filmonomics @ slated

What would happen to Hollywood if you gave the keys to the kingdom to the film fans themselves? That's the intriguing premise behind Legion M, the first fan-funded studio.

Two of the highest profile spec script sales this year both involved the same literary management and production company. Learn from its founder, John Zaozirny, what makes his screenwriters click.

Route One is a dynamic film production company that acts like a diversified tech investor. As you’ll hear from production and development head Sophia Dilley, it pushes boundaries, tests new models, iterates and even does proofs-of-concept for potential projects.

Award-winning documentarian Marina Zenovich reveals how she gets her subjects to open up to the camera, her thoughts on how to sustain a career in filmmaking - and why she remains on Roman Polanski’s case.

Hear from Sundance’s Executive Director Keri Putnam why the freedom to fail is one of the core pillars of the Institute’s ethos - and why it is so important to get the power of data into the hands of independent creators.

The success of WONDER WOMAN & MOONLIGHT can fool us into thinking diversity issues are in the rear-view mirror. Hear from Tessa Blake how the AFI is addressing the film industry’s often unconscious bias - and why it is still easier for her to become a welder than a filmmaker.

As Kevin Smith’s partner-in-crime, Scott Mosier has experienced first hand the roiling changes in the indie filmmaking landscape. In this podcast, he opens up about the choices required to keep making distinctive films exactly to one’s taste.

Find out from financing producer Jason Potash why making movies parallels both the real estate business and the restaurant business. And why his company’s recipe for success is to develop projects from the foundations up, rather than just acquire and manage existing properties.

Most financing producers are happy to get one festival-caliber film off the ground every year. Fernando Loureiro’s company managed to make six in its first year. Hear how he makes his choices and why going all in on a production is a smarter bet than developing ideas that others might back.

Hear from one of the best-known personalities in nonfiction, Morgan Spurlock, and why he believes documentaries are on the cusp of even greater democratization and opportunity. We also discuss the realities of branded content and finding truth in a post-truth world.

No matter what the US box office numbers might tell you, indie action movies are still a muscular business worldwide. We hear from film investor Mark Stewart what - and who - really triggers this die hard genre.

In this week’s podcast we hear from the multi-talented Jeff Grace who went from YouTube pioneer to directing a feature film that is coming soon to theaters. Along the way, he has learnt valuable lessons on how to raise money from investors, the struggle between doing what’s good for your film and what's good for your filmmaking career - and what not to do when submitting a film to a top tier festival.

Welcome to the first in our new series of weekly podcasts that will peek behind the often impenetrable curtain of the global film business. With the help of an invited guest speaker each week, we will look to deconstruct the decision-making process involved in making movies. For this episode, we spoke to Rowan Riley. She works as Vice President of both Development and Production at Burn Later Productions a smart-thinking, indie producing and financing outfit with a presence in both Boston and LA. The company has built a reputation making character-driven comedies such as Drinking Buddies, Adult Beginners and Results.