Recent content by Lucas

Nice to see someone bringing hands-on post-production experience into the community, Sohrab. With 100+ projects for U.S.-based clients, I’d be curious about one thing: what tends to be the biggest challenge when editing remotely for a client in another country understanding the creative brief...

One thing I’d add is learning when to say no. Early in a filmmaking career, every opportunity can feel like something you have to accept a collaboration, a role, a project, even a deal. But not every opportunity moves you in the right direction. Sometimes saying no to the wrong project, the...

It’s been a while since this was first posted. Curious to hear how the project has progressed has there been any serious interest or movement around the manuscript since then?

Another thing that could really matter is the lead character. Who is the character in RAVANGA that you think audiences will remember, talk about after the film, and perhaps even recommend the movie because of? A truly memorable protagonist can be one of the strongest ways a film connects with...

Mark, you mentioned that traditional pre-sales and gap financing have weakened significantly. For an independent producer starting with no meaningful pre-sales, which piece of the capital stack do you think is most important to secure first today equity, tax incentives, a distribution...

I like the modular approach, Rolands. I’m curious about the overall scale of the 18 Transmissions are they all planned at roughly the same length and €4,500 production budget? If all 18 are completed, that would put the total at around €81,000. Is that intended to cover the full production, or...

Hi Steven, Shadow in Hawthorn Bay caught my attention. The combination of a historical setting with romance and supernatural elements sounds particularly interesting. I’d love to hear a little more about the story itself. I’m also curious about how the early 1800s settings in Scotland and...

I completely agree with MICA, it’s impossible to separate financing from distribution these days. What struck me most in the survey results was the uncertainty surrounding festivals and streaming platforms. The festival circuit used to be the definitive launchpad, but now 42.4% of indie...

The comparisons make sense, but they also make me wonder what really separates RAVANGA from those existing shows. What would you say is genuinely original about the concept rather than simply a different version of something audiences have already seen? And what is it about that original...

That’s interesting. When a director gives you complete creative freedom, do you usually prefer to compose from your own interpretation of the story first, or do you still ask for references or temp tracks to understand the direction they have in mind?

Good point, Ryan. This is one of those clauses that probably looks unimportant until a real deal is already in motion. I’d also be careful about how an “introduced buyer” is defined. There’s a big difference between sending someone a screener once and actually developing a negotiation over...

That makes sense, Ikenna. Something I find interesting is how different a story can become from the original idea once you actually start writing it. Sometimes the idea that gets you started isn’t even what the finished story ends up being about. Do you usually try to stay close to your...

Good point, Subin. I think the rights side is something indie filmmakers can easily underestimate, especially when a track is advertised as “free.” Since you’re a composer, I’m curious about the practical side of this. If an indie filmmaker has a limited budget but wants original music, what...

I agree, and hopefully the weather cooperates this year too. Last year we had two or three days of rain during AFM, and from my experience it made getting around between meetings much more difficult, with some meetings even being cancelled. Hopefully we’ll get some proper Los Angeles sunshine...

Congrats, DJ! Taking a book from the page all the way into production is quite a journey. What has been the biggest lesson for you as a first-time director?