Truly Independent: Demystifying the Indie Film Journey

Three Coin Productions

Demystifying The Indie Film Journey

  1. 2d ago

    EP 92 | The Obsession With Compensation

    In this episode Garrett and Darren discuss the hidden costs of making the movie and with examples from Curry Barker's Obsession debate the best way for crew members to be compensated from a producer's viewpoint.

  2. Jul 20

    EP 91 | Mason Mac's Deliverables Playbook

    This episode Darren and Garrett have Mason Mac on the show to talk about his new book "Deliverables Playbook". A collection of all the lessons, tricks, and tidbits that he's learned over his indie filmmaking career. Links to Deliverables Playbook:Amazon Filmmakers United

  3. Jul 13

    EP 90 | An Independent Stance On Ai

    In this episode Darren and Garrett smack the hot button issue regardless of the burn and tackle their opinions on Ai generation in the independent filmmaking space and how it can be helpful and what ways it could be harmful.

  4. Jul 6

    EP 89 | The Distributor Decision

    Garrett and Daren walk through the various different avenues of film distribution and what to avoid and what to look for when considering distribution decisions. From the role of a producer to the benefits of self-distribution and all that falls in between. 00:00-02:43 Intro02:44-06:19 Young Washington 06:20-11:20 Distribution Wants11:21-18:49 Who’s Who and What’s What18:50-23:49 Distribution Differences23:50-28:39 Self Distribution28:40-33:00 The Real Cost33:01-35:50 Producer’s Role35:51-37:02 Outro

  5. Jun 15

    Ep 88 | What Really Happens on a Director's Scout?

    Garrett and Daren discuss director scouts and how they differ from full location and tech scouts, using examples from their films Brotherhood and The Carpenter. Garrett is preparing to travel to Romania for an early-stage international scout for a film set in 1960s–70s East Germany, after doing extensive remote research, building a lookbook, and working with a potential local fixer/location partner. They explain how scouts begin with a location manager compiling options from the script, then a director scout tests story fit and feasibility while producers assess logistics, budget, access, parking, sound issues, and scheduling constraints. They share six practical tips: scout with shot lists in mind, bring the DP or capture detailed video, look for deal-breakers, know must-have vs flexible locations, think aloud to collaborate, and document everything (including map pins). 00:00 Season Sponsor Message00:26 Welcome Back Update01:17 Romania Scout Preview02:38 What Is A Director Scout03:34 Scouting Workflow Basics05:30 Vision Lookbook Research08:19 Scout Day Logistics11:10 Solving Location Count14:29 Open Mind No Commitments18:07 Six Scout Tips Start18:54 Tip One Shot List21:14 Tip Two Bring DP21:35 Phone Scout Workflow22:22 360 Camera Walkthroughs23:53 Spot Dealbreakers Early25:42 Sound And Hours Checks26:40 Hero Vs Flexible Locations28:36 Locations Tell Character29:58 Think Out Loud Together31:49 Document Everything35:32 Producer Reality Check40:25 Wrap Up And Sponsor

  6. Apr 14

    S3 E29 | You Have to Be Possessed

    What does it take to spend six years, $300K+, and countless sleepless nights making your first feature? Boston McConaughey and Renny Grains break down exactly how they pulled off Alien Country — the funding, the festivals, the ransomware scare, and why the drive to make a movie isn't something you can will into existence.

  7. Apr 7

    S3 E28 | Making Movies with $20K

    What does it actually take to make a feature film for under $25,000 — and then shoot the sequel in Ireland? This week Garrett and Daren sit down with filmmaker Rob York (Magellan, Curse of Crom) to talk about how he got his start editing for Aero Storm, why post-production is where low-budget movies go to die, and the scrappy decisions that turned a YouTube web series into an Amazon top-3 streamer. Rob gets into the real economics of micro-budget filmmaking: writing to your assets, building trust with actors over time, choosing locations that do the heavy lifting, and why going over budget on visual effects isn't always a disaster. Topics covered:→ How Rob's first feature Magellan was greenlit for $20K→ Writing scripts around locations, actors, and assets you already have→ Why budgets above $250K change the entire distribution equation→ Filming in Ireland on a shoestring — and shooting dialogue scenes on the actual plane→ Distribution deals, minimum guarantees, and a theatrical run in Afghanistan Curse of Crom 2 is coming soon. First film is streaming free on Tubi. Truly Independent is produced by Three Coin Productions and supported by the Help Them See Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more at helpthemsee.org. Subscribe so you don't miss the rest of Season 3 — all about getting from script to screen.

  8. Mar 24

    S3 E27 | The Tools That Make or Break Your Film

    What happens when your director shows up on set and the costumes are completely wrong? Or the set decorator built the wrong thing entirely? Garrett Batty and Daren Smith break down the tools that prevent those nightmare moments — lookbooks, vision boards, director statements, character tone guides, and the creative summit they just ran for Brotherhood.This week, Daren is 5 weeks out from production and Garrett is 3 weeks from Romania — and they're both doing this in real time. You'll hear exactly what went down at their all-day creative summit, why it might be the most important money spent on the movie, and how a director's statement got them access to a location that had turned down every film before them.Whether you're a first-time filmmaker or a seasoned indie vet, this episode is packed with practical tools to align your team before the chaos of production begins.Subscribe and follow along as Garrett and Daren chart their paths on two brand-new independent films — from page to production.Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation — visit HelpThemSeeFoundation.org to learn more.

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