Francis and Joseph Thomas | Indie Filmmaking, Directing Styles, Film Budgets, and Debating Spielberg

In the very first episode of JustJoeBTS, host Joe sits down with the filmmaking brothers, Joseph Thomas and Francis Thomas, from the Chicago area. Together, they dive into a raw and insightful conversation about their journey in the film industry, from childhood inspiration to launching full-scale creative projects.

This episode is packed with heartfelt stories, filmmaking wisdom, and a healthy dose of humor as the trio reflects on what it means to be a creative in today’s ever-evolving media landscape. Whether you're a film student, aspiring director, or indie content creator, this episode is your behind-the-scenes pass to the real hustle of storytelling.

🎥 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• How Joseph and Francis discovered their love for filmmaking through writing and home movies
• Their creative evolution from authorship to directing and producing
• Why early 2000s films and classics like Lord of the Rings and Batman inspired their aesthetic
• A hilarious and memorable VFX story involving jumping out of a window (and terrifying their mom)
• The importance of cinematography, lighting, and story over camera gear
• Thoughts on how modern movies have lost some of their originality — and what they’re doing about it
• Deep dive into their web series “A Dangerous Path” and their feature film The Street Corner
• How they navigate the creative tension of working together as brothers
• A candid look at blending genres like sci-fi, action, and comedy as indie filmmakers
• Their thoughts on the best and worst of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• The journey of releasing a feature film on Amazon Prime Video, budgeting, crew building, and the business side of film production

📚 Bonus Highlights:

• Francis shares how leaving a full-time job to pursue filmmaking full-time shaped his career
• The influence of YouTube on improving their on-camera skills and storytelling voice
• Why story is the most powerful marketing tool, with nods to Apple ads and TED Talks
• What it’s like to lead, fail, pivot, and grow in an industry driven by passion and risk

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Just start. The journey from home movies to Amazon releases happens one step at a time.
• Don’t underestimate the power of collaboration and compromise — even if you're arguing like Spielberg and Lucas.
• Story is everything. Gear and budget help, but storytelling is what connects with your audience.
• Indie filmmakers can — and should — be ambitious. Feature films are possible without Hollywood budgets.

Whether you're here to learn, laugh, or feel inspired by the relentless grind of independent creators, this episode has something for you.

🎧 Tune in now and get inspired to create boldly.