Filmmaking (Actually)

Koura Linda
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  • Updated Semimonthly

On the Filmmaking (Actually) podcast, award-winning indie filmmaker Koura Linda talks all things indie film, from project development through navigating the festival circuit! With over 30 completed projects under her belt since late 2016, over 200 award nominations and almost 70 awards, Koura gives the nitty-gritty on what it takes to make a film. From finding (or writing) a good story, to casting and auditioning, getting funding, planning for post production, utilizing festivals to grow your network, and everything in between including travel tips and any other random related topic.

  1. 1d ago

    Ep. 89: How To (Actually) Budget Your Film!

    There are a LOT of piles of information about budgets and breakdowns and looking at genre and page count and potential minimum guarantees and bank-ability of stars and so many check box systems when it comes to putting the budget for a film together. But what does your budget actually need to cover? And can you make a film that is actually "$0"? Why or why not? How can the different departments creative and organizational choices affect the final budget (beyond just the wanting a big money shot or not having one)? Join Koura as she goes over things to keep in mind when budgeting, how to budget, how to value the work and the things done to help make the film happen, and gave some creative perspectives for different story elements. You can follow along with the slides on our Patreon (accessible to everyone on a "free" membership tier, or if you'd like to join at a paid tier the support helps us do things like our podcast which is not monetized and is available for free as well!): https://www.patreon.com/space_dream_productions/posts/how-to-actually-163748037?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link) If you have any questions or comments for Koura or any of team, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠filmmakingactually@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.And as we noted above, if you're passionate about creating meaningful films and want to connect with like-minded filmmakers, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/space_dream_productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as $1.99 a month, you can join our community and stay updated on the latest projects from Koura and the Space Dream team. Make sure to tune in for this and every episode, and we're excited to share more of what we have in store for you on Filmmaking (Actually). And don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes!

    Ep. 89: How To (Actually) Budget Your Film!

  2. Jul 8

    Ep. 88: What Are Some Investment Red Flags, Actually?

    Working in film, it is always a rush when someone says they want to give you funding for a project. But when can that first money in actually hurt the rest of your fundraising efforts? Depending on your project set up, and your business plan for your film, it isn't always good news that someone is running to write you a check, especially if they've barely talked to you about the project. What are some immediate red flags to look out for when someone is coming to you ready to write a check with very little other context? Join Koura in this episode where she dives into some things to watch out for when talking to investors who are jumping to invest in your film - because the goal is to fund the whole film, not get stuck at the starting line! If you have any questions or comments for Koura or any of team, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠filmmakingactually@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you're passionate about creating meaningful films and want to connect with like-minded filmmakers, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/space_dream_productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as $1.99 a month, you can join our community and stay updated on the latest projects from Koura and the Space Dream team. Make sure to tune in for this and every episode, and we're excited to share more of what we have in store for you on Filmmaking (Actually). Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes!

    Ep. 88: What Are Some Investment Red Flags, Actually?

  3. Jun 16

    Ep. 87 - What Do You Do With Tea On Set, Actually?

    One of the biggest differences between an awesome set that is fun to be on, and one that is an episode of high school drama, is the way people deal with issues and with gossip. This goes for most places of work, but the real question is, what do you do about it, and what is the best way to deal with actual problematic situations that you see happening on set (or on any type of project)? Join Koura in this episode "from the vault" (originally written in July 2025 - we're catching up!) where she dives into the really hard conversation around the all-to-typical tea spillage of an overly-drama-filled film set. If you have any questions or comments for Koura or any of team, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠filmmakingactually@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you're passionate about creating meaningful films and want to connect with like-minded filmmakers, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/space_dream_productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as $1.99 a month, you can join our community and stay updated on the latest projects from Koura and the Space Dream team. Make sure to tune in for this and every episode, and we're excited to share more of what we have in store for you on Filmmaking (Actually). Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes!

    Ep. 87 - What Do You Do With Tea On Set, Actually?

  4. Jun 10

    Ep. 86: How Do You Balance Certainty & Learning, Actually??

    Where do you draw the line between confidence and cockiness? How do you stand on your certainty without resting on your laurels and prohibiting further learning and growth? And what does a dinner plate have to do with any of this? Join Koura in this episode where she a little philosophical, and shares how she balances perspectives while gaining decades of experience, but always staying curious, and continuing to learn. Stay humble, friends! If you have any questions or comments for Koura or any of team, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠filmmakingactually@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you're passionate about creating meaningful films and want to connect with like-minded filmmakers, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/space_dream_productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as $1.99 a month, you can join our community and stay updated on the latest projects from Koura and the Space Dream team. Make sure to tune in for this and every episode, and we're excited to share more of what we have in store for you on Filmmaking (Actually). Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes!

    Ep. 86: How Do You Balance Certainty & Learning, Actually??

  5. Jun 2

    Ep. 85: A Casting Story - Should You Always Give It Your All, Actually?

    What happens when Koura and Spacey go in to cast a play out of talent they've never met before?What can actors keep in mind from what they found? And what can Casting Directors keep in mind from what they found...?? Join Koura in this episode where she shares what happened when auditions were done with no concept of local popularity, and it wasn't just what you'd expect! If you have any questions or comments for Koura or any of team, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠filmmakingactually@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you're passionate about creating meaningful films and want to connect with like-minded filmmakers, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/space_dream_productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as $1.99 a month, you can join our community and stay updated on the latest projects from Koura and the Space Dream team. Make sure to tune in for this and every episode, and we're excited to share more of what we have in store for you on Filmmaking (Actually). Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes!

    Ep. 85: A Casting Story - Should You Always Give It Your All, Actually?

  6. Mar 10

    Ep. 84: What Is One Thing That’s Super Important When Networking (Actually)?

    There are a lot of important things to keep in mind when networking, and a lot of ways to navigate the world of connections. But what is one thing which, when not done, can ruin a potential connection before you even connect? Join Koura in this episode where she shares an example of a networking attempt, and what can help you from the get-go every, single, time! If you have any questions or comments for Koura or any of team, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠filmmakingactually@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you're passionate about creating meaningful films and want to connect with like-minded filmmakers, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/space_dream_productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as $1.99 a month, you can join our community and stay updated on the latest projects from Koura and the Space Dream team. Make sure to tune in for this and every episode, and we're excited to share more of what we have in store for you on Filmmaking (Actually). Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes!

    Ep. 84: What Is One Thing That’s Super Important When Networking (Actually)?

  7. Mar 4

    Ep. 83: Does It Matter How Differently You Communicate to Unpaid Interns or PAs, Contractors, and Employees (Actually)?

    Talking to people differently isn't just a matter of how kind or respectful you are (because we all know we should be kind and respectful to people). But is there a difference in how you talk to different people? ...Should there be? Join Koura as she breaks down how she gives feedback to an unpaid intern vs a contractor vs an employee (and how you should expect people to be talking to you when you're doing a project for free so you can get experience or when you're working as a contractor or employee). If you have any questions or comments for Koura or any of team, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠filmmakingactually@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you're passionate about creating meaningful films and want to connect with like-minded filmmakers, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/space_dream_productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as $1.99 a month, you can join our community and stay updated on the latest projects from Koura and the Space Dream team. Make sure to tune in for this and every episode, and we're excited to share more of what we have in store for you on Filmmaking (Actually). Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes!

    Ep. 83: Does It Matter How Differently You Communicate to Unpaid Interns or PAs, Contractors, and Employees (Actually)?

  8. Feb 25

    Ep. 82: How Do You Style Your Characters, Actually?

    When styling a character, what are the things you should keep in mind? What makes someone look "real" or "relatable" in a movie? Inspired by a streaming glitch when two Twilight movies auto-played out of sequence, and noticing the stark differences between how Bella is presented by different directors, join Koura as she breaks down some of the key things to keep in mind when deciding how you're going to style the characters for your film! If you have any questions or comments for Koura or any of team, please reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠filmmakingactually@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you're passionate about creating meaningful films and want to connect with like-minded filmmakers, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/space_dream_productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as $1.99 a month, you can join our community and stay updated on the latest projects from Koura and the Space Dream team. Make sure to tune in for this and every episode, and we're excited to share more of what we have in store for you on Filmmaking (Actually). Don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes!

    Ep. 82: How Do You Style Your Characters, Actually?
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

On the Filmmaking (Actually) podcast, award-winning indie filmmaker Koura Linda talks all things indie film, from project development through navigating the festival circuit! With over 30 completed projects under her belt since late 2016, over 200 award nominations and almost 70 awards, Koura gives the nitty-gritty on what it takes to make a film. From finding (or writing) a good story, to casting and auditioning, getting funding, planning for post production, utilizing festivals to grow your network, and everything in between including travel tips and any other random related topic.

Information

  • Creator
    Koura Linda
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Koura Linda
  • Show Website
    Filmmaking (Actually)

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