Episode #68
The 5 Stages of Getting An Indie Film Made
Why do some indie films actually get made while others spend years stuck in development? In this episode of Off The Lot , Anthony breaks down the stages an independent film goes through between having a screenplay and actually getting the movie greenlit . We cover what you should be working on at each stage — and, just as importantly, what you probably shouldn't be doing yet. You'll learn: • Who you need around you before you start raising money • When to spend your own development money • How much financing you should have before approaching cast • When a casting director actually becomes useful • When to start talking to distributors and sales agents • Why attachments can create leverage — or hurt you if you approach them too early • The difference between momentum and actual progress • Why you shouldn't build your finance plan around grants • When a movie can realistically be considered greenlit • What to do when your project has been stuck for months — or years Film development isn't one giant leap from screenplay to production. It's a series of smaller steps, with each one creating enough leverage to unlock the next. The key is knowing what stage your movie is actually in — and what needs to happen next. If you're developing, financing or packaging an independent feature, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for getting it closer to production.
