The Filmmaking Stuff Podcast

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 appreciate what you have—because it may be exactly what you want.

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 production budget. I also explain why filmmakers need to understand what buyers are actually paying so they can work backward, determine a realistic market value, and build the right production budget from the beginning.

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&A and advertising costs, the exhibitor's share of box-office revenue, and why filmmakers need to look beyond the headline gross when determining whether a movie actually made money. Using a simple $20 million film as an example, I'll show you how quickly the economics change once you account for marketing and the theaters' cut.

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 approach to persistence, handling rejection, overcoming filmmaking setbacks, and continuing to move toward your goal.

What does a $5.99 indie film rental actually earn the filmmaker?

In this episode, I break down the economics of TVOD and show where the money goes after the streaming platform and distributor take their percentages. We also look at investor recoupment, how a small indie film might calculate its potential rental revenue, and why filmmakers should work backwards from realistic distribution revenue when setting a movie's budget.

If you're financing, producing, or distributing an independent movie, understanding the economics of VOD can help you make much smarter decisions before production begins.