Truly Independent: Demystifying the Indie Film Journey

Three Coin Productions
  • 4.9 (8)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Weekly

Demystifying The Indie Film Journey

  1. 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.

    46 min

  2. 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.

    41 min

  3. 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.

    42 min

  4. Mar 18

    S3 E26 | How a Line Producer Turns Your Script Into a Real Movie | ft. Willem Kampenhout

    This week Garrett and Daren sit down with line producer Willem Kampenhout of Mystery Box to break down one of the most misunderstood roles in independent filmmaking. Willem walks through when to bring on a line producer, what a script breakdown actually looks like, and why that "key assumptions" document can make or break your budget. In this episode: When in the filmmaking process to hire a line producer (hint: ~80% through your script)What a script breakdown covers — cast, locations, props, background, and moreWhy your "key assumptions" define everything about your budgetProduction company vs. assembling your own team — how to decideFilming internationally and when to hire a fixerThe director/producer trust dynamic and why it matters on setWhether you're prepping your first feature or your fifth, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom that can save you serious time and money. 🎬 Find Willem Kampenhout: mysterybox.us | @WillemCampenHout 🙏 This season is supported by the Help Them See Foundation — learn more at helpthemsee.org Subscribe so you don't miss the rest of the journey.

    43 min

  5. Mar 12

    S3 E25 | How a YouTuber Turned a $3M Indie Film into $43M — The Future of Filmmaking

    Independent filmmaking is changing — and the box office proves it. In this episode of Truly Independent, Darren and Garrett break down one of the most fascinating film industry stories of the year: Iron Lung, the self-financed movie from YouTuber Markiplier (Mark Fischbach) that turned a $3 million budget into over $43 million worldwide. No traditional studio. No distributor. Just an audience. They explore how building an audience first might be the most powerful strategy for independent filmmakers today. But that’s not the only story. They also discuss the success of Angel Studios’ Solomon Six and what both films reveal about the future of theatrical releases, marketing, and audience-driven filmmaking. Then the conversation shifts to something every indie filmmaker struggles with: The hidden cost of doing everything yourself. Topics covered in this episode: How Iron Lung succeeded without HollywoodWhy audience building is the new distribution modelThe surprising box office success of Solomon SixWhy independent filmmakers burn outThe opportunity cost of doing everything yourselfDelegation, focus, and building a real filmmaking business If you’re an indie filmmaker, creator, or entrepreneur trying to build something meaningful, this conversation is packed with insight. 🎬 Listen to Truly Independent for real conversations about building sustainable careers in filmmaking.

    40 min

  6. Feb 24

    S3 E24 | How Filmmakers Actually Get Deals at Film Festivals (NRB, Distributors, AI Strategy)

    What really happens at film festivals and major industry conventions? In this episode of Truly Independent, Garrett Batty and Darren Smith break down their real-world experience attending the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention in Nashville — and how filmmakers actually build relationships with distributors, investors, and industry decision-makers. They reveal the exact strategies used to: • Identify the right distributors and partners • Use AI to prioritize networking opportunities • Turn short conversations into real film deals • Build long-term industry relationships • Maximize your time at conventions and festivals • Avoid the biggest mistakes filmmakers make They also discuss the importance of momentum, positioning, publicists, and creating your own opportunities instead of waiting for them. If you’re a filmmaker, producer, or creative entrepreneur trying to get your project financed, distributed, or produced — this episode gives you a real inside look at how the industry actually works. This season of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more: https://helpthemseefoundation.org Subscribe for weekly episodes covering film financing, production, distribution, and the real business of filmmaking.

    33 min

  7. Feb 17

    S3 E23 | How REAL Producers Attract Investors, Actors & Distribution

    What is film packaging—and why does it determine whether your movie gets funded, cast, and distributed? In this episode of Truly Independent, Garrett Batty and Darren Smith break down the real meaning of packaging in filmmaking. Packaging isn’t just attaching a script and hoping for the best—it’s the strategic process of assembling the right combination of script, talent, financing, and distribution to reduce risk and make your project attractive to investors and distributors. You’ll learn how successful producers think about packaging, how casting affects financing, why distribution conversations start early, and how real projects like Brotherhood, Faith of Angels, and The Pearl are being packaged right now. If you’re an indie filmmaker, producer, or aspiring creator, this episode will completely change how you approach getting your film made. ⸻ In this episode, you’ll learn: • What film packaging actually means • The 4 pillars of a strong film package • How packaging helps secure funding and distribution • Why casting decisions impact investor confidence • How distributors evaluate film packages • Real-world packaging examples from current productions ⸻ About Truly Independent Truly Independent is a podcast dedicated to demystifying the independent film process—from idea to distribution. Each episode dives into the real strategies filmmakers use to finance, produce, and release feature films. ⸻ Supported by Help Them See Foundation This season is supported by the Help Them See Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more:https://helpthemseefoundation.org ⸻ Subscribe for more filmmaking insights: Follow along for real-world breakdowns of independent film financing, packaging, production, and distribution.

    37 min

  8. Feb 11

    S3 E22 | $50K Feature → Theatrical Release: Savannah Osler’s Indie Film Playbook | Truly Independent

    This week on Truly Independent (Season 3: The Script), Garrett Batty and Darren Smith sit down with filmmaker Savannah Osler to break down the real path from idea → screenplay → finished feature → distribution. Savannah shares how she went from writing her first story at 14 to making her first feature Twice the Dream for about $50,000, then leveling up to bigger projects—ultimately making her third feature, Buster Brooks, at the $1M mark. Along the way, she explains what actually moved her career forward: cutting the budget to match reality, refusing to change her story for “marketability,” and making bold phone calls to open doors (including getting her film into theaters). They dig into: • How she raised money (including the “angel investor” moment) • What she learned making a feature on microbudget • How she approached theatrical + distribution (and why you sometimes have to be your own marketing team) • The chaos of producing during major industry disruptions • Why finishing the film is often the hardest part • Buster Brooks premiering at ZIF on February 27 + what distribution looks like now This season is supported by the Help Them See Foundation, a nonprofit helping bring films that inspire faith, hope, and connection to audiences worldwide. 🎬 Learn more: help them seefoundation.org #TrulyIndependent #IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #FilmDistribution #IndieFilm #Screenwriting #FilmProducing #BusterBrooks #ZIF

    45 min
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Demystifying The Indie Film Journey

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