The Indie Film Hustle Podcast is your #1 source for how to hack the film business and indie film world! The show is here to help as many indie filmmakers as I could. We wanted to bring the best guests, industry leaders, creative legends, and film business friends to you, the IFH Tribe. Some of the past guests include 3X Oscar® Winning Writer/Director Oliver Stone, Barry Sonnenfeld (Men in Black), Alex Proyas (The Crow, I, Robot), James V. Hart (writer Dracula, Hook), John August (Big Fish, Aladdin), Jim Uhls (writer of Fight Club), Oscar® Winner Russell Carpenter (DP of Avatar, Titanic) Joe Carnahan (Smokin' Aces, The Grey), and David F. Sandberg (Shazam!) to name a few. We hope this podcast can help you along your journey as an artist, filmtrepreneur, filmmaker, screenwriter, and as a human being. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support .
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Episode #871
IFH 871: The Screenwriting Advice Hollywood Writers Actually Use with Andrew Bloomenthal
Sep 8, 202650 min
Entertainment writer, screenwriter, and independent filmmaker Andrew Bloomenthal joins the show to discuss what years of interviewing working screenwriters and directors taught him about storytelling, preparation, and the filmmaking business. Andrew explains how his background in financial journalism unexpectedly opened the door to entertainment writing, eventually giving him opportunities to interview filmmakers including Oliver Stone and Michael Moore and contribute to publications such as Creative Screenwriting and Script Magazine. He also shares why every assignment should be treated as a calling card, how detailed research produces better conversations with filmmakers, and why writers need to develop an economy of words regardless of what they're writing. The conversation also gets into deadlines, developing your own screenplays, transitioning from writing to production, and Andrew's experience preparing to shoot a musical short film. He discusses casting actors, recording musical tracks before production, scouting locations, planning shots, and the excitement that comes when something that existed only on the page begins becoming a real film. For aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers, Andrew's experience reinforces a practical lesson: preparation matters, but eventually you have to move beyond thinking about making a film and actually start producing it. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support .
IFH 870: He Waited 11 YEARS to Make His Movie—Then Jimmy Kimmel Changed Everything with Don Barris
Sep 1, 20261h 15m
What happens when Hollywood never comes knocking? Comedian, filmmaker, podcaster, and longtime Jimmy Kimmel collaborator Don Barris shares the unconventional journey that eventually led to the cult comedy Windy City Heat. After leaving Michigan for California, Don struggled through stand-up, lived in his car for extended periods, and spent years developing his own comedy projects rather than waiting for Hollywood to discover him. That persistence eventually connected him with Jimmy Kimmel and helped transform an unusual Comedy Store concept into one of the strangest cult comedies ever produced. Don also takes us behind the scenes of Windy City Heat, revealing how its elaborate real-life prank was constructed and why unpredictable reactions created filmmaking challenges unlike those of a traditional feature. Beyond the insanity of Windy City Heat, this conversation offers practical lessons for filmmakers and creators trying to build careers outside the traditional Hollywood system. Don discusses the importance of creating your own opportunities, developing long-term industry relationships, using podcasts and digital platforms to build an audience, and turning that audience into leverage for larger creative projects. From Jimmy Kimmel championing the movie to Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth, and Jack Black discovering the film, Don’s journey demonstrates how unconventional work can develop a life far beyond its original release—and why filmmakers shouldn't depend entirely on gatekeepers to determine whether their projects get made. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support .
IFH 869: He Made 1,500 Short Films Before Hollywood Took Notice with Michael Rousselet
Aug 25, 20261h 11m
What happens when Hollywood keeps saying no, but you refuse to stop making movies? Filmmaker and screenwriter Michael Rousselet shares the unconventional path that took him from USC film school to creating more than 1,500 Five Second Films and eventually co-writing and directing the cult comedy Dude Bro Party Massacre III. Michael breaks down what film school actually taught him, why failure is essential to becoming a better filmmaker, how constant production sharpened his craft, and why filmmakers need to stop waiting for permission and start creating with whatever resources they have. Michael also reveals how Five Second Films built an online audience large enough to help crowdfund a feature after traditional producers passed, how an independent financier came aboard after seeing their momentum, his screenwriting and outlining process, why terrible first drafts are necessary, and the realities of self-distributing an independent movie. He also tells the incredible story behind his connection to The Room and Tommy Wiseau. This conversation is packed with practical lessons for screenwriters, directors, producers, and indie filmmakers trying to turn ideas into finished movies. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support .
IFH 868: How The Asylum Makes Movies That Actually Make Money with David M. Latt
Aug 18, 202648 min
How do you build an independent film studio that produces movies constantly without betting the entire company on every release? In this episode, David M. Latt, co-founder of The Asylum, breaks down the unconventional business model behind one of the most prolific independent production companies in Hollywood. From working out of an apartment to releasing dozens of films, creating Sharknado, and expanding into television with Z Nation, David explains how pre-sales, strict budgeting, vertical integration, and relentless production allowed The Asylum to survive while much of the traditional independent film market changed around them. The conversation also dives into developing movies for buyers, creating ambitious films on limited budgets, why The Asylum rarely accepts outside scripts, the accidental success of Sharknado, casting challenges, digital distribution, television production, and the importance of relationships in the entertainment business. David’s experience offers filmmakers a rare look at independent cinema from the perspective of someone who doesn’t just make movies—he has helped build an entire system designed to keep making the next one. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support .
IFH 867: Wes Craven's Secret to Writing Great Movies with Glenn Benest
Aug 11, 202655 min
What does it really take to become a professional screenwriter? In this fascinating conversation, Glenn Benest—screenwriter of two Wes Craven films, producer, novelist, and longtime Hollywood mentor—shares the lessons that transformed his career. From adapting A Stranger in Our House to collaborating with Wes Craven on Deadly Blessing, Glenn reveals why most aspiring writers focus on the wrong things, why film school isn't always the answer, and why the screenplay itself is the only calling card that truly matters. The discussion also dives into the development of Scream, the importance of finding world-class mentors, how writers should approach rewrites, what separates amateur scripts from professional ones, and why confidence—not perfection—is the key to finishing your first screenplay. Whether you're an aspiring writer, filmmaker, or storyteller, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from someone who's spent decades helping scripts become movies. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support .
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