Can Micro Budget Films Still Work? Funding, Profit & Distribution

The Honest Filmmaker

Chapters
0:00
Introduction to Jason and how he got into filmmaking
1:35
Jim's trajectory into filmmaking
1:58
Jason's first feature film - how was it funded?
3:15
Budget levels for Jasons films and shows
4:51
$100k feature film - hard to turn a profit
5:23
Where are we with Micro Budget - state of the industry?
6:49
Filmmakers finding an audience - Micro Budget Boom
7:30
How to release a film - sales agents, distributors or Film hub?
10:09
Contracts - red flags to look out for
10:44
Working with a traditional distributor
12:31
Selling individual territories country by country
13:32
The changing face of distribution
14:02
Checking if your movie rights have returned
14:25
Space Rodent - $3k monster movie
17:49
A rubber monster
18:16
Has the movie made money?
20:28
Physical release - Sam Rami 's new film Get Help
21:44
AI art work - is Space Rodent Ai?
24:53
The AI in filmmaking debate
25:30
Looking back - what does Jason wish he'd known at the beginning?
The Honest Filmmaker
Can Micro Budget Films Still Work? Funding, Profit & Distribution
May 19, 2026 Episode 133
Jim Eaves

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Filmmaker Jason Morris joins the podcast to discuss the realities of micro budget filmmaking in today’s industry. Including film funding, distribution, profitability and the changing landscape for independent filmmakers.

From producing films at different budget levels to releasing projects through distributors and aggregators, Jason shares practical insight into what actually works, what filmmakers should avoid in contracts and why audience-building matters more than ever.

We also discuss his $3,000 monster movie Space Rodent, the role of AI in film production, physical media and the lessons he wishes he knew when starting out.

If you're making independent films — or planning your first feature — this episode is packed with advice.

#Podcast #FilmmakingPodcast #MicroBudgetFilm #IndieFilm #FilmDistribution #IndependentFilmmaker #CreativeBusiness #FilmProduction #JasonMorris #MoviePodcast

Check out the re-release of Jim's first solo directing feature The Witches Hammer - out now on amazon 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F235F4T8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

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