8 APR 2024 · On this episode of the podcast, Josh Stifter sits down for a conversation with returning guest Taylor Morden. They discuss what has happened since they recorded the last episode, The Last Blockbuster and it's run on Netflix, the challenges of getting projects off the ground, being hired to direct a movie about Build-a-Bear Workshops, and Taylor's newest adventure in crowdfunding with his horror/comedy Bampire!  Make sure to go over to bampiremovie.com and help support this fun and unique take on indie monster movies.  Follow the film on social media @bampiremovie Cheers!

27 DEC 2023 · On this episode of the podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Michael J Epstein. In his second appearance on the show, he discussed the movies he's directed since the pandemic. Experimenting with mocumentary mixed media projects that included short scenes from other filmmakers during the pandemic and mocumentaries, Michael and his partner Sophia Cacciola have made three incredibly experimental films including The Transformations of the Tranformations of The Drs. Jenkins, The Once and Future Smash, and End Zone 2. We discuss the making of these films, how the pandemic effected them, and the process of distibution for these truly independent features. Make sure to check out the kickstarter for the release of The Once and Future Smash here: https://launchover.com/launch/film/the-once-and-future-smash/ And follow Michael J Epstein on social media by going to launchover.com Cheers, Josh

21 NOV 2023 · This Is Your Song is a beautiful, sad, and completely unique film about relationships gained and lost. I had the pleasure of sitting down with independent filmmaker Hassan Said to talk about the process of making such an ambitious film. Filmed as one long take, the movie tells a story that many of us can relate to - but also will impress the hell out of all you indie filmmakers. We discussed the casting process, the massive endeavor that is filming large takes, things that can go wrong on a film like this, and why his director of photography had to build her core before production. Six weeks of rehearsal and preproduction, screenings of the film, getting permits for the shoot, color correcting a movie for mood, distribution of a film like this, and finding the right locations are just some of the topics we discuss! Make sure to follow Hassan Said by checking out his website at https://hassansaid.com/ and look for THIS IS YOUR SONG through Indie Rights available now! Have a great week, everybody! Cheers, Josh Stifter

6 NOV 2023 · On this weeks episode of Low-Budget Rebels, I had the pleasure of talking with first time feature filmmaker of the new sci-fi comedy Love Virtually L.E. Staiman and his co-writer Cheston Mizel. We discussed how they got into making movies and why a comedy about the Metaverse seemed enticing. They tell me about the writing process and how it came together during the Covid quarantine, what the biggest challenges were, and how the process of editing this movie challenged them. They also discuss the benefits and shortcomings of relying on visual effects and animation and how Cheston learned animation based on the needs of the film. This and much more! Love Virtually is releasing November 7th on digital and on demand. Cheers, Josh

23 OCT 2023 · I am so excited for you all to hear this weeks episode of Low-Budget Rebels! My friend Anthony Cousins hopped on the show to talk about his new film FROGMAN and the shorts that helped him get to where he is. We discussed the movies and t.v. shows that introduced us to the world of filmmaking, his decision to pursue filmmaking, and the sacrifices that you have to make to do what you love. We also discuss the challenges of moving from short films to features and the inspiration behind the stories we tell, working with collaborators, and the challenges that come with making a found footage film. This and so much more! Make sure to follow Anthony on instagram at @cousins_anthony, check out his short films and segments from the SCARE PACKAGE films, and keep an eye out for where you can see FROGMAN! Have a great week, everybody. Cheers, Josh

15 OCT 2023 · Happy Monday! And we're rollin' into it with a brand new podcast episode. Liz Manashil is a wonderfully different type of director than the folks I usually get on the show. Her two features, Bread & Butter and Speed of Life, are fascinating character studies that are not only low-budget inspiring but a type of movie that makes me want to work outside of the box. She also was the kind of candid chatter that I LOVE to have on the show. She discussed growing up as a precocious and quiet child, the anxiety that comes with filmmaking, and balancing being a parent with creating art. She also discussed going to film school at USC, working with actors, and the benefits of doing shorts as well as features. All of this and so much more. Make sure to follow her on twitter @LizManashil and check out her films Bread and Butter and Speed of Life, available now on Amazon and other streaming sites. Also, head over to http://speakpipe.com/lowbudgetrebels and leave me an audio message! Ask questions, leave indie film reviews, and have your voice heard! Cheers, Josh

6 OCT 2023 · I've decide to release this episode early for everyone so that we can help get the word out that the amazingly talents and interesting Izzy Lee is making a feature film and needs your support! Izzy Lee is a visionary low-budget short film director who is embarking on the adventure of creating her first feature length horror film called House of Ashes. You can help donate to the campaign today by going to : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/izzylee/house-of-ashes-a-horror-feature-film-by-izzy-lee In this episode, Izzy and I talk about the social issues that had her go from acting, journalism, and illustration to directing her very large catalogue of short films. We also talked about the challenges in making low-budget films, the joy of learning on each different shoot, and crippling terror that comes along with crowdfunding. She also discuss taking part in Sundance Collab courses, the fear of not being ready to take on larger projects, and the benefits of networking at film festivals. We also dive deep into the crowdfunding process and what you can learn from the process. All this and so much more! Make sure to check out everything Izzy is doing at https://www.nihilnoctem.com/ and make sure to follow her social profiles there as well! Cheers, Josh

2 OCT 2023 · Happy Monday! On this weeks episode, I talked to RUB director and writer Christopher Fox about his style of filmmaking. We discussed his start in audio recording and engineering, along with playing in bands, and how it led him to making movies. We also chat about the writing process, wearing multiple hats on a movie set, the few positive things that can come creatively from utilizing AI, watching movies that inspired us as kids, finding ideas for films in your reality, hunting down sets that you know you have access to, the early work that motivated us to keep trying, and reassessing our goals, especially during the pandemic. This and so much more. Remember to send your audio messages into http://speakpipe.com/lowbudgetrebels and if you have any questions or comments, send them to https://gmail.com! Follow Christopher on social media @cfoxv1027 or on facebook @christopherfox Watch RUB on VUDU: https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/title/2436406 Have a great week. Cheers, Josh

25 SEP 2023 · Hey, everybody. It's time for another Low-Budget Rebels conversation! In this episode, Rob Hagans and I sat down to chat about his films and the process of making them. Rob is the talented DIY filmmaker behind indie films such as Barbara and Around the World. We discuss filmmaker gear and the ability to use what you have to bring your stories to life, how the low-budget film medium allows for you to make raw and unique films, the joys of American filmmaking and the ability it grants low-budget filmmakers to have so much at their disposal, and how to get away with run n' gun filmmaking with a small crew. We also discuss Rob's background and the wild jobs that brought him into the type of films he makes. This and so much more. Make sure to follow Rob on social media at @BspectacledMofo Check out his youtube channel for a lot more filmmaking content: https://www.youtube.com/@BespectacledMofoHave a great week. Cheers, Josh

18 SEP 2023 · Happy Monday, everyone! On this weeks LOW-BUDGET REBELS, I chatted with the wonderful producer of FAITH BA$ED - Luke Barnett. I've chatted with Luke a bit on social media and we've tried to put together an episode for awhile but it's finally come together into one of the most informative podcast episodes to date!Luke and I discussed the shift from focusing on acting to producing and what lead him to making his movie Faith Ba$ed the way that he and his team did. He talks about his start at Funny Or Die and how it lead him into writing and producing. What film festivals are helpful in distribution of your film, how ideas get put on the "backburner", finding cast that elevates your film, how agencies can help you get your movie into the right festivals, low-budget distribution, and new methods for funding your films are only a few of the topics we tackle in this jam packed episode. Follow look on social media @lukebarnett Check out Faith Ba$ed at https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Based-Luke-Barnett/dp/B08KGRJJMR Have a great week, everybody! Cheers, Josh