{"podcast":{"title":"The Filmmakers Podcast","slug":"the-filmmakers-podcast-743342","podcast_index_feed_id":743342,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/GLT5297495551","website_url":"https://thefilmmakerspodcast.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/ca1ed098-1bf7-11ee-aa04-7baab7c5683a/image/show-cover.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Giles Alderson","episode_count":520,"summary":"A podcast about how to make film and TV by filmmakers who actually make them. Interviewing guests from the film-making world from Indie film to Hollywood and everything in between. Hosts Giles Alderson (The Dare), Dom Lenoir (Winter Ridge) Lucinda Rhodes Thakrar (Wolves of War), Tori & Matthew Butler-Hart (Two Down), Phil Hawkins (Prancer: A Christmas Tale), Stephen Follows (Film Data Analyst), Christian James (Fanged Up), Andy Rodger (Three Day Millionaire) and many others explore the world behind-the-scenes of making films and TV, talking to the actors, writers, directors and producers who make them!","last_synced_at":"2026-07-19T14:18:07.843909+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-filmmakers-podcast-743342"},"episode":{"title":"How to Self-Finance & Distribute an Indie Thriller you shot in 8 days - 'Empire of Lies' with Matthew Hope & Joseph Millson","slug":"how-to-self-finance-distribute-an-indie-thriller-you-shot-in-8-days-empire-of-lies-with-matthew-hope-joseph-millson","published_at":"2026-04-29T11:12:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-filmmakers-podcast-743342/how-to-self-finance-distribute-an-indie-thriller-you-shot-in-8-days-empire-of-lies-with-matthew-hope-joseph-millson","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-filmmakers-podcast-743342","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/KILM4013727605.mp3?updated=1777461352","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/KILM4013727605.mp3?updated=1777461352","summary":"Empire of Lies: Making an Indie Thriller on a Shoestring with Matthew Hope & Joseph Millson What happens when an established action director strips everything away to make a micro-budget thriller in just 8 days? This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, Giles Alderson sits down with director Matthew Hope (The Veteran, All the Devil's Men) and returning champion, actor/producer Joseph Millson (Casino Royale, Signs of Life), to discuss their tense new two-hander, Empire of Lies. Matthew and Joseph pull back the curtain on true guerrilla filmmaking. They break down what it is actually like to shoot a feature film in under 10 days with a crew of just 4 to 5 people, the realities of self-financing (including how Matthew pitched the investment to his wife!), and how an epiphany on the M1 motorway finally cracked the script. We also do a massive deep dive into the business side of indie film, exploring how they utilized data analytics, Instagram, and targeted ads to independently distribute a sub-£100k movie into cinemas. If you are waiting for permission or a massive budget to make your first feature, this episode will give you the kickstart you need to just go out and shoot it! 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: Going Micro: Matthew’s pivot from massive budget action movies to an intimate, self-funded indie. Guerrilla Filmmaking: Shooting a feature in 8–10 days with a skeletal crew of 4-5 people (and a very obliging mother-in-law's field!). Cracking the Script: The collaborative writing process, layering clues for rewatchability, and the M1 car ride that unlocked the twist. Prep vs. Spontaneity: The \"John Williams analogy\" and why meticulous directorial prep gives actors the freedom to improvise. Indie Distribution Masterclass: Using data analytics, social media ads, and the strategi…","meta_description":"Empire of Lies: Making an Indie Thriller on a Shoestring with Matthew Hope & Joseph Millson What happens when an established action director strips everyt…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4172,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-filmmakers-podcast-743342/episodes/how-to-self-finance-distribute-an-indie-thriller-you-shot-in-8-days-empire-of-lies-with-matthew-hope-joseph-millson/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-filmmakers-podcast-743342/how-to-self-finance-distribute-an-indie-thriller-you-shot-in-8-days-empire-of-lies-with-matthew-hope-joseph-millson.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}