchilla, #ChillaContest and #ThetaStates, and if you bought a ticket already, or or planning to buy a ticket, please tell them Theta States sent you!

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
We have also (contrary to what was said in this episode) opened our Facebook page, so you can now follow the podcast at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“I’m under pressure with all my films. And the reason we are always under pressure is because it’s only in our profession that months and even years of hard work is judged by the first show on Friday.”

— Mahesh Babu

First Day On Your First Film With A 5 Person Crew

Your first film set can be a big undertaking, and you need to be prepared or your filmmaking journey will be over before it begins.
Where do I shoot?
What do I need?
What should I prepare for?
How many people do I need on my crew?
Who does what??
Do I seriously have to feed everyone?!
Having started out with a 4 person crew years ago, and to this day, we still attempt to keep our crews as small and efficient as possible, we will discuss all of these questions, and more on this episode!

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.
We have also (contrary to what was said in this episode) opened our Facebook page, so you can now follow the podcast at www.facebook.com/filmmakingpodcast!
#FilmmakingSucks

“I’m probably in the car on the way to the studio. Which, as it happens, reminds me of a conversation I had with Steven Spielberg about what was the most difficult and challenging thing about directing a film. And I believe Steven summed it up about as profoundly as you can. He thought the most difficult and challenging thing about directing a film was getting out of the car. I’m sure you all know the feeling.”

— Stanley Kubrick's DW Griffith Award Acceptance Speech

How To Network w/Writer-Director Louie Cortes

This week Manny and Lindsay sit down with filmmaker, and long-time collaborator Louie Cortes. Together, the three of us as written, produced and directed our first feature film, Blood Slaughter Massacre, our web-series-turned-featurette, The Attack Of The Brain People, and a number of short films, including Louies' web series Holidays Of Terror. When we began working separately, creatively, Louie produced Good Day with us on crew, and we produced Theta States, with him on crew.

Last week, we discussed how to Micro-Budget your script, and we mentioned how one of the biggest assets in doing low/no budget films is having a crew that you collaborate with regularly. These people will be there on your sets, and you will be on their sets. Rather than you paying them $200 per day, and then they paying you $200 a day right back, you work, indebted to each other, with the combined purpose of getting your projects done and out into the world. All of our films began from simply seeing each other on the subway one day, and talking. That's all there is to networking and building your creative group. 

Today we'll discuss the ways we have met the many members of our regular crew, and the multitude of other places you can find filmmakers, actors, and other creatives! 

Check out Louies work and films at www.newneedleproductions.com 

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.

“I think the movie business and film crews are a little bit like the circus, in that we travel around like a pack and we’re a big family for a finite period of time. We roll into someplace, cause a bunch of damage, and then roll out.”

— Francis Lawrence

How To MicroBudget Your Script

We're back! Our computer unfortunately died on us (we did discuss it during the recording, but that turned into a 20+ minute discussion, so it was cut. we'll cover the issue we had on a future episode discussing hardware and software you can use!) so we've been away trying to sort that all out, install the new PC, and get everything up and running.

Two weeks ago, Lindsay was on one of our favorite Filmmaking podcasts, Making Movies Is Hard, and she discussed their prospects of making their own first feature film and how to re-work their budget to affordable levels. So, this week, we give you our response to that interview, and talk about how we keep our budgets down for our films. 

We discuss our own methods and experiences producing the films Blood Slaughter Massacre, Theta States, Good Day, Attack Of The Brain People, Zombie Hunters: City Of The Dead, and the countless short films we've worked on over the past 12 years. The people who we've worked for free for, the favors we've asked for, and fulfilled, bartering your services for assistance, supporting other filmmakers, finding locations for cheap or free, and most importantly, getting your film done at a price you can afford. 

Check out the links below for some of the films, podcasts and videos we discussed in this episode, and get to making your first film!

Making Movies Is Hard! Podcast (Lindsay can be heard on Episode 104)
Mark Duplass - SXSW Keynote
Zombie Hunters: City of the Dead
Madison 48 Hour Film Project

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.

“Who gives the fuck about the cavalry? You are the cavalry. You have a group of friends that needs your support. As they get more successful and you make a shitty movie, they will lift you up. This will equalize you. You have a bevy of work behind you and not one of those are you embarrassed to show your children later on. Most importantly, you’re now in a corner of the sandbox that is completely your own. No one can stop you from doing exactly what you want to do. If you can accept that the cavalry won’t come, and if you can be the cavalry, it gives you a chance to be happy.”

— Mark Duplass

What are Development Funds?

Manny and Lindsay take on a subject that many independent filmmakers are unaware of this week, and that is Development Funds. This area of your budget is not always necessary, and it depends on what your film budget is actually going to be. 
What are development funds? Where does this money come from? When do you pay it back (if at all)? How does this affect your films budget as a whole? Where do you investors fit into this fund?
As part of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts Women Filmmakers series, we sat in on the "Working Above the Micro-Budget Level" Workshop with Naomi McDougall Jones and Sarah Wharton where this was discussed. So we got this straight from two sources who have done it themselves, and we are here to share what we learned with you. 

Catch us at the Severed VHS Trade and Short Film Night, this Saturday May 27th, where we will be premiering our new short film, Knock Knock, and we will have a table for the day. Grab tickets here: www.shermantheater.com/?e=event&eventId=21952&rDate=5/27/2017
And Sunday May 28th, you can see our new film Theta States at the First Contact Film Festival at 2:40pm, along with a full day of other indie horror and scifi films. Tickets are $10 for the day, and you can get them here: filmfreeway.com/festival/firstcontact/tickets

Subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, Google Play, or your favorite podcatching app. And don't forget to rate and review us! Email us at filmmakingsucks@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or subjects you'd like to hear us discuss.

“When you’re making an independent film, it’s like this actor plus this actor equals this funding, this financing. Pull this actor out, this actor is still here but this money’s gone. It’s this frightening puzzle mosaic that is the world of independent film.”

— Jill Soloway

Books Vs Scripts w/ Author Loren Molloy

This week on Filmmaking Sucks, Manny and Lindsay sit down with author Loren Molloy to discuss the differences between writing a book vs a script. Besides the obvious format differences, when writing a novel, the creator tends to be less restricted in their story writing, but there still must be some level of constraint. With a script, you must be stricter with your writing, but more can be left open to interpretation, so it can be left available to create on set. 

We also get into the hot debate of the movies vs the novel/comics and discuss a few other subjects regarding them. 

You can find Loren Molloys books at lorenmolloy.com and see her at the upcoming shows Scare A Con and Grindhouse Night at Cafe Z!

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“I love the movies, and when I go to see a movie that’s been made from one of my books, I know that it isn’t going to be exactly like my novel because a lot of other people have interpreted it. But I also know it has an idea that I’ll like because that idea occurred to me, and I spent a year, or a year and a half of my life working on it.”

— Stephen King

Working Conventions

This week on Filmmaking Sucks, Lindsay and Manny discuss what is like working the convention circuit. Many indie filmmakers, especially those in the horror genre, decide to forego the traditional distribution route, and opt instead to sell their films themselves by running tables at conventions like Monster Mania, Chiller Theatre, Horrorhound, Texas Frightmare, Cinema Wasteland, and more. 
Here on the North-East coast, the convention circuit filmmakers are like a family, and these events are like a reunion to us. We love doing the shows, seeing each other, sometimes filming in the hotels, and hanging out with everyone. We'll discuss many of the perks, and the not-so-perks of choosing this path. The costs involved, the legalities, and the benefits of building relationships within this community. 
We also discuss how working conventions differ from doing film festivals, and our personal feelings on the two venues. 

You can catch us vending at the Severed Film Fest at the Sherman Theater on May 27th in Stroudsberg, PA and for the screening of Theta States at 2:40pm at the First Contact Film Festival on May 28th, at Camp Jefferson in Lake Hopatcong, NJ!
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Profile Image credit to Todd Staruch