Walt Disney once said, “We don’t make movies to make money. We make money to make more movies.” We think Dino Tripodis would agree with that. On this episode of Quality Time With MoreSteam, Dino joins the show to discuss the making of DOWN TO THE FELT, the largest independent film ever produced in Columbus, Ohio. Michael Weston, Michael Stahl-David, and Scottie Thompson have starring roles in DOWN TO THE FELT, and Dino is a writer and producer of the film. Dino is also a comedian, podcaster, and Columbus, Ohio radio legend. On this episode, you will discover how creativity meets efficiency as Dino and host Dan Swartwout explore the art of producing a high-quality film on a $1.5 million budget. That may sound like a lot of money, but the average Hollywood movie has a budget between $50-$100 million. Dino shares entertaining insights and anecdotes about balancing artistic vision with practical constraints. Whether you're a film enthusiast or passionate about optimizing processes, this episode offers valuable lessons and inspiration for anyone looking to achieve excellence on a budget. Oh, did we mention that Dino and Dan have been friends for over 25 years? Yeah, this is a fun listen.
In this episode, you will hear about:
2:18 - Dino's podcast, Whiskey Business
5:07 - Dino's history in show business
11:12 - Introduction to DOWN TO THE FELT
12:40 - Writing the movie
16:01 - Raising money to make the movie
19:44 - Other movies Dino has been involved with
24:38 - Ensuring quality without a Hollywood budget
29:44 - The American Film Market
32:36 - The filmmaker as an entrepreneur
39:08 - Improving efficiency while making a movie
43:14 - Getting better as a team
46:49 - Getting the team on the same page
48:57 - The importance of feedback
55:10 - Indicators of quality
62:06 - Saving money
64:22 - DOWN TO THE FELT on social media
Additional Resources:
Down To The Felt Movie Website
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