The Honest Filmmaker
REAL TALK FOR ASPIRING FILMMAKERS
Are you wrapping up your film degree or contemplating a career shift into the creative industry? The Honest Filmmaker is your go-to resource for navigating the real-world challenges of micro-budget and indie filmmaking.
Hosted by award-winning filmmaker Jim Eaves, the podcast delves into the nitty-gritty of independent film production. From securing funding and managing tight budgets to distribution strategies and building a sustainable career, this is unfiltered advice and practical tips from professionals who have been in your shoes.
Whether you're a recent graduate, a career changer, or an indie filmmaker determined to make your mark, The Honest Filmmaker equips you with the tools, insights, and honest guidance to thrive in the world of independent cinema.
http://www.thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk
Episodes
131 episodes
Inside the Business of Indie Film: What ‘Cheat’ Taught Us About Distribution, Revenue & Reality
#moviemaking #filmmaking #indiefilm #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #moviemaking #microbudget #indiefilm Filmmaker Nick Psinakis joins the podcast to discuss the journey behind his feature film Cheat and the realit...
Micro-Budget Action, Hong Kong Stunts & Filmmaking Reality – with Bruce Fontaine
#moviemaking #filmmaking #indiefilmWhat separates convincing screen action from something that just feels fake?In this episode of The Honest Filmmaker Podcast, I’m joined by Bruce Fontaine, stunt performer, martial artist...
One Man, One Film: How Matt Simpson Made Disremembered Completely Solo
#moviemaking #filmmaking #indiefilm #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #moviemaking #microbudget #indiefilm What happens when one person takes on every role in a film production?In this episode, I’m joined by Matt Simpso...
What It Really Takes to Make Your First Feature Film with Shawn Goolsby
#moviemaking #filmmaking #indiefilm #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #moviemaking #microbudget #indiefilm What happens when you decide to make a feature film without the safety net of a big budget?In this episode, I’m ...
From Indie Hustle to Film Machine - Steve Love on Budget, Mistakes & Distribution
In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker Steve Love, who describes himself as “The Film Machine.”We explore his journey into filmmaking, the lessons he learned from his first projects and the realities of working within b...
The Business of Storytelling: Practical Wisdom for Screenwriters (From Spec to Screen)
#filmmakingpodcast #scriptwriting #screenwriting #scriptwriterIn this episode, I chat with Andrea Mann, a British screenwriter and mentor, about her journey into the industry. Her first spec script was picked up by a Golden Globe–winning...
High Concept, Micro Budget: Making Bears on a Ship with Eduardo Castrillo
#filmmaking #filmmakingpodcast #moviemaking #indiefilm #movieproduction How do you scale a big idea on an indie budget?Director Edward Castrillo joins the show to discuss his new film, Bears on a Ship. W...
From First Film to Franchise: Ramon “Swift” Sloan on Indie Filmmaking
#indiefilm #filmmaking #indiefilmmaking #filmmaker #filmpodcast What does it take to build a real career in independent filmmaking?In this episode, I talk with filmmaker Ramon “Swift” Sloan about the realities of makin...
Making a Feature on Weekends: Tobias Jon on Gifted Pain
#indiefilm #filmmaking #indiefilmmaking #filmmaker #filmpodcastIn this week's episode, I’m joined by filmmaker Tobias Jon to break down the making of his debut feature, Gifted Pain. We talk about how the film came together, how ...
How to make money from your short films with ZB Siwek
#filmmakingpodcast #podcast #indiefilm #shortfilms #shortfilm #shortfilmmakers This week on the podcast, I’m joined by producer ZB Siwek, who shares how he’s monetising short films by packaging them into anthology featu...
Surviving Your First Indie Feature Film - From Dog Soldiers to Director with Craig Conway
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilmfest #moviemaking #indiefilm #movieproduction You might know Craig Conway from Dog Soldiers, The Descent, and his long collaboration with Neil Marshall. In this conversation...
Audience, Budget & Distribution - Building your Indie Film Career with Devon Bray
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilm #interview #movieproduction This week, I’m joined by filmmaker Devon Bray, a director who’s built a loyal audience across eight independent feature films.Devon shares ho...
How to Sell your Movie to HBO - with Stefan Van De Graaf
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilm This week I sit down with indie filmmaker Stefan Van De Graff to break down the real journey behind selling a first feature film.Stefan walks through how his debut thriller Simmer ca...
Directing Your First Micro-Budget Feature Film with Jessica Boss
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilm #moviemaking #microbudget What is it really like to direct your first micro-budget feature film?In this episode, I’m joined by first-time feature film director Jessica Boss, who brea...
How to Self-Distribute a Micro-Budget Feature Film with Alex Srednoselac
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #movieproduction #microbudget This week I chat to indie filmmaker Alex Srednoselac who breaks down what it’s really like to make, finish, and self-distribute a micro-budget feature film. Alex shares hi...
How to Fund a Micro-Budget Movie: 5 Practical Financing Strategies
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmakingtips #indiefilmWith 2026 just getting started, a lot of filmmakers are asking the same question: how do I finance my first (or next) indie feature? This week, I’m breaking down five practical ways to fund yo...
How to be a full time Filmmaker - Building a Micro Budget Movie Career with Gugu E. Michaels
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #moviemaking #microbudget #indiefilm This week on the podcast I’m chatting with filmmaker GuGu E. Michaels, an award-winning director and cinematographer whose work spans North American and African cin...
Is Filmhub's Relay the future of Indie Film Streaming? With Chad Wittman
#filmmakingpodcast #filmhub #relay #filmmaking This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Chad Wittman from Filmhub to break down their new streaming platform, Relay, and what it could mean for indie filmmakers navigating today’s crowd...
Making your Debut Indie Feature Film with Jon Hill
#filmmakingpodcast #moviemaking #indiefilm This week on the podcast I talk to filmmaker Jon Hill about his debut feature 'Above the Clouds' a film about one day after the passing of his father. The film took 13 years to complete, af...
No Risk, No Reward - Micro Budget Filmmaking with Justin Phillip
#filmmakingpodcast #moviemaking #indiefilm This week on the podcast I chat to filmmaker Justin Phillip. Justin started out as an actor then went onto learn all the equipment and lighting to become a qualified DP and gaffer. He's dir...
The Indie Filmmaking Rollercoaster - The Blade Cuts Deeper with Gene Dolders
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilm #moviemaking Some 10 months ago I spoke to Indie filmmaker Gene Dolders about his Giallo inspired horror film 'The Blade Cuts Deeper', now with the film released on streaming, Gene's back t...
Write it, Shoot it, Survive it - The Art of Getting It Done
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #moviemaking Indie Filmmaking Without the Safety NetThis week on the podcast I talk to filmmaker Chris St. Croix about his new thriller feature Killer Content - we talk about how the film was ma...
10 Things you should never do when making your first feature film
#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #movieproduction This week on the podcast I chat to friend of the pod Mark Hampton about the 10 things you should never do when making your first feature film. Marks film Unlicensed has just been...
How to finance your Horror film from grants and funding bodies
This week on the podcast I’m chatting to filmmaker Daniel M. Caneiro about his horror/comedy feature film Deviant. We chat about how he used grants to fund the film, his tips for applying for grants, how the film was made and tips for shooting ...
