Eight months. Tons of guests. Countless lessons from the trenches of indie filmmaking. In our Season 1 finale, Ken and Anthony pull back the curtain on their own projects, diving into the wild, unpredictable ride of producing indie films.We talk about:The razor’s edge of indie film financingThe difference (and similarities) between studio & indie filmmakingManifestation, meditation & the mental game of making moviesFinding and working with the right peopleWhy now is the time to make your movie — no excusesPlus — a huge thank you to Peliplat and Craftsman Films for fueling this first season. We’ll be back this fall with an even bigger, better Season 2. Until then… keep creating, keep hustling, and keep telling your stories off the lot.👉 Want to listen to the show? Check out www.offthelotpodcast.com/listen 👉 Want to watch the show? Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@offthelotpodcast💰 Sponsored by Peliplat — Enter monthly writing challenges and win up to $2400 USD in cash prizes. Join at www.peliplat.com/offthelot📚 Sponsored by Craftsman Films — Each week, successful indie producer Daren Smith shares his vast knowledge of indie filmmaking in a highly anticipated newsletter. If you sign up at the link below you'll get access to his must-read book Blockbuster absolutely free! www.craftsmanfilms.co/offthelot🖥️ Follow us on Instagram: @offthelotpod, @ken_kabatoff, @epptri☕️ Help support the show! Buy us a cup of coffee for those long editing nights by leaving a tip here! www.offthelotpodcast.com/support🎯 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you don’t miss the Season 2 premiere!Mentioned in this episode:Peliplat

Ready to peek behind the curtain of indie filmmaking? In this electrifying episode, award-winning director Karen Lam (The Curse of Willow Song, Bring It On: Cheer or Die) sits down to unpack her unique journey from entertainment lawyer to horror auteur.Karen dives deep into her latest projects—Armageddon Road, a supernatural thriller blending innovative volume wall tech with old-school miniature effects, and the award-winning short Mrs. Chang’s Perfect Teeth. Along the way, she offers practical advice for indie filmmakers navigating a changing industry, discusses the indie vs. studio filmmaking balance, and shares essential strategies for filmmakers looking to build sustainable careers without relying on traditional gatekeepers.📌 In this episode, you’ll discover:How Karen financed her latest feature using creative, indie-friendly strategies.Why mixing cutting-edge tech with classic practical effects can elevate your storytelling.The power of creating your own opportunities instead of waiting for "Hollywood to pick you."Insights into how Canadian filmmakers can leverage industry shifts to their advantage.Hit Subscribe to Off The Lot for more candid conversations and practical filmmaking insights!👉 Want to listen to the show? Check out www.offthelotpodcast.com/listen 👉 Want to watch the show? Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@offthelotpodcast💰 Sponsored by Peliplat — Enter monthly writing challenges and win up to $2400 USD in cash prizes. Join at www.peliplat.com/offthelot📚 Sponsored by Craftsman Films — Each week, successful indie producer Daren Smith shares his vast knowledge of indie filmmaking in a highly anticipated newsletter. If you sign up at the link below you'll get access to his must-read book Blockbuster absolutely free! www.craftsmanfilms.co/offthelot🖥️ Follow us on Instagram: @offthelotpod, @ken_kabatoff, @epptri☕️ Help support the show! Buy us a cup of coffee for those long editing nights by leaving a tip here! www.offthelotpodcast.com/support🎙️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!#KarenLam #IndieFilm #HorrorMovies #FilmmakingTips #WomenInFilm #FilmProduction #OffTheLotPodcast #ArmageddonRoad #MrsChangsPerfectTeeth #FilmmakingAdvice #VancouverFilm #FilmFinance #DirectorLifeMentioned in this episode:Peliplat

What if Letterboxd and a writer's room had a baby—and that baby was raised in a video store by cinephiles? That's Peliplat. And in this bonus episode, Off The Lot fave Bob Woolsey returns to break down exactly why Peliplat might be the next big thing for indie filmmakers and film lovers alike.We dive deep into how Peliplat is building a real community for creatives to:Develop IP in a transparent, collaborative way (yes, even in the age of AI)Share cultural perspectives on film that expand how we watch and talk about moviesReclaim the joy of movie discussion outside the noise of social mediaFind your tribe of writers, critics, and cinephiles who care as much as you do🎥 Bob’s been in the trenches for over 15 years — as a writer, director, and educator. If you're serious about building a career in film, you can’t miss this one.👉 Want to watch the show instead? Check out our YouTube channel here: Off The Lot YouTube💰 Sponsored by Peliplat — Enter monthly writing challenges and win up to $2400 USD in cash prizes. Join at Peliplat_OffTheLot📚 Sponsored by Craftsman Films — Each week, successful indie producer Daren Smith shares his vast knowledge of indie filmmaking in a highly anticipated newsletter. If you sign up here you'll get access to his must-read book Blockbuster absolutely free!🖥️ Follow us on Instagram: @offthelotpod, @ken_kabatoff, @epptri☕️ Help support the show! Buy us a cup of coffee for those long editing nights by leaving a tip here! 🎙️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode! Mentioned in this episode:Peliplat

Thinking about film school? Or wondering if you should skip it and just make a movie?🎓 In this episode, filmmaker and former Vancouver Film School department head Bob Woolsey breaks down:What film school actually teaches you (and what it doesn’t)Why networking and teamwork beat theory every timeWhether a $30,000 tuition is worth the ROIHow to break into the industry without formal educationWhy your attitude might matter more than your talent🎥 Bob’s been in the trenches for over 15 years — as a writer, director, and educator. If you're serious about building a career in film, you can’t miss this one.👉 Want to watch the show instead? Check out our YouTube channel here: Off The Lot YouTube💰 Sponsored by Peliplat — Enter monthly writing challenges and win up to $2400 USD in cash prizes. Join at Peliplat_OffTheLot📚 Sponsored by Craftsman Films — Each week, successful indie producer Daren Smith shares his vast knowledge of indie filmmaking in a highly anticipated newsletter. If you sign up here you'll get access to his must-read book Blockbuster absolutely free!🖥️ Follow us on Instagram: @offthelotpod, @ken_kabatoff, @epptri ☕️ Help support the show! Buy us a cup of coffee for those long editing nights by leaving a tip here! 🎙️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode! Mentioned in this episode:PeliplatPeliplat

In this episode, we're joined by indie filmmaker MJ Alhabeeb Jr., whose debut feature Plight is racking up awards and heading to theaters. MJ takes us through his journey from shooting public access TV at 16, to premiering Plight in the very town where it was shot, to landing distribution with Indie Rights—all on a shoestring budget.We dig deep into:How he made Plight for $60KWhy failing forward mattersWhat filmmakers often get wrong about distributionBuilding a film career without the studio systemHis honest advice for every up-and-coming director🎥 This is a must-listen for anyone who’s felt stuck or sidelined in their filmmaking journey. MJ proves you don’t need permission—you just need to get going.📺 Plight is now streaming on Amazon Prime.👉 Want to watch the show instead? Check out our YouTube channel here: Off The Lot YouTube💰 Sponsored by Peliplat — Enter monthly writing challenges and win up to $2400 USD in cash prizes. Join at Peliplat_OffTheLot📚 Sponsored by Craftsman Films — Each week, successful indie producer Daren Smith shares his vast knowledge of indie filmmaking in a highly anticipated newsletter. If you sign up here you'll get access to his must-read book Blockbuster absolutely free!🖥️ Follow us on Instagram: @offthelotpod, @ken_kabatoff, @epptri☕️ Help support the show! Buy us a cup of coffee for those long editing nights by leaving a tip here! 🎙️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode! Mentioned in this episode:Peliplat

Off The Lot is where serious indie filmmakers level up. Hosted by Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp, this podcast goes beyond the fluff to deliver real, hard-earned lessons from the frontlines of independent filmmaking. Each episode is a masterclass—featuring directors, producers, and creatives who are in the trenches, making movies happen without a safety net. If you want actionable insights, unfiltered conversations, and the blueprint to build your own career outside the studio system—this is the show.Spread the word and help indie filmmakers around the world level up today!

This week, we’re answering your burning questions—and holding nothing back.Whether you're stuck in development hell, figuring out how to light your film without pro gear, or wondering how to work with (or walk away from) an investor with strings attached—this episode is for you.We cover: 🔥 How to make your indie film look cinematic on a shoestring 💰 The financial model that actually gets investors paid back 🎭 Directing actors (even when you have zero rehearsal time) 🎥 The red flags that should make you walk away from a “dream” investor 📽 Why Hollywood won’t “pick” you—and why that’s a good thing 🧠 The spiral theory of filmmaking that will change how you prep your moviePlus: Ken drops the real update on Remnant—how close they are to greenlight, and what it means to go all in.🎥 Whether you're an indie filmmaker or a fan of genre movies, this episode is packed with actionable insights, brutal honesty, and a lot of laughs.👉 Want to watch the show instead? Check out our YouTube channel here: Off The Lot YouTube💰 Sponsored by Peliplat — Enter monthly writing challenges and win up to $2400 USD in cash prizes. Join at Peliplat_OffTheLot📚 Sponsored by Craftsman Films — Each week, successful indie producer Daren Smith shares his vast knowledge of indie filmmaking in a highly anticipated newsletter. If you Sign up here you'll get access to his must-read book Blockbuster absolutely free!🖥️ Follow us on Instagram: @offthelotpod, @ken_kabatoff, @epptri📢 Got your own question? Email us at: [email protected]☕️ Help support the show! Buy us a cup of coffee for those long editing nights by leaving a tip here! 🎙️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you don't miss a single episode! Mentioned in this episode:Peliplat

In our first-ever live show, we sit down with the powerhouse duo behind Freaks and the upcoming Freaks Underground — director Zach Lipovsky and cinematographer Stirling Bancroft — to uncover how they pulled off a visually stunning sci-fi indie on a micro-budget and what it takes to keep your voice in this industry.From guerrilla filmmaking in Shaughnessy to shooting volume plates like pros, hear how the team created massive scope on minimal resources, built their careers without waiting for permission, and dove straight into Freaks Underground the day after wrapping Final Destination: Bloodlines.Whether you're an indie filmmaker or a fan of genre movies, this episode is packed with actionable insights, brutal honesty, and a lot of laughs.Watch the episode on YouTube for the full live show experience! https://youtu.be/06Hk70UytMoSponsored by Peliplat — Enter monthly writing challenges and win up to $2400 USD in cash prizes. Join at https://www.peliplat.com/offthelotSponsored by Sunbelt Rentals — Industry-trusted gear and support from https://whites.comSponsored by Daren Smith at Craftsman Films — Sign up at https://www.craftsmanfilms.co/offthelot to get his must-read book Blockbuster absolutely free.Mentioned in this episode:Peliplat

This week, we sit down with Vancouver indie legend Jason Mills—the one-man movie machine behind 18 feature films, including They Came From the Attic (picked up by Lionsgate UK). Jason talks about his DIY filmmaking roots, how he turns micro-budgets into maximum impact, and why passion beats permission every time.He breaks down:How to shoot a feature film in 5 daysWhy AI shouldn't replace you, but can empower youThe myth of waiting for the perfect budgetWhy YouTube is his ultimate distribution platformThe one piece of advice he'd give his younger self💸 This episode is sponsored by Peliplat — where filmmakers and writers battle it out in monthly screenwriting challenges. Submit your work for a chance to win up to $2400 USD in cash prizes!✍️ Join today: www.peliplat.com/offthelot👇 If you're an indie filmmaker, this one’s for you. Like, comment, and SUBSCRIBE for more weekly conversations with the boldest voices in independent film.🔔 New episodes drop every week.

What do you do when Sundance says no? If you're Dan Mirvish—you start your own damn festival.In this episode, we sit down with the co-founder of Slamdance Film Festival and self-proclaimed “cheerful subversive” Dan Mirvish. From launching the careers of Christopher Nolan and the Russo Brothers, to literally forcing the Oscars to change their rules, Dan’s career is a masterclass in indie film rebellion.🏆 This episode is sponsored by Peliplat – where passionate minds meet. Enter their monthly writing challenges and win up to $2400 USD in cash prizes! ✍️ Join the community at: www.peliplat.com/offthelot👇 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop your favorite indie film hustle story in the comments.