The Filmmaking Stuff Podcast

Could the American Film Market help you take the next step with your indie film? In this episode, I share why AFM is one of my favorite film markets, why it’s a strong fit for American and Canadian movies, and how filmmakers can meet sales agents and distributors. We’ll talk about showing up, making connections, and having a clear story about your movie. If you’re trying to figure out the business side of getting your film out there, this is a good place to start.

What happens when a movie flops? Tom Malloy talks about the impact of box office failures on studios and film investors, why no movie is a guaranteed success, and how filmmakers can stack the deck in their favor with the right genre, cast, timing, and script. Plus, why striking out is part of the business—and why you need to keep taking swings.

Making your movie is one part of the process. How are you going to get it out into the world? Tom Malloy breaks down the five core pillars of independent film: producers, investors and financiers, sales agents, distributors, and exhibitors and streamers. Learn who does what, how international film sales and domestic distribution connect, and why those relationships matter when you’re building a plan to revenue.

What if you already have the life you’re working toward? In this episode, I take a break from film financing and distribution to share the Mexican Fisherman Story. It’s a simple, inspiring reminder to think about what success means to you, enjoy time with your family, and appreciate what you have—because it may be exactly what you want.

Your indie film isn’t automatically worth what you spent making it. In this episode, I break down how the marketplace actually determines an indie film’s value—and why cast, genre, audience, festival exposure, buzz, timing, and buyer demand can matter far more than your production budget. I also explain why filmmakers need to understand what buyers are actually paying so they can work backward, determine a realistic market value, and build the right production budget from the beginning.

Why doesn't a $20 million movie that grosses $30 million at the box office automatically make a $10 million profit? Because that's not how theatrical movie economics work. In this episode, I break down the real numbers behind a theatrical release, including production budgets, P&A and advertising costs, the exhibitor's share of box-office revenue, and why filmmakers need to look beyond the headline gross when determining whether a movie actually made money. Using a simple $20 million film as an example, I'll show you how quickly the economics change once you account for marketing and the theaters' cut.

In filmmaking, things fall through all the time—financing disappears, actors drop out, deals change, and rejection comes with the territory. In this episode, I explain my Ant Theory and how I’ve used it throughout my filmmaking career: instead of sitting around thinking about what went wrong, figure out what you need to do next and take action. It’s a simple approach to persistence, handling rejection, overcoming filmmaking setbacks, and continuing to move toward your goal.

What does a $5.99 indie film rental actually earn the filmmaker? In this episode, I break down the economics of TVOD and show where the money goes after the streaming platform and distributor take their percentages. We also look at investor recoupment, how a small indie film might calculate its potential rental revenue, and why filmmakers should work backwards from realistic distribution revenue when setting a movie's budget. If you're financing, producing, or distributing an independent movie, understanding the economics of VOD can help you make much smarter decisions before production begins.

What makes a film investor say yes to an indie movie? In this episode, I break down the things investors look at when evaluating a film investment, including the screenplay, budget, genre, cast and attachments, artwork, and film business plan. I also explain the “invisible factors” filmmakers can’t control—and why your best move is to keep strengthening the parts of your movie package that you can.

What business decisions should an indie film producer make before day one on set? In this episode, we break down the big-picture decisions that can determine whether your movie has a real shot in the marketplace—from the script and budget to genre, audience, cast, tax incentives, distribution, and your path to revenue. Because producing a successful indie film isn't just about making the movie. It's about having a plan for what happens when the movie is finished.