On this week’s episode, I’m joined by Jake VerKesen—some of you in the comments might know him by his handle, Jake VK—on the long and winding road to turning an idea for a micro-budgeted indie movie like I Agree With You from a dream into a reality. We discuss the paperwork, the delays, the fundraising, the shooting, the food, the editing, and, finally, the showing, that goes into getting an indie movie made and delivered to the people.
As discussed on the episode, the movie’s not out just yet, but hopefully y’all will get a chance to see it soon. You can follow the film’s progress on its Substack and add I Agree With You to your Letterboxd watchlist. I hope you check it out. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!
Thank you for an excellent episode. Learn something I would not have otherwise sought out but very interesting, especially on the business and finance side. Great reference on the SEC. I truly don’t know what kind of a regulatory body it will become.
Good to hear! Thanks for checking it out!
Sonny / Jake: Thank you for the great podcast. It was the most concise description of filmmaking, especially for the uninformed like me, I’ve heard, irrespective of the project budget. The lack of pretense or assumed knowledge was refreshing. I look forward to watching the movie. (Another example of great content from Sonny; better than Tim and Ben Stiller! ;-))
I'm glad to hear that it was helpful!
Wonderful information and encouragement. I plan to share this episode with my actor daughter.
I am a former creature maker from Muppet-land and the Frank Oz film, “Little Shop of Horrors”. You remind me of my former crew co-workers, which is fun for me!
What!? I most have watched Little Shop of Horrors...I don't know 50 times on VHS growing up.
Little Shop was the last movie of its kind before CGI. No wonder! It went over budget by around 6 months and David Geffen kept it afloat expecting it to become the next ‘Rocky Horror’, which it never became. Personally, I think the off broadway play was much better than the movie.
The mechanics were amazing, and too bad, the only day that Jim Henson came to the set, the plant broke, big time. Did you know that one person’s job was to teach Rick Moranis how to film really slowed down moves in his plant scenes, so it would look normal at regular film speed? Never again will money flow like that film demanded.
I so appreciate your humanity. My fellow workers were largely wonderful folks on Little Shop, but the head plant design guy intentionally hired an incompetent woman to manage the workshop, knowing people would complain about her, and not take it out on him, as deadlines and demands became challenging. He gloated about that over beers one day. Unnecessarily reprehensible behavior in my book. Neil Scanlon, the boy wonder who designed the mechanics of the plant, was just wonderful, I might add. He’s gone on to great things. Anyway, memory lane has been activated. Keep up the great work, and thank you for modelling the humbleness and goodwill you have shown.
Great episode. Reminded me of Joe Queenan’s 1997 book “The Unkindest Cut: How a Hatchet-Man Critic Made His Own $7,000 Movie and Put It All on His Credit Card”. Good luck to Jake.
Thank you, Paul! Also, I'm going to have to check out that book!
Added to my Letterboxd! Can’t wait to see it!
I can't wait for you to see it! And thanks for adding it to your Letterboxd!