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Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Noam Kroll
Micro-Budget Filmmaking
Filmmaking
Cinematography
Film Festivals
Short Films
No-Budget Cinematography
Poor Things
Film Production
Documentary Filmmaking
Indie Filmmaking
Film Industry
Screenwriting
Catalyst
Character Development
Independent Film
Actor Collaboration
Disappearing Boy
Music Videos
Writing Process
Filmmaking Process

Each week, filmmaker Noam Kroll shares valuable insight into the world of micro-budget filmmaking, geared towards true DIY filmmakers looking to get out there and create their own films.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes279Founded9 years ago
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TV & Film

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Artwork for Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Latest Episodes

In this solo episode I break down the process of writing a musical score for the first time on my upcoming short film Crow.

Topics covered include:

* Why the advice to "specialize in one area" was never right for me

* Editing the entire rough cu... more

In this episode, I'm joined by filmmaker and re-recording mixer Mark Hensley to talk about his micro-budget feature Clown and Out in Valley Village, which he shot guerrilla style over the course of a year with no crew, a cast of two, and a total budg... more

In this episode, I'm joined by Aidan Leary and C.R. Thompson, the writing team behind Monkey's Magic Merry Go Round. A micro-budget horror feature pitched as Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood meets Evil Dead 2, produced by mumblecore legend Joe Swanberg.

Thr... more

In this episode, I'm joined by actor and filmmaker Hannah Barefoot to talk about building a career as a working actor, her recurring role on NCIS: Origins, our new short film Crow, and the leap into producing and crowdfunding her own first feature, W... more

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Recent Guests

Mark Hensley
Filmmaker and sound designer with experience on micro-budget features and TV sound
Self-released projects (e.g., Disappearing Boy)
Episode: Shooting A $4,000 Feature With No Crew At 61, Mixing Emmy-Winning TV Sound & Why "Write The Film You Can Shoot" - With Mark Hensley
CR Thompson
Co-writer, editor and puppeteer on Monkey's Magic Merry Go Round
Monkey's Magic Merry Go Round team
Episode: Partnering With Joe Swanberg & Shooting A Puppet Horror Feature In 11 Days - With Aidan Leary & C.R. Thompson
Aidan Leary
Co-creator and collaborator on Monkey's Magic Merry Go Round
Monkey's Magic Merry Go Round team
Episode: Partnering With Joe Swanberg & Shooting A Puppet Horror Feature In 11 Days - With Aidan Leary & C.R. Thompson
Hannah Barefoot
Actor, writer, and filmmaker discussed on the show
Wyoming Christmas Carol (film project)
Episode: From 80 Acting Credits To Producing Her First Feature, Plus How To Actually Crowdfund A Film On WeFunder - With Hannah Barefoot
Cory Thibert
Filmmaker of Mild Life, director and actor
Mild Life Productions
Episode: How to Make a Sub-$500K Feature In 14 Days With A Crew of 5 - An Interview With Filmmaker Cory Thibert
Jason Laurits
Filmmaker; Director of Love's Company; graphic artist
Love's Company, PaceUSA
Episode: Making A Micro-Budget Feature In 15 Days, Directing Rachel Dratch & Building A 20-Year Creative Brand With Jason Laurits
Nick Toti
Filmmaker, co-director of It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This and Dead Grandma
Independent filmmaker
Episode: Getting a $5K Feature into TIFF & Going Viral With An 80 Second Short Film With Nick Toti
Nathan Xia
Actor, filmmaker, musician, writer-director
Independent filmmaker, represented by M88
Episode: Making A $2000 Feature, Landing Vanishing Angle & Getting Into the Blacklist Project Lab - With Nathan Xia
Blake Calhoun
Filmmaker, YouTuber behind iPhoneographers
Independent film/YouTube
Episode: Building A 160K+ YouTube Channel & Making A 1980s Period Feature On A Micro-Budget

Hosts

Noam Kroll
Host of Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking; filmmaker and educator focused on making films with limited resources.
Luke Barnett
Filmmaker and actor, known for micro-budget projects; contributes on topics around indie filmmaking and audience-building.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 296 ratings
  • Champion of Indie Filmmakers Everywhere

    While I can’t remember how I discovered SDT, I’ve been listening since 2017. Impossible to overstate the value of Noam’s insight and perspective. He’s a tireless muse for would-be auteurs prone to making excuses instead of making films. In a crowded field of film-making podcasts, Show Don’t Tell is one of the smartest. If I had to pick just two, this would for sure be one of them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WyKelso
    United States8 months ago
  • Gold Mine for Micro-Budget Filmmakers

    A podcast is one of those rare tools that filmmakers overlook when trying to get into the industry, and Noam’s is perhaps one of the most valuable of the bunch. I love the array of cast he brings on, and he’s constantly asking the right questions that help you gain actual insight into a lot of the industry’s biggest questions—stuff you get from coffee chats. The talks always feel robust and I highly recommend his newsletter as well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yourfavouritebud
    Canada8 months ago
  • My Film School - Show Don’t Tell

    Noam,

    I have been a follower since you posted the 04.19.2017 podcast. Back then I thought all I wanted to do was edit, but the podcast you posted got me to thinking that maybe I aught to give some thought to screenwriting and story. I thought I would never be interested in writing because, first I didn't graduate from high school and 2nd, I simply thought I would never be able to write a movie let alone a short of any kind.

    Since 2017 I have not only wrote but I also believe I can be a pretty... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fard2500
    United States8 months ago
  • For Filmmakers

    If you’re a filmmaker interested in learning from other filmmakers - give this podcast a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nigel Ian Zamora
    United States8 months ago
  • Thanks

    Really enjoy this podcast. Just honest, calm conversations about filmmaking, production, and what actually happens behind the scenes. Thank you for that

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anton Kurkostryha
    Canada8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host is praised for focused, thoughtful interviewing and actionable insights.
Guests consistently provide useful tactics on funding, production, and distribution.
Listeners praise practical, inspirational guidance for micro-budget filmmaking.
The show is seen as a reliable education hub for indie filmmakers seeking real-world results.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#42
Chile/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#144
India/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#219
Saudi Arabia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#250
Mexico/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Make a Sub-$500K Feature In 14 Days With A Crew of 5 - An Interview With Filmmaker Cory Thibert
Q: What were the biggest challenges in directing and acting simultaneously, and how did you handle post-production?
Cory discusses balancing notes with in-scene directing, relying on collaboration, and eventually post-production flow, including delayed but impactful scoring and a Canada Council grant that funded editing and sound work.
How to Make a Sub-$500K Feature In 14 Days With A Crew of 5 - An Interview With Filmmaker Cory Thibert
Q: How did you manage a 14-day shoot with a small crew and limited resources?
He explains the schedule, the five-person crew, two-camera coverage, rehearsals before shooting, and weekend buffers that kept production on track while maintaining performance quality.
How to Make a Sub-$500K Feature In 14 Days With A Crew of 5 - An Interview With Filmmaker Cory Thibert
Q: What inspired you to tell this story and how did your personal experience shape the film?
Cory shares that Mild Life draws from his own family dynamics with cerebral palsy, aiming for authentic representation by casting actors with disabilities and focusing the narrative on a personal coming-of-age journey within a caregiving context.
From 80 Acting Credits To Producing Her First Feature, Plus How To Actually Crowdfund A Film On WeFunder - With Hannah Barefoot
Q: What are the key differences between crowdfunding via WeFunder and a typical Kickstarter campaign, and how long does a WeFunder raise typically take?
WeFunder targets true investors and usually spans a longer window—often around six months—so you can't rely on a constant personal-network push like Kickstarter. It requires strategic outreach to investors, a solid asset package, and a clear articulation of the film's value and anticipated returns.
From 80 Acting Credits To Producing Her First Feature, Plus How To Actually Crowdfund A Film On WeFunder - With Hannah Barefoot
Q: At what point did you decide you wanted to make your own projects as well as act, and how did that transition begin?
I started writing back in 2013 while in Portland, partly to escape being typecast in certain roles and to explore being more than the 'nice girl next door.' That transition grew from wanting to tell my own stories and forge a path that combined acting with directing and producing, leading to projects like Wyoming Christmas Carol.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking

What is Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, filmmaker-focused show that centers on micro-budget creation, production hustle, and practical paths to distribution. Conversations span financing hacks, creative problem-solving on tight budgets, DIY production techniques, and unique case studies from indie directors and cinematographers who built careers outside traditional studio systems. Noteworthy angles include shifting from traditional production to independent strategies, diverse approaches to distribution, and leveraging cross-disciplinary skills (marketing, editing, sound) to sustain a micro-budget filmmaking career. Listeners can expect actionable takeaways on pitching, budgeting, casting, and leveraging new platforms to reach audiences without big-budget backing.

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Which podcasts are similar to Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking:

1. The No Film School Podcast
2. Scriptnotes Podcast
3. The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna
4. Team Deakins
5. The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

How many episodes of Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking are there?

Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking launched 9 years ago and published 279 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking?

Recent guests on Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking include:

1. Mark Hensley
2. CR Thompson
3. Aidan Leary
4. Hannah Barefoot
5. Cory Thibert
6. Jason Laurits
7. Nick Toti
8. Nathan Xia

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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