Been listening to the audiobook by Robert Rodriguez about the film he made for $7000, El Mariachi, which led to Hollywood studios fighting over him and the rights to the film. And discovered a show he did in which he goes into a lot of detail about the methods he uses for his low budget films. It's full of great ideas, especially the episode on "Coverage and Effects." Here's the link.... https://tubitv.com/series/300009194/rebel-without-a-crew

The Origin Story At 21, Cooper Raiff wasn’t waiting for permission. During spring break at Occidental College, he grabbed a borrowed camera, two friends, and made a scrappy 50-minute film called Madeline & Cooper. He had no lighting kit, no crew, and no plan beyond making something real. Instead of hiding it, he uploaded the rough cut to YouTube and dared Jay Duplass (yes, that Jay Duplass) on Twitter: “Bet you won’t click this link.” Jay clicked. Jay watched. Jay responded. That moment wasn’t luck—it was proof of concept. Raiff had something tangible that a seasoned filmmaker could recognize. Leveling Up: Shithouse (2020) With Duplass’s mentorship, Raiff turned the short into a feature. He dropped out of college, raised about $15,000 through friends, family, and a Duplass-boosted Kickstarter, and shot guerrilla-style in LA. He did everything—writing, directing, acting, even editing. The result? Shithouse won SXSW’s Grand Jury Prize. IFC Films picked it up. A dorm-room project became an indie film that proved he could finish a feature. Going Big: Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022) The festival win gave him credibility. His next film, Cha Cha Real Smooth, had Dakota Johnson attached as producer and co-star, plus backing from Picturestart and Endeavor Content. Budget: multi-million dollar indie (huge jump from $15k). Festival: Sundance Audience Award. Deal: Apple TV+ bought it for $15 million. That leap wasn’t just about talent—it was the power of proof. Because he had already made a feature, bigger players felt safe betting on him. Today: Beyond Features Raiff’s TV series Hal & Harper premiered at Sundance 2025 with Mark Ruffalo and Lili Reinhart. MUBI picked it up. He also launched his own production company, Small Ideas, to keep creative control. Even after a shelved project (The Trashers, too expensive to finance), he keeps momentum alive because he has proof of execution behind him. Tactical Strategy: How You Can Apply This 1. Start Small, But Start NowRaiff didn’t wait for money, agents, or a studio. He made something scrappy and honest. Your first project doesn’t need a budget—it needs completion.

Title: 3. The TRUTH Assignment My biggest takeaway is: Success leaves clues and there is a pattern to the madness starting at ground zero with your first film. My biggest concern/challenge is trying to run before I walk and getting lost in the crowd.

And how to avoid these rookie mistakes on your next film.

My biggest takeaway is: Create the opportunity, don't wait for it to be given. My biggest concern/challenge is: Self doubt, fear of failure, too many shinny objects.