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

The Honest Filmmaker is a tv podcast hosted by Jim Eaves, with 146 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Jim Eaves hosts The Honest Filmmaker, a tv show with 146 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #146

  From a £20 Short Film to a Feature: Aaron Truss on Making Films Without Permission

  Aug 18, 202639 min

  Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to move from making short films to making a feature? This week, Jim talks to filmmaker Aaron Truss about his unconventional route into filmmaking, from being obsessed with films as a kid and discovering Batman '89 , to making a £20 zombie short film at university and eventually turning that short into the feature film Employee of the Dead . Aaron talks honestly about why filmmakers often struggle to make the jump from shorts to features, the huge commitment involved in making a feature and the reality of trying to raise £50,000 through crowdfunding. We discuss the relentless work involved in promoting a crowdfunding campaign, why Aaron's team spent around £500 creating a proof-of-concept rather than simply asking people for money and how they've attracted actors including Dani Harmer, Nick Helm and Paul Casar to an independently produced project. Paul joins the conversation to explain why an established working actor is choosing to be part of a micro-budget film, what attracted him to Employee of the Dead and why he believes independent filmmakers are creating a new kind of filmmaking rebellion. We also get into casting, networking, building genuine relationships, supporting other filmmakers and why sometimes the best way to get people to help you is to help them first. An honest conversation about ambition, crowdfunding, short films, feature films, independent filmmaking and actually getting the film made. Check out the crowd funding for Employee of the Dead and be part of getting the film made: https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/q-cumber-films/employee-of-the-dead Watch the original short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6I7PBDXPSc #Filmmaking #IndependentFilm #IndieFilmmaking #FilmFunding #Crowdfunding #FeatureFilm #ShortFilms #Filmmaker #FilmIndustry #TheHonestFilmmaker #EmployeeOfTheDead #AaronTruss Check out the re-release of Jim's first solo directing feature The Witches Hammer - out now on amazon  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F235F4T8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Support the show For regular updates and exclusive content - sign up for The Honest Filmmaker newsletter https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/e-newsletter/ Join The Honest Filmmaker community on our Facebook Group or Discord https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/join-the-community/ HONEST, OPEN ADVICE ABOUT YOUR FILMMAKING CAREER Are you about to leave Uni with a filmmaking degree? Or want to change careers and work in a creative industry? We want to give you the tools you need to enter the real world of production or freelancing. Honest and open career advice from people in the business. We also talk to those in other creative industries to discuss their careers, the potential cross over with film production and practical tips for a successful and fulfilling career. Join the community: http://www.thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #145

  Charlie Steeds: Making 20 Feature Films on Micro Budgets

  Aug 11, 202637 min

  Send us Fan Mail What does it take to make 20 feature films and turn micro-budget filmmaking into a full-time career? In this episode of The Honest Filmmaker Podcast, Jim talks to filmmaker Charlie Steeds about his extraordinary journey from making short films as a teenager to building a career making horror features. Charlie shares how he financed his first film for around $2,000, how he moved from self-financing into working with sales companies and producers and how his budgets have evolved over the course of 20 feature films. We also talk about the reality of making filmmaking your day job, including the pressure to keep producing, the compromises that come with lower budgets and how Charlie adapted when the film industry changed. Charlie explains why he has learned to do almost every job on his productions, from writing, directing and editing to sound and cinematography and why he believes sound is one of the most important areas for independent filmmakers to get right. We also get into one of the biggest problems he sees in indie filmmaking: rushing productions. Charlie argues that filmmakers often try to shoot too much, too quickly, rather than giving their films the care they need. And after making three films in just 33 days, Charlie has plenty of experience of what happens when speed becomes part of the filmmaking process. Finally, we discuss cinematography, inspiration and why filmmakers should go back to the movies that made them fall in love with filmmaking, studying how they were shot, lit and constructed, then using those lessons in their own work. A candid conversation about micro-budget filmmaking, making a living from movies, learning your craft and finding the balance between making films for the art and making films to pay the bills. ️ The Honest Filmmaker Podcast — honest conversations about independent filmmaking, careers, budgets, distribution and the realities of making movies. #TheHonestFilmmaker #CharlieSteeds #IndieFilmmaking #MicroBudgetFilmmaking #Filmmaking #IndependentFilm #Filmmaker #HorrorFilmmaking #FilmProduction #Directing #Cinematography #FilmCareer Check out the re-release of Jim's first solo directing feature The Witches Hammer - out now on amazon  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F235F4T8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Support the show For regular updates and exclusive content - sign up for The Honest Filmmaker newsletter https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/e-newsletter/ Join The Honest Filmmaker community on our Facebook Group or Discord https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/join-the-community/ HONEST, OPEN ADVICE ABOUT YOUR FILMMAKING CAREER Are you about to leave Uni with a filmmaking degree? Or want to change careers and work in a creative industry? We want to give you the tools you need to enter the real world of production or freelancing. Honest and open career advice from people in the business. We also talk to those in other creative industries to discuss their careers, the potential cross over with film production and practical tips for a successful and fulfilling career. Join the community: http://www.thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #144

  From First Feature to Lasting Career: Rob Hollocks on Surviving the Film Industry

  Aug 4, 202627 min

  Send us Fan Mail Making one film is an achievement. Making a career out of filmmaking is something else entirely. In this episode, Jim sits down with writer, director and producer Rob Hollocks to explore what happens after the excitement of making your first feature. Why do so many talented filmmakers struggle to make another film? How do you recover from rejection, navigate festivals, understand distribution and keep moving forward when projects don't go to plan? Rob reflects on his early career, working around major productions including Event Horizon , building his own feature films such as Observance and Mister Sleep and the lessons he wishes he'd known when he first started. If you're an aspiring filmmaker, film student or independent creator looking for honest advice about building a sustainable career, this conversation is full of practical insights and hard-earned experience. #Filmmaking #IndependentFilm #IndieFilmmaker #FilmDirector #FilmProducer #Screenwriting #FilmBusiness #FilmFestival #MovieMaking #TheHonestFilmmaker #IndependentCinema #FilmmakerLife #FeatureFilm #FilmPodcast #EventHorizon Check out the re-release of Jim's first solo directing feature The Witches Hammer - out now on amazon  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F235F4T8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Support the show For regular updates and exclusive content - sign up for The Honest Filmmaker newsletter https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/e-newsletter/ Join The Honest Filmmaker community on our Facebook Group or Discord https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/join-the-community/ HONEST, OPEN ADVICE ABOUT YOUR FILMMAKING CAREER Are you about to leave Uni with a filmmaking degree? Or want to change careers and work in a creative industry? We want to give you the tools you need to enter the real world of production or freelancing. Honest and open career advice from people in the business. We also talk to those in other creative industries to discuss their careers, the potential cross over with film production and practical tips for a successful and fulfilling career. Join the community: http://www.thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #143

  The Reality of Making Your First Feature Film with Asif Pervez

  Jul 28, 202622 min

  Send us Fan Mail For many filmmakers, making a feature film feels like an impossible leap after years of producing short films. This week, Jim sits down with filmmaker Asif Pervez to explore how he made that transition with his debut feature, "Mommy, I Don't Want To." Asif discusses the creative and logistical challenges of producing a period film on a micro budget, from transforming an Airbnb into convincing locations and completing post-production in Dubai, to developing a festival strategy and navigating the world of independent film sales and distribution. The conversation also covers the lessons Asif learned from his early short films, the mistakes he would avoid if starting again, and practical advice for anyone preparing to direct their first feature. If you're an aspiring filmmaker, film student or independent producer looking for honest, real-world insight into feature filmmaking, this episode offers valuable experience from someone who's successfully made the jump. Topics include: Moving from short films to feature filmmaking Budgeting and producing a first feature Location scouting on a micro budget Period filmmaking with limited resources Film festival strategy Sales agents and distribution Lessons learned from a debut feature Advice for emerging filmmakers Watch the trailer for "Mommy I don't want to": https://youtu.be/ixEtMpOe2h8?si=A5oUEIV_1bIW5st2 Check out Asif on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9285762/?ref_=fn_t_1 #IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #FeatureFilm #MicroBudget #FilmDirector #IndieFilm #FilmFestival #FilmDistribution #FirstFeature #Screenwriting #Producer #MovieMaking #TheHonestFilmmaker #AsifPervez #MommyIDontWantTo Check out the re-release of Jim's first solo directing feature The Witches Hammer - out now on amazon  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F235F4T8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Support the show For regular updates and exclusive content - sign up for The Honest Filmmaker newsletter https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/e-newsletter/ Join The Honest Filmmaker community on our Facebook Group or Discord https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/join-the-community/ HONEST, OPEN ADVICE ABOUT YOUR FILMMAKING CAREER Are you about to leave Uni with a filmmaking degree? Or want to change careers and work in a creative industry? We want to give you the tools you need to enter the real world of production or freelancing. Honest and open career advice from people in the business. We also talk to those in other creative industries to discuss their careers, the potential cross over with film production and practical tips for a successful and fulfilling career. Join the community: http://www.thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #142

  Building an Animation Career, AI, and the Future of the Industry with Tom Box

  Jul 21, 202626 min

  Send us Fan Mail Tom Box is the founder of Blue Zoo Animation, one of the UK's most celebrated animation studios and the creative force behind hit children's shows including Numberblocks , Alphablocks , Colourblocks , The Adventures of Paddington , Love Monster and more. In this episode of The Honest Filmmaker Podcast , Tom shares the journey from studying animation at Bournemouth University to building an award-winning studio, while offering an honest assessment of where the animation industry stands today. We explore the impact of AI, the growing influence of YouTube on animation, what studios really want to see in an animator's portfolio, and why passion, initiative and problem-solving remain some of the most valuable skills in the industry. Tom also discusses the balance between creativity and commercial success, how children's audiences influence animation, Young Animator of the Year, and the advice he'd give anyone looking to break into animation today. Whether you're an aspiring animator, filmmaker, student or creative professional, this episode offers valuable insights into the realities of building a successful career in animation. Find out more about Blue Zoo Animation: https://www.blue-zoo.co.uk/ Find out more about the Young Animator of the Year Award: https://younganimator.uk/ #Animation #AnimationCareer #BlueZoo #Animator #AnimationIndustry #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Filmmaking #CreativeCareers #Portfolio #MotionDesign #CGI #3DAnimation #2DAnimation #Podcast Check out the re-release of Jim's first solo directing feature The Witches Hammer - out now on amazon  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F235F4T8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Support the show For regular updates and exclusive content - sign up for The Honest Filmmaker newsletter https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/e-newsletter/ Join The Honest Filmmaker community on our Facebook Group or Discord https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/join-the-community/ HONEST, OPEN ADVICE ABOUT YOUR FILMMAKING CAREER Are you about to leave Uni with a filmmaking degree? Or want to change careers and work in a creative industry? We want to give you the tools you need to enter the real world of production or freelancing. Honest and open career advice from people in the business. We also talk to those in other creative industries to discuss their careers, the potential cross over with film production and practical tips for a successful and fulfilling career. Join the community: http://www.thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk

  ListenShow Notes

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