The Indie Coach

You Don’t Have a Money Problem. You Have a Positioning Problem.

If you’re a filmmaker with a great story but you keep hitting the same wall - money - you’re not alone. The brutal part is this: it’s not that funding isn’t out there. It’s that most creators don’t know how to translate their creative vision into something investors can confidently support.
In this episode of the Indie Coach Podcast, I’m joined by returning guests Matthew Morris of Pinyon Pictures and Dr. Thomas Kingston of C-Suite Media. Together, we dig into the core issue: money isn’t just “a” problem… it’s often THE problem. And the solution isn’t hype, it’s clarity, positioning, and risk reduction.
This episode is for you if you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of:
building a deck,
pitching the same way everyone else pitches,
getting polite responses (or ghosted),
and wondering what you’re missing.
We talk about the real opportunity for the right projects - especially when institutional money is on the table, and what filmmakers must do to become investable: aligning with market demand, packaging with credibility, showing traction, and presenting a plan that makes sense to people who think in risk, returns, and execution.
You’re the hero. The funding wall is the villain. My job is to help you build a clearer plan, so you can move forward with confidence.
🎧 Listen in, and if you want help getting your project into “fundable” shape, reach out.

Are you managing your film's RISKS?

Most filmmakers talk about chasing the dream.
Very few talk about managing the risk.
Your film will never be risk-free. But you don’t have to gamble your career, your investors, or your family to make something meaningful.
In this episode, I break filmmaking risk into three simple moves:
Shrink it – by validating the idea and writing a producible script.
Shift it – onto real budgets, contracts, insurance, and systems.
Share it – across a slate, a community, and clear expectations.
If you’re taking other people’s money (or even just your own), this isn’t optional. It’s stewardship.
Listen and use it as a gut-check for your next project.

🎬 Vertical Storytelling: The Future of Film - with Angela Liu

In this episode of The IndieCoach Podcast, I sit down with Angela Liu, a filmmaker, storyteller, and cross-cultural creative voice, to talk about the next evolution of storytelling: vertical content.
Angela brings a fresh and global perspective to filmmaking in the age of short-form, mobile-first storytelling. We dive into how vertical dramas are changing the way audiences consume stories, and how indie filmmakers can thrive in this new landscape.
🎧 In this episode, we cover:• How to adapt traditional storytelling to vertical and short-form formats• Building emotional depth in 60 seconds or less• Monetizing vertical content and finding the right audience• The future of decentralized and creator-owned media• Angela’s creative process and advice for up-and-coming filmmakers
Whether you’re a filmmaker, content creator, or simply curious about the changing entertainment landscape, this episode offers a glimpse into where storytelling is headed, and how to stay ahead of it.
📺 Watch more episodes at @TheIndieCoachPodcast🔗 Follow Angela Liu → angelaliuchen.com 🔗 Follow Ron Newcomb → conceptcompass.com 
#IndieCoachPodcast #VerticalContent #Filmmaking #ShortFormVideo #Storytelling #AngelaLiu #IndieFilm #CreativeEconomy #MobileFirstStorytelling #FilmPodcast #IndieCoach #FilmmakerTips #CreatorEconomy

Vertical Vision: A New Option of Filmmaking with Chris Wicke

What happens when a veteran film and TV producer pivots into the world of vertical, short-form storytelling…and builds a company that generates millions for micro-dramas?
Meet Chris Wicke, founder of Embr Entertainment, and one of the sharpest minds driving the future of mobile-first, bite-sized storytelling.
https://embrentertainment.com/
In this episode, we dive into:📱 The rise of vertical short dramas💸 How to generate real revenue from low-budget stories🎬 The new rules of storytelling for mobile audiences📊 What metrics matter more than box office now🌍 Why this model works globally, and how creators can get in
Whether you're a seasoned filmmaker or just now entering the content space, this conversation will shift how you think about format, financing, and the future.
🎧 Listen now and get ahead of the curve.#IndieCoachPodcast #FilmInnovation #VerticalContent #ShortFormDrama #MobileStorytelling #EmbrEntertainment #ChrisWicke #FilmmakingFuture #FilmBusiness #StorytellerEconomy #IndieFilm #CreatorEconomy #IndieCoach

The Next Generation of Filmmakers

I originally met these three young filmmakers from KTB Media Group, fresh out of film school and gearing up to release their short film Kung Fu Conundrum, during a quick conversation.
And I’ll be honest… I was so impressed by their passion, creativity, and thoughtfulness that I immediately invited them back for a full podcast episode.
In this one, we talk:🥋 The making of Kung Fu Conundrum🎓 Life after film school and breaking into the industry🎥 What the next generation of storytellers is focused on🧠 How they see the future of indie filmmaking differently than we might
For those of us who are… a bit further along in our filmmaking journey, this episode is a great reminder of the energy, hunger, and fresh perspective the next wave is bringing in.
🔥 Trust me, this is one of those episodes that leaves you hopeful for where storytelling is going.
🎧 Listen now: 
#IndieCoachPodcast #IndieFilm #NextGenFilmmakers #KungFuConundrum #KTBMediaGroup #FilmSchoolGrads #YoungFilmmakers #ShortFilmSpotlight #FilmmakingPodcast #CreativeVoices #IndieFilmCommunity #IndieStorytelling #TheFutureOfFilm

Building a Better Path for Storytellers with James Timberlake

In this episode, I sit down with James Timberlake, the force behind the Storie Foundation, to unpack how they're reshaping the creative economy for filmmakers, writers, and microstudio builders.
We talk about:✅ What a “microstudio” really is and why it matters✅ How creators can access funding without selling their soul✅ Building community, ownership, and sustainability into storytelling✅ The future of decentralized and values-based content creation
If you're a creative tired of chasing gatekeepers, or an investor curious about the next wave of media innovation — this one’s for you.

🎬 Indie filmmakers - this one’s non-negotiable on film financing.

Reach out to Mara's Decision Maker Meetings: https://www.decisionmakermeetings.com/programdetails-1
Matt can be reached here: https://www.pinyonpictures.com/
I sat down with Matthew Morris for one of the most in-depth, pull-no-punches conversations on indie film financing you’ll ever hear.
We break down what actually gets a project funded, where filmmakers blow it, and the strategies that separate the dreamers from the deal-makers. If you’ve ever wondered why some films get money and others die in development… this episode will change the way you approach your career.
🎧 Listen now: your budget (and your future self) will thank you.
#IndieFilm #FilmFinancing #FilmmakerTips #MovieMoney #IndieFilmmaking #FilmFunding #FilmBusiness #FilmmakerLife #IndieProducer #FilmDistribution #FilmmakingTips #FilmMarketing #HowToMakeMovies #FilmmakersOfInstagram #FilmInvestor #MovieIndustry #IndieFilmLife #FilmProduction

Indie Coach Podcast with Sean Flanagan

🎬 New Episode: Filmmaking Without the Fluff - A Real Talk with Sean Flanagan 🎙️
On this episode of The Indie Coach Podcast, we sit down with filmmaker and industry insider Sean Flanagan to cut through the noise and talk straight about what it really takes to make and sell indie films today.
From development mistakes to distribution myths, Sean shares:
The hard truths about funding and packaging
Why most creatives miss the mark in marketing
Whether “star power” still matters
How to build a career that lasts and satisfies
If you’re looking for clarity in the chaos, this conversation delivers a masterclass in actionable insight - served up with honesty, experience, and just the right amount of edge.
🎧 Listen now #SeanFlanagan #IndieFilm #FilmFunding #Film3 #Distribution #TheIndieCoachPodcast #NoBSFilmmaking

Indie Coach Podcast with Isabel Dréan on Vertical Content

🎬 If you're not thinking Vertical, you're already behind.
In this episode of The Indie Coach Podcast, we sit down with the brilliant Isabel Dréan to dive into one of the fastest-growing segments of the film industry: Vertical Content.
📱 Learn:✅ HOW to write stories that work for vertical screens✅ WHAT formats and platforms are actually buying✅ HOW MUCH these projects really cost✅ WHERE the opportunity is for indie creators✅ WHEN it’s smart to greenlight your own vertical project
This is the episode that gives you the playbook others are guessing at. 🔥
🎧 Listen now and start thinking vertically.
More info
Training: https://21dayscreenplay.com/incubator/
Isabel's Site: https://isabeldrean.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabeldrean/
Inside Pitch Christopher McQuarrie (YouTube): https://youtu.be/W-x25qR6dsU?si=cgm7VQwdS5pohSwR
#IndieFilm #VerticalContent #Storytelling #FilmmakerTips #IsabelDrean #TheIndieCoachPodcast

Indie Coach Podcast with Stephen Murray

🎙️ JUST DROPPED: The Future of Film Is Here — and It’s on the Blockchain 🎬
On this episode of The Indie Coach Podcast, I sat down with Stephen Murray, founder of Bingeable, to break down how he’s flipping the entire entertainment industry on its head.
We talked:
⚡ The rise of Film3 and why Web3 matters for indie creators
⚡ How Bingeable gives filmmakers and fans a direct revenue stake
⚡ What it takes to fund, launch, and own your project outside Hollywood
⚡ The mindset shift every creator needs to embrace now
Stephen’s not just talking about disrupting the system, he’s building the tools that replace it. If you're a filmmaker, creative, or founder looking for the real blueprint to cut through the noise and take control of your IP, this is a must-listen.
🎧 Listen now → https://youtu.be/G_T6LE2NyLU