Indie Film Hustle® - A Filmmaking Podcast

What happens when you direct one of the biggest music videos of the year, earn an MTV Video Music Award nomination, and discover you still have to pay hundreds of dollars just to attend the ceremony? In this episode of Indie Film Hustle, filmmaker and music video director Josh Forbes reveals the surprising reality behind creative success in the entertainment industry. Known for his work on Walk the Moon's Shut Up and Dance, Sara Bareilles' Love Song, and the horror feature Contracted: Phase II, Josh shares how he went from making music videos for independent bands to directing major artists and feature films. He takes us behind the scenes of his VMA nomination, explains why he launched a crowdfunding campaign to attend the awards, and discusses the financial pressures that working directors face even when their projects attract millions of viewers.

Josh also shares how he built his career by continually creating work, collaborating with musicians, and turning small opportunities into bigger projects. We explore the creative process behind Shut Up and Dance, the experience of directing extreme body horror in Contracted: Phase II, why horror audiences are among the most passionate in independent cinema, and how crowdfunding can help filmmakers build relationships with their audiences. From directing actors and navigating film festivals to protecting creative control and finding support within filmmaking communities, this conversation reveals the realities of making a living as an independent artist. If you're a filmmaker, music video director, or creative professional trying to break into the industry without losing your passion, Josh's journey is a reminder that recognition and financial security are two very different things.

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What if the biggest mistake you're making as a screenwriter happens BEFORE you write a single page? In this episode of Indie Film Hustle, Scott Dikkers, co-founder and former editor-in-chief of The Onion, reveals the techniques behind successful comedy writing, stronger screenplays, and storytelling that genuinely connects with audiences. From building The Onion into a comedy institution to developing his acclaimed book How to Write Funny, Scott explains his 11 approaches to humor, why comedy isn't entirely subjective, and how professional writers can make their jokes more effective. He also shares why your protagonist doesn't need to be likable, how to make deeply flawed characters emotionally compelling, and why testing your movie concept with real audiences can save months of wasted writing.

Scott also takes us behind the scenes of his filmmaking journey, including the lessons he learned directing two independent feature films, Space Man and Bad Meat. We explore the screenwriting books he recommends, why a three-to-five-page treatment is one of the most valuable tools a writer can create, and how great comedy depends on a strong creative vision rather than endless committee revisions. Whether you're writing your first screenplay, developing an independent comedy, or struggling to turn your ideas into finished projects, this conversation delivers practical lessons from someone who spent decades studying what makes people laugh. Most importantly, Scott explains why aspiring filmmakers should stop waiting for opportunities and start writing, shooting, and learning through experience.

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Are you spending more time talking about your screenplay than actually writing it? In this episode of Indie Film Hustle, writer-director John Paxton Jr. shares why creative focus, character development, and the discipline to finish your work are essential to becoming a better filmmaker. Known for Rebecca's Window, Mary's Laughter, 800-Pound Gorilla, and the web series Atlantic City Chronicles, John takes us inside his screenwriting process, from carrying notebooks everywhere and observing real people to using music to unlock character emotions and overcome writer's block. He explains why social media can drain a writer's creative energy, why most movie ideas need far more development before becoming screenplays, and how understanding a character's psychology can transform an ordinary script into a compelling story.

John also reveals how he developed Atlantic City Chronicles from an original feature-film concept into a multi-season independent web series that attracted millions of views. Drawing on his childhood in Atlantic City, he discusses building authentic characters from personal experience, exploring the lives of returning military veterans, and creating stories that entertain while addressing difficult social issues. We also explore the realities of independent film production, choosing the right actors, building an audience through your own website, navigating online distribution, and protecting creative ownership in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Whether you're struggling to finish your first screenplay, developing a web series, or looking for ways to grow as an independent filmmaker, this conversation offers practical lessons on storytelling, persistence, and building a creative career on your own terms.

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What happens when Hollywood refuses to finance your movies—but you refuse to stop making them? In this episode of Indie Film Hustle, legendary independent animator and two-time Academy Award nominee Bill Plympton reveals how he built an extraordinary career by following his artistic vision instead of the traditional Hollywood system. From his early days as a New York illustrator to his breakthrough animated short Your Face, his work on The Simpsons, and his independently produced feature films, Bill shares the realities of creating original animation without relying on major studios. He also explains why Hollywood repeatedly passed on his projects, why he continues to hand-draw his films, and how maintaining creative control became one of the most important decisions of his career.

Bill takes us behind the scenes of Revengeance, his collaboration with animator and writer Jim Lujan, and the crowdfunding campaigns that helped keep his independent films alive. He discusses investing $50,000–$100,000 of his own money, the unexpected costs of hand-drawn animation, building Kickstarter campaigns with creative rewards, and how a dedicated fanbase can become a filmmaker's greatest financial resource. We also explore his experiences working with The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, restoring classic animation, distributing films directly to audiences, and finding alternative ways to make independent filmmaking financially sustainable. Whether you're an animator, filmmaker, artist, or storyteller looking for a way to create without asking Hollywood for permission, Bill's journey offers a powerful lesson in persistence, independence, and the value of protecting your creative voice.

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What made Alien, Total Recall, and The Return of the Living Dead unforgettable? In this episode of Indie Film Hustle, award-winning screenwriter and author Matt R. Lohr shares the screenwriting lessons he learned while working directly with legendary filmmaker Dan O'Bannon, the creative mind behind some of science fiction and horror cinema's most influential stories. As co-author of The Dan O'Bannon Guide to Screenplay Structure, Matt reveals how O'Bannon approached storytelling, why structure matters more than blindly following formulas, and how the greatest genre films create unforgettable characters, escalating tension, and emotional investment. From the genre-changing midpoint of Alien to the dark humor of Total Recall, this conversation explores what makes a screenplay truly work.

Matt also takes us behind the scenes of his extraordinary collaboration with O'Bannon, including watching The Return of the Living Dead with its director, studying classic films together, and helping complete O'Bannon's screenwriting book after his passing. We explore Hollywood's obsession with established intellectual property, why horror remains attractive to independent filmmakers, how to write dialogue actors can actually deliver, and why great storytelling should never be limited by genre. Whether you're writing your first screenplay, rewriting a struggling script, or trying to understand what makes a movie connect with audiences, this conversation offers practical lessons from one of cinema's most original storytellers.

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