indie spunk: UNFILTERED

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🎙️ Get Anonymous Advice On The Podcast: ⁠https://forms.gle/sMWovGuD8JC9Crxu7⁠ 🎬 Apply for Filmmaker Breakthrough Mentorship: ⁠https://indiespunk.com/filmmaker-breakthrough⁠🎥 Join our Filmmaker Database: ⁠https://indiespunk.myflodesk.com/filmmaker-database⁠ 📩 DM us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/indiespunkunfiltered⁠No Spoilers: We stop talking about "Wuthering Heights" at 31:30

Welcome back to Indie Spunk: Unfiltered. This week, Izzy and Beck playing a full round of "Am I the Asshole?" — filmmaker edition. From recasting your best friend three weeks before rehearsal to an investor who wants to make your protagonist "more likable", this episode is the honest conversation the industry pretends it doesn't need to have.In this episode:[00:08:30] You cast your best friend. She bombed the table read. Now what? The hard truth about theatre vs. on-screen performance, why table reads can still be part of the audition, and how to have the conversation that might save your film...and maybe your friendship.[00:14:30] Your editor wants to cut 80% of a supporting character who relocated for your film. Do you protect the actor or the movie? Plus the one thing you can do that will soften the blow.[00:18:30] Your financier covers 40% of your budget and wants to rewrite your ending. How to get on the same page without losing your soul, what Promising Young Woman taught us about studio compromise, and why "no" might be the most powerful word in your arsenal.[00:25:30] You've been telling investors a big name is "interested." Their agent read the logline. Is that a lie? The exact language to use when you're building buzz before you have the receipts.[00:28:30] Your film is bold, messy, and "not commercial." Is it irresponsible to make it just for festival cred? Yikes...limiting belief alert!![00:31:30] Recs of the week!🎙️ Get Anonymous Advice On The Podcast: https://forms.gle/sMWovGuD8JC9Crxu7 🎬 Apply for Filmmaker Breakthrough Mentorship: https://indiespunk.com/filmmaker-breakthrough🎥 Join our Filmmaker Database: https://indiespunk.myflodesk.com/filmmaker-database 📩 DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiespunkunfiltered

"Is it unethical to ask people to work for free on your film if you have $0 budget? What's the line between collaboration and exploitation??"This week, we’re answering your questions about unpaid labor in indie filmmaking, when saying "no budget" is honest or it's actually just lazy, how to avoid being a dictator director while still prioritizing efficiency, and whether or not you're less of a filmmaker if you don't watch as many films as your peers.Our motto: If you want to build a career in this industry, how you treat people on your first $0 project will follow you into your first $1M one.In this episode we get into:– Camera tests for our feature film.– Taking financing meetings at SXSW– Our thoughts on the Independent Spirit AwardsWe also talk about why we desperately need technology that lets us erase our memory so that we can watch "The Matrix" again for the first time.... :DIf you’re trying to make something with nothing — listen before you hit “send” on that crew text.Get Anonymous Advice On The Podcast: ⁠https://forms.gle/sMWovGuD8JC9Crxu7⁠Apply for Filmmaker Breakthrough Mentorship: https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/filmmaker-breakthrough-2026/Join our Filmmaker Database to be considered for our films: https://indiespunk.myflodesk.com/filmmaker-databaseSend us a DM on instagram:https://www.instagram.com/indiespunk ⁠& ⁠https://www.instagram.com/beckbennion

This week, we’re answering your questions about making our feature film, James on Rage. From where we are in the funding process, how industry connections actually unfold (it's def not how you think), and the story behind the A-list actor who read our script… and hated it (lol).We’re transparently pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to build a feature from the ground up as two female filmmakers who were not raised in the industry. It's the momentum, the rejection, and the moments that have tested our belief that we CAN and WILL make films.We get into:Where James on Rage currently stands in the funding processHow A-list connections can happen in ways you least expect themWhat it feels like when someone you really really respect doesn’t respond to your workHow we process feedback without losing confidence in the project & what we're trying to sayWe also talk about Izzy Stevens vs. Izzie Stevens, thoughts on Hamnet, our icks and recs for the week, & hilarious chit chat from ya gals. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to get a feature film off the ground, this episode is for you.Get Anonymous Advice On The Podcast: ⁠https://forms.gle/sMWovGuD8JC9Crxu7⁠Apply for Filmmaker Breakthrough Mentorship: https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/filmmaker-breakthrough-2026/Join our Filmmaker Database to be considered for our films: https://indiespunk.myflodesk.com/filmmaker-databaseSend us a DM on instagram: @indiespunk  & @beckbennion

We looooove a pop culture moment just as much as we loooooove asking each other questions about things we might not know about each other, and this episode has BOTH! So, buckle the f*ck up...this is a wild one.We’re covering the strangest acting gig Izzy's ever gotten (psychics and stalkers included), what's been going on in Hollywood legal drama, a dash of religious deconstruction, award show hot takes, and the most ICONIC birthday cake order of all time. Beck & Izzy spiral through:– What’s a random ‘side quest’ era of your life that sounds fake but is 100% real?– If you could relive one year of your life, what year would it be and why? – Would you rather go back and talk to your 16 year old self or go to the future and talk to your 80 year old self? and why?– If one person from your past wrote a book about you, who would it be and what would the title be?And of course… the origin story of The P*ssy Wagon Cake (you HAVE to tune in for this at least).Get Anonymous Advice On The PodcastApply for Filmmaker Breakthrough MentorshipJoin our Filmmaker Database to be considered for our films.Send us a DM on instagram: @indiespunk & @jumpsuitpictures

Is the film industry dead or are you just talking to the wrong people??? This week we’re answering a question from a recent film school grad who’s looking around at working professionals and seeing… exhaustion, cynicism, and people quietly planning their exits. Cool cool cool. So how the hell are you supposed to stay inspired when the people seemingly *ahead of you* look defeated?Beck & Izzy get real about industry burnout, shaping the industry OUR WAY, and why it's okay to feel shaky for a moment...but that doesn’t mean you should give up on your dream. We talk about the filmmakers we wouldn't hire again, how the "it's so hard" thinking can block your progress, and why your attitude can matter wayyyyy more than your résumé.If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re crazy for still wanting this life… this one’s for you.Get Anonymous Advice On The Podcast: ⁠https://forms.gle/sMWovGuD8JC9Crxu7⁠Apply for Filmmaker Breakthrough Mentorship: https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/filmmaker-breakthrough-2026/Join our Filmmaker Database to be considered for our films: https://indiespunk.myflodesk.com/filmmaker-databaseSend us a DM on instagram:https://www.instagram.com/indiespunk ⁠& ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jumpsuitpictures

We’re getting personal! Making tough relationship choices, thinking of breaking up with a close collaborator, pitching yourself to be a bridesmaid after ghosting the group chat for film dreams... If you're struggling to set boundaries and communicate to the people in your life, tune in to this episode and pay attention to Beck & Izzy's straight-up, no BS wisdom. They've navigated these exact situations and are not shy about telling you the cold hard truth that sometimes, you gotta reach for the door, because your dreams matter more. Plus an in-depth breakdown of the Golden Globes weirdness (and wins)! Let's go.Apply for Filmmaker Breakthrough: https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/filmmaker-breakthrough-2026/Join our Filmmaker Database: https://indiespunk.myflodesk.com/filmmaker-database

We’re kicking off 2026 with a brand new era of Indie Spunk Unfiltered from Izzy and Beck—a new format, new energy, and a whoooooole lot of real life filmmaking talk.In this episode, we catch up on the wild momentum of the past year, share what’s shifting for us creatively and professionally, and introduce the new structure of the show: part life update, part filmmaker group chat, part no-bullshit industry guidance.This week’s theme is communication on set and we don't mince words. We’re answering your anonymous questions about navigating power dynamics between directors, DPs, ADs, and producers, when (and how) to step in creatively, how to manage conflict without killing morale, and why clear communication is the single most important skill you can bring onto a film set.Along the way, we talk about setting goals after a chaotic year, manifesting through unexpected paths, building confidence in your voice as a leader, and why 2026’s official mantra is:F*ck the rules.⸻🧲 Join the CrewWe’re building out our filmmaker database for upcoming projects. If you’re actively looking for on-set jobs, making work, and want to collaborate with us, you’ll find the link here.2026 is the year of momentum. We’re so glad you’re here.

On today’s episode we catch up in the middle of a whirlwind week—prep for another film Beck is producing, investor reach outs, and money mindset deep dives. Between juggling schedules, wine recs, and building the community in Watch Me Make a Movie, this episode captures the real texture of being in the trenches of indie filmmaking.&& we even get into AI. Reese Witherspoon recently talked about how women are adopting AI at far less of a rate than men are, and that's a problem...so let's talk about it!We talk about how we want to use AI as a tool—not to replace creativity, but to amplify it—and why resisting it outright can put indie filmmakers further behind.🪩 Want more? Join the waitlist for "Watch Me Make a Movie"—your front row seat to every decision, detour, and win as we bring our feature film to life.

The #1 Q we get: how do you pay for a film?Day 5 of "5 Days of Bringing our Feature Film to Life", and we’re going out with a BANG—and by bang...we mean money talk.We promised to keep it real, so here's the truth: we’re not nepo babies. We don’t come from money. We don’t have a major studio pulling strings behind the curtain. And yet, we’re still raising the capital to get our indie feature made, creatively and strategically.This episode is about pulling back the curtain on film funding. From budgets to investor talks to the mindset it takes to go from dreaming to funded, we’re telling you exactly how we’re navigating the financial side of making a movie.Inside this episode, you’ll hear:🪩 How much it actually costs to make an indie film (and why it’s always more than you think).🪩 The creative ways we’re raising money without industry privilege.🪩 What budgets really mean in practice (spoiler: they’re not static).🪩 The mindset shifts every filmmaker needs to go from “dreaming” to “funded.”Want an even deeper look into how we’re getting this film made?? Join the waitlist for Watch Me Make a Movie, our behind-the-scenes program where you’ll see every step of how this film comes to life.

If you think your film is “for everyone,” it’s probably for no one. DAY 4 of "5 Days of Building our Feature Film" is all about the brutal truth about how creative vision can MEET marketability, instead of pitting those two things against one another.Every filmmaker hits the tension between creative vision and marketability. Do you make the thing in your heart, or the thing that sells? The answer, of course, is messy—and if you’re not navigating this balance, your project probably isn’t moving.In this episode, we unpack:🪩 Why most filmmakers get stuck in the “creative vs. commercial” debate.🪩 How marketability doesn’t have to kill your originality.🪩 The messy middle: staying true to your art and making something people want to watch.🪩 How we’re navigating this in the development of our own feature.Want an even deeper look into how we’re getting this film made?? Join the waitlist for Watch Me Make a Movie, our behind-the-scenes program where you’ll see every step of how this film comes to life.

Welcome to Day 3 of our five-day drop: BRINGING OUR INDIE FILM TO LIFEHere’s the truth: filmmaking in a silo will burn you out. The second we stopped trying to “do it all ourselves” and leaned into collaboration, everything shifted. Our careers started to take off when we decided that two is better than one—and that community isn’t optional, it’s the whole engine.In this episode, we talk about:🪩 Why making films in isolation slows you down.🪩 How community accelerates your projects (and your sanity).🪩 The behind-the-scenes of our own partnership & how it changed everything.🪩 Where to find people who are in the trenches with you, not just cheering from the sidelines.Want an even deeper look into how we’re getting this film made?? Join the waitlist for Watch Me Make a Movie — our behind-the-scenes program where you’ll see every step of how this film comes to life!

We’re not here to play it safe.In Episode 2 of 5 DAYS OF BRINGING OUR FEATURE FILM TO LIFE, we spill why we scrapped the whole “proof of concept” route and dove headfirst into making a full feature. It’s risky, it’s bold, and if we're being totally real, it's the only move that made sense for us.We also pull back the curtain on our Sundance experience—the panels, the energy, the behind-the-scenes buzz that reminded us why we’re doing this in the first place. Spoiler: it’s not about chasing approval. It’s about making the film that only we can make.Inside this episode, you’ll hear:🪩 The real reason we ditched the “short first” strategy.🪩 What Sundance taught us about how we pitch & who we pitch to.🪩 Why playing small never gets you where you want to go.🪩 How we’re building our feature film our way.If you’ve ever been told to “start small” or “wait for permission,” this episode is your official permission slip to ignore that advice.Want an even deeper look into how we’re getting this film made?? Join the waitlist for Watch Me Make a Movie — our behind-the-scenes program where you’ll see every step of how this film comes to life.

Welcome to this very special series: 5 DAYS OF BRINGING OUR FEATURE FILM TO LIFE 🎥🪩🎬This is DAY 1 of our five-day podcast drop, a.k.a. a true behind-the-scenes ride through the making of our feature film. Fresh off a Boston investor trip, we sat down to pull back the curtain on what it actually looks like to build an indie feature from scratch (without family money or nepo baby status!!).In this episode, you’ll hear us talk about:🪩 How a friendship became a partnership (and why that matters more than waiting to be “discovered”).🪩 The messy, exhilarating reality of pitching your film face-to-face.🪩 Why we’re choosing the scrappy, grassroots path instead of waiting for studio approval.🪩 The real conversations happening between a director and a producer when the cameras aren’t rolling.Think of this as your invitation into our preverbal production house—unfiltered, a little chaotic, and very real.If you’ve ever wondered how indie films actually get made, or you just like eavesdropping on two creatives figuring it out in real time, this one’s for you!!Want an even deeper look into how we’re getting this film made?? Join the waitlist for Watch Me Make a Movie — our behind-the-scenes program where you’ll see every step of how this film comes to life.

Free Audio Training: 11 Mistakes To Avoid  To Get Your $1-3mil Indie Feature Film Funded This Year: https://indiespunk.myflodesk.com/film-funding-mistakes⁠Join me in FILM CLUB: https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/film-club/ Or Go *All-In* Inside FREEDOM CREATOR: ⁠⁠⁠https://indiespunk.com/freedom-creator⁠⁠⁠

Come watch me make a movie!

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Get your b00ty inside Spunky Sales: https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/spunky-sales/Get a TASTE of Freedom Creator ($27): ⁠https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/freedom-formula/⁠Freedom Creator: ⁠https://indiespunk.com/freedom-creator⁠Become Visible: ⁠https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/become-visible/

Get your b00ty inside Spunky Sales: ⁠https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/spunky-sales/⁠Get a TASTE of Freedom Creator ($27): ⁠https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/freedom-formula/⁠Freedom Creator: ⁠https://indiespunk.com/freedom-creator⁠Become Visible: ⁠https://indiespunk.thrivecart.com/become-visible/