# Making A $2000 Feature, Landing Vanishing Angle & Getting Into the Blacklist Project Lab - With Nathan Xia

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/show-don-t-tell-micro-budget-filmmaking-809490/making-a-2000-feature-landing-vanishing-angle-getting-into-the-blacklist-project-lab-with-nathan-xia
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/show-don-t-tell-micro-budget-filmmaking-809490/making-a-2000-feature-landing-vanishing-angle-getting-into-the-blacklist-project-lab-with-nathan-xia.md
Podcast: [Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking](https://stenobird.com/podcast/show-don-t-tell-micro-budget-filmmaking-809490)
Published: 2026-05-08T22:02:29+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-a-2000-feature-landing-vanishing-angle-getting-into-the-blacklist-project-lab-with-nathan-xia--71930604
Audio file: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71930604/show_dont_tell_ep272.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/show-don-t-tell-micro-budget-filmmaking-809490/episodes/making-a-2000-feature-landing-vanishing-angle-getting-into-the-blacklist-project-lab-with-nathan-xia
Duration seconds: 4371

## Resource

In this episode, I'm joined by actor, filmmaker, and musician Nathan Xia to talk about his unconventional path into the industry - from making YouTube sketches with a flip camera to acting in studio projects, getting repped as both an actor and writer-director, and developing his deeply personal feature Adam's Song. Throughout the conversation Nathan shares how he fell into acting out of necessity while co-directing a scrappy COVID road trip feature with his roommates, and how that unexpected pivot eventually led to representation, festival success, and a role in Danny Madden's Downbeat . He also breaks down the relentless hustle behind landing his producer at Vanishing Angle, getting into the Blacklist Project Lab after 14 rejections, and signing with management company M88 - all before turning 26. Topics covered include: How Nathan discovered filmmaking through a flip camera and YouTube sketches Making a $2,000 road trip feature across six states during COVID Falling into acting out of necessity - and finding it on the festival circuit Cold-emailing his way to representation at Momentum Talent Agency How attending festivals (not just submitting) changed his career Landing veteran indie producer Benjamin Wiesner through responsiveness and rewrites Going 0-for-14 on labs and fellowships before getting into the Blacklist Project Lab Developing the feature version of Adam's Song and scouting in West Texas Why being a writer-director-actor gives him a unique advantage in attaching talent Much more! Follow Nathan on Instagram Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday

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