Christine Chen is a film producer, director and 1st AD. She is one of the founders of GET REELISMS, a picture book made for filmmakers or film lovers to learn set lingo, walkie talkie etiquette, and a plethora of other crucial information for surviving a TV/movie/film set. Christine’s recent feature, "Erzulie" (Erzz-uh-lee) had a limited theatrical…

Dan Attias has worked as a director in the film and television industry since 1984 and has been nominated for multiple Emmy awards for his comedy directing. He continues to work on some of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed American television shows, including Homeland, The Americans, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Previously he has direc…

By Borgus Network

By Borgus Network

Steve Kaplan, Hollywood's most sought-after expert in comedy writing, joins us to talk about "cancel culture" and surviving as a comic in the age of political correctness. Steve wrote the quintessential book about comedy writing, 'The Hidden Tools of Comedy' and 'The Comic Hero's Journey.' GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker and author…

Heather Hale is a film and television writer, director, and producer with over 60 hours of credits that have won Emmys. She wrote the Lifetime Original Movie 'Courage to Love,' (2000) and co-wrote, directed, and produced 'Absolute Killers' (2011). Her latest book for filmmakers and screenwriters is "Story Selling." GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is host…

BREAKING: Documentary filmmaker Jeff Witzeman talked with someone on the inside of Distribber and reveals some details. Alex Firarri of Indie Film Hustle has successfully pulled his film from Distribber and recovered all his customer reviews and ratings. Jeff and Alex join us for this special report. GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker…

BREAKING: Distribber is apparently closing, leaving thousands of indie filmmakers wondering what to do. We talk with media strategist Jon Reiss, founder of 8 Above and author of "Think Outside the Box Office" about options moving forward. CORRECTION 9/24: Jon mentions that iTunes relies on Rotten Tomatoes for reviews - they don’t anymore, but Apple…

Everything you ever wanted to know about gaffer tape! Marty Gage from Gaffer Power is our guest as we examine the importance of gaffer tape to film sets. After 15 years of working in film and television in a variety of capacities, Marty teamed up with a leading tape manufacturer in the US to produce a new brand of premium grade gaffer tape. Gaffer …

Including "Audio Description" in your production will enable the 26 million blind in the US to enjoy your movie. Today's guest is Roy Samuelson, an Audio Description narrator based in LA whose narration includes blockbuster features like Venom, First Man, Get Out, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Spiderman: Homecoming, Skyscraper, Equalizer 2, Super…

Weiko Lin has taught playwriting and/or screenwriting at Northwestern University, UCLA, and Taipei National University of the Arts. Based in Los Angeles and Boston, he is a tenured Associate Professor at School of the Arts at Emerson College. He received his B.A. in English (Creative Writing - Playwriting) and M.F.A. in Film and Television at Unive…

Greg Loftin says that screenwriters can learn a lot from film editors, especially when it comes to visual storytelling. Greg is a writer and director with a PhD from the University of Exeter, and author of 'Writing for the Cut' endorsed by Walter Murch. We are not paid by the companies or products we mention! GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by …

Today we talk with "The Guerilla Rep" Ben Yennie of ProductionNext and Producer Foundry about ways to raise financing for your indie film. We ask him what to say in meetings with potential investors, how many meetings to have, and other ways to raise finance before seeking investors. Ben is an executive producer and producer's rep in San Fransisco,…

Indie director, author, radio producer, and "Hitchcock Whisperer" Jeffrey Michael Bays talks about creating gripping moments for all genres of film. He produced the SiriusXM radio production 'Not From Space,' winner of the Mark Time and Communicator awards, and directed the suspense film 'Offing David.' Jeffrey is an adjunct instructor at Lights Fi…

Indie director William Dickerson joins us to talk about directing a 90s period piece: his new feature film 'No Alternative' starring Kathryn Erbe. William teaches at New York Film Academy, and previously directed the indie suspense film 'Detour.' GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker and author Jeffrey Michael Bays (www.borgus.com), and …

Jeffrey returns from Switzerland, and Ken Lee joins us from Michael Wiese Books to reveal a big meetup in Minneapolis for filmmakers and screenwriters in July -- a chance to meet your favorite MW authors. GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker and author Jeffrey Michael Bays (www.borgus.com), and filmmaker Forris Day, Jr. Show Notes: Minn…

Today we are joined by directing coach Peter D. Marshall, author of 'Making the Magic Happen,' to talk about how directors can manage those tough casting choices. Peter has worked in the motion picture and TV industry for 40 years as a director, TV producer, 1stAD, and TV-series creative consultant. His directorial credits include over 30 episodes …

Linda Seger is one of the world's foremost script consultants, best known for contributions to films like 'Braindead' and 'Universal Soldier.' Linda wrote several books on screenwriting, including Making a Good Script Great: A Guide for Writing & Rewriting, Creating Unforgettable Characters: Practical Guide to Character Development in Films, TV Ser…

Confused about indie film distribution in 2019? We are joined by the "Self Distribution Guy" to demystify the current film distribution marketplace. Jason Brubaker of Filmmaking Stuff and Filmmaking Stuff HQ is a motion picture executive in Los Angeles and an expert in digital VOD distribution. GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker and a…

James Forsher, author of 'Stock Footage,' served as a consultant for ABC News and PBS Marketplace, and was a content producer at Person and Allyn & Bacon. His TV programs include Discovery's 'Hollywood Chronicles,' PBS' 'Lost Warriors,' and well as programs for Encore, A&E, and The Movie Channel. His own personal archive houses several thousand tit…

Jason Kolinsky and Bob McFarlane join us from the 'Save the Cat!' team to introduce their newest screenwriting software which now includes tools for TV series and novel writers. Jason is Chief Marketing Officer and Bob is Lead Software Engineer, and 'Save the Cat! Story Structure Software 4.0' is now available at savethecat.com. NOTE: Not a paid en…

Tom Malloy is an award-winning actor, producer, public speaker, and has raised over $25 million for indie film projects so far. He wrote the book "Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films" which is considered the gold standard of film finance books. As an actor, Tom has worked with Oliver Stone and most recently starred in the film "#Scr…

Morrie Warshawski joins us with specific steps on raising your film financing through house parties. Morrie wrote two books on fundraising: "Shaking the Money Tree" and "The Fundraising Houseparty." GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker and author Jeffrey Michael Bays (www.borgus.com), and filmmaker Forris Day, Jr. Show Notes: 1. Morrie'…

Marketing is the thing indie filmmakers tend to be afraid of or don't fully understand, so they procrastinate. Sundance rebel Diane Bell says hiring a Producer of Marketing and Distribution (PMD) early in the development process is the key to success. Diane wrote 'Shoot From the Heart: Successful Filmmaking from a Sundance Rebel' and offers classes…

Mythologist John Bucher joins us to talk about storytelling in the modern era, how new media formats effect the length and style of story. He is author of 'Master of the Cinematic Universe' and teacher at Studio School in LA. John is also hosting a Facebook live stream Friday Feb 22: the Pre-Award Live Stream Bash from Studio School about the upcom…

We talk with journalist Katie Kilkenny of The Hollywood Reporter about the phenomenon of film industry professionals living in their vans in Los Angeles. It's more common than you might think, and is apparently on the rise. Are they doing it by choice or necessity? GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker and author Jeffrey Michael Bays (ww…

Film scholar Lester D. Friedman chats with us about Clint Eastwood as a filmmaker. He edited the new book of academic essays, "Tough Ain't Enough: New Perspectives on the Films of Clint Eastwood." Lester D. Friedman is the Senior Scholar-in-Residence in the Media and Society Programme at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. His other books include Ci…

Film & TV Producer Rona Edwards brings us real, concrete festival tips, including her 5 mistakes filmmakers tend to make. She has produced for NBC, USA, SyFi, ABC, VH1, Sat.1/Studio Hamburg, Warner Bros, Lifetime Movie Network, and is always developing books, screenplays, feature films and TV projects. Rona co-wrote two books: "The Complete Filmmak…

Producer Mara Lesemann returns with advice on recognizing when you need to fire someone, and then having the confidence to actually carry it out. Mara wrote and produced two feature films: 'Surviving Family' and 'Detours.' She is a script consultant and has written numerous plays for the NYC stage. GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker a…

Morgan Sandler joins us to discuss visual storytelling, plus we have an update on the Apu controversy and script contest winner. Morgan Sandler, author of 'Visual Storytelling: How to Speak to the Audience Without Saying a Word,' has a Master of Fine Arts from California State, currently Assistant Professor at the University of LaVerne. Before that…

[Halloween Edition] We are joined by forensic specialist, screenwriter, speaker, and author Jennifer Dornbush. Because her father was a medical examiner, she grew up with human skeletons in her house, leading her to one day write the quintessential book for writers: "Forensic Speak: How to Write Realistic Crime Dramas." When you need to get the sci…

Producer Mara Lesemann joins us with detailed advice on getting stars attached to indie films. Mara has written two feature screenplays that became successful films: 'Surviving Family' and 'Detours.' She served as a script consultant for the award-winning feature 'Available: A Modern Fairy Tale.' Mara has also written numerous plays that have been …

Emmy Award winner Barbara Multer-Wellin is known as the "Docu-Diva," a documentary writer/producer for HBO, Showtime, Lifetime, TLC, The Discovery Channel, UPN, Lifetime, TBS, PBS, and HGTV. Barbara wrote and produced two films for PBS: “TAKE THE HEAT: The First Women Firefighters of New York City,” a documentary narrated by Susan Sarandon, and “PA…

Indie director, author, radio producer, and "Hitchcock Whisperer" Jeffrey Michael Bays talks about creating gripping moments for all genres of film. He produced the SiriusXM radio production 'Not From Space,' winner of the Mark Time and Communicator awards, and directed the suspense film 'Offing David.' Jeffrey is an adjuct instructor at Lights Fil…

Indie director, screenwriter, and Sundance rebel Diane Bell says it's time to stop waiting around for someone else you produce your script. Her new book 'Shoot From the Heart: Successful Filmmaking from a Sundance Rebel' gives you all the info you need to get started, the rebel way. GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker and author Jeffre…

Crowdfunding zen manager John Trigonis (the guy with the hat) returns with more insights on building a fan base prior to a campaign, and how to convince friends/family to donate early. John worked at Indiegogo for five years and wrote the quintessential book 'Crowdfunding for Filmmakers' now in its 2nd edition. GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted b…

Jeffrey returns from his Atlanta film shoot and reveals how one person's blunder could cost the production a lot of money. Is a reshoot needed or can it be fixed in post? Plus, Ken Lee of Michael Wiese Books joins us to talk about new filmmaking books coming in the second half of 2018. GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST] is hosted by filmmaker and author Jef…

Kathie Fong-Yoneda joins us to reveal the immense power of web series as a career builder for actors, writers, and filmmakers. Kathie is a script consultant with 30 years of experience in film & TV, including executive positions at Disney, Touchstone, Island Pictures, and Walt Disney TV Animation. She is the author of "The Script Selling Game: A Ho…

Steve Kaplan, Hollywood's most sought-after expert in comedy writing, joins us to talk about how comedy writers can succeed, what has changed in today's smartphone era, and the effects of what he calls the "outrage industry." Steve weighs in on the recent Rosanne controversy, how George Carlin would react today, and why comedy feature films are har…

Joshua A. Friedman is making it easier to find crew in your local area with his new app, Crew Me Up. He has worked on such productions as 'Law and Order' 'Adjustment Bureau,' and wrote the quintessential guidebook for production assistants: 'Getting it Done.' Later we're joined by the team who is putting 'Save the Cat' in your car! Dreamscape has a…

Smartphone and social media expert Fran Jago joins us with all her latest gear picks to turn your phone into a film studio. Fran is a filmmaker, journalist, photographer, and founder of Get Ahead Media, offering free online tutorials for the modern smartphone filmmaker. Plus, HBO/IFP is offering money for newbie documentarians -- we discuss this va…

Michael Laskin sees a new trend in actors creating their own content and taking charge of their brand, rather than relying on filmmakers to cast them. With his 35 years of professional acting on shows like 'Seinfeld,' 'Matlock,' 'LA Law,' and dozens more, he brings advice to new actors trying to survive today in a world where everyone is a filmmake…

Indie director William Dickerson joins us to raise awareness of mental illness with the premiere of his new feature film 'No Alternative,' a 90s period piece based on his troubled sister's battle with borderline personality. William teaches at New York Film Academy, and previously directed the indie suspense film 'Detour.' GET REAL INDIE FILM[CAST]…

Filmmakers often use YouTube to upload trailers and behind-the-scenes content surrounding their films, but how can a they get the most out of this popular video platform? Sean Cannell of Think Media joins us to help filmmakers navigate the recent changes to YouTube's notification system and build a fan base. We are also joined by Houston Coley as a…

Apu on 'The Simpsons' has become a controversial character especially for Indian-Americans who are often mocked by the voice. Internet celeb Adi Shankar has teamed up with our guest John Rhodes of Coverfly. They are launching a contest seeking the perfect Simpsons script to finally change Apu in some meaningful way and to put an end to the controve…

Tippi Hedren recently compared Alfred Hitchcock to Harvey Weinstein and we discuss the backstory surrounding this Hitchcock #MeToo controversy. Are things being misrepresented in the press? We are also joined by John Trigonis, author of 'Crowdfunding for Filmmakers.' John gives indie filmmakers basic steps for setting up your crowdfunding campaign …

In this premiere episode we are joined by William Akers, author of 'Your Screenplay Sucks.' William gives indie filmmakers advice on avoiding common amateur pitfalls, including casting actors of the wrong age, lack of safety on set, feeding cast/crew with pizza on set, and more. What are you shooting on? We also ask what format you're using: 1080p,…