Off The Lot
Off The Lot is where serious indie filmmakers level up. Hosted by Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp, this podcast goes beyond the fluff to deliver real, hard-earned lessons from the frontlines of independent filmmaking. Each episode is a masterclass—featuring directors, producers, and creatives who are in the trenches, making movies happen without a safety net. If you want actionable insights, unfiltered conversations, and the blueprint to build your own career outside the studio system—this is the show.
Episodes
Eight months. Tons of guests. Countless lessons from the trenches of indie filmmaking. In our Season 1 finale, Ken and Anthony pull back the curtain on their own projects, diving into the wild, unpredictable ride of producing indie films.
We talk about:
- The razor’s edge of indie film financing
- The difference (and similarities) between studio & indie filmmaking
- Manifestation, meditation & the mental game of making movies
- Find...
Ready to peek behind the curtain of indie filmmaking? In this electrifying episode, award-winning director Karen Lam (The Curse of Willow Song, Bring It On: Cheer or Die) sits down to unpack her unique journey from entertainment lawyer to horror auteur.
Karen dives deep into her latest projects—Armageddon Road, a supernatural thriller blending innovative volume wall tech with old-school miniature effects, and the award-winning short...
What if Letterboxd and a writer's room had a baby—and that baby was raised in a video store by cinephiles? That's Peliplat. And in this bonus episode, Off The Lot fave Bob Woolsey returns to break down exactly why Peliplat might be the next big thing for indie filmmakers and film lovers alike.
We dive deep into how Peliplat is building a real community for creatives to:
- Develop IP in a transparent, collaborative way (yes, even in...
Thinking about film school? Or wondering if you should skip it and just make a movie?
🎓 In this episode, filmmaker and former Vancouver Film School department head Bob Woolsey breaks down:
- What film school actually teaches you (and what it doesn’t)
- Why networking and teamwork beat theory every time
- Whether a $30,000 tuition is worth the ROI
- How to break into the industry without formal education
- Why your attitude might matter more t...
In this episode, we're joined by indie filmmaker MJ Alhabeeb Jr., whose debut feature Plight is racking up awards and heading to theaters. MJ takes us through his journey from shooting public access TV at 16, to premiering Plight in the very town where it was shot, to landing distribution with Indie Rights—all on a shoestring budget.
We dig deep into:
- How he made Plight for $60K
- Why failing forward matters
- What filmmakers often get...
Off The Lot is where serious indie filmmakers level up. Hosted by Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp, this podcast goes beyond the fluff to deliver real, hard-earned lessons from the frontlines of independent filmmaking. Each episode is a masterclass—featuring directors, producers, and creatives who are in the trenches, making movies happen without a safety net. If you want actionable insights, unfiltered conversations, and the blueprint...
This week, we’re answering your burning questions—and holding nothing back.
Whether you're stuck in development hell, figuring out how to light your film without pro gear, or wondering how to work with (or walk away from) an investor with strings attached—this episode is for you.
We cover:
🔥 How to make your indie film look cinematic on a shoestring
💰 The financial model that actually gets investors paid back
🎭 Directing actors (e...
In our first-ever live show, we sit down with the powerhouse duo behind Freaks and the upcoming Freaks Underground — director Zach Lipovsky and cinematographer Stirling Bancroft — to uncover how they pulled off a visually stunning sci-fi indie on a micro-budget and what it takes to keep your voice in this industry.
From guerrilla filmmaking in Shaughnessy to shooting volume plates like pros, hear how the team created massive scope o...
This week, we sit down with Vancouver indie legend Jason Mills—the one-man movie machine behind 18 feature films, including They Came From the Attic (picked up by Lionsgate UK). Jason talks about his DIY filmmaking roots, how he turns micro-budgets into maximum impact, and why passion beats permission every time.
He breaks down:
- How to shoot a feature film in 5 days
- Why AI shouldn't replace you, but can empower you
- The myth of wait...
What do you do when Sundance says no? If you're Dan Mirvish—you start your own damn festival.
In this episode, we sit down with the co-founder of Slamdance Film Festival and self-proclaimed “cheerful subversive” Dan Mirvish. From launching the careers of Christopher Nolan and the Russo Brothers, to literally forcing the Oscars to change their rules, Dan’s career is a masterclass in indie film rebellion.
🏆 This episode is sponsored b...
Join us for a captivating deep dive into the world of indie filmmaking with the multi-talented Anthony Epp! Known for his extensive experience—from directing and producing to script coordinating and lighting—Anthony shares invaluable insights from his diverse career. Hear the fascinating story behind his debut feature, 13 Miles, the triathlon drama that took two years of passionate persistence to complete, and is now streaming on A...
Award-winning writer, director, and co-host Ken Kabatoff takes the hot seat in this deeply personal episode of Off The Lot. From his breakout work on Netflix’s Travelers to receiving the DGC BC Emerging Greenlight Award for his short The Doukhobor, Ken walks us through the grit, the pivots, and the relentless drive that got him here.
Now, with his debut feature Remnant on the horizon, Ken shares the hard math of indie film productio...
In this jam-packed episode, we sit down with producer Mike Johnston—co-founder of Studio 104 Entertainment—for a deep dive into the creative chaos, financial finesse, and straight-up grit it takes to be an indie producer in Canada.
From rat-infested film school basements to launching films at Hot Docs and getting national theatrical releases, Mike takes us through the real behind-the-scenes of building a production company from scra...
Get ready for a filmmaking masterclass as directors Austin Andrews and Andrew Holmes take us behind the scenes of their supernatural thriller "The Island Between Tides" (known as "The Lost Daughter" in the US). This Emmy-winning duo reveals the raw truth about indie filmmaking: the triumphs, the challenges, and everything in between!
Producer Amber Ripley pulls back the curtain on independent film financing in Canada, sharing her journey from skeptical film school graduate to successful producer with 11 feature films under her belt.
In this captivating conversation, we explore Andrew Gust's impressive career trajectory from Canadian film school to becoming an editor on Apple TV+'s flagship series "The Morning Show," while maintaining his passion for independent cinema.
Ever wondered what happens when a plane literally crashes into your film set? Or how filmmakers actually find money to make their movies? Ken and Anthony rip open the vault in this no-holds-barred Q&A episode, answering the questions that keep indie filmmakers up at night.
From the "friends and family" funding reality check to the technical skills that actually matter (spoiler: it's not what film school taught you), this episod...
In this game-changing episode, we sit down with Emily Best, the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark who has helped nearly 6,000 indie filmmakers raise OVER $72 MILLION in funding. She drops tactical knowledge about why the traditional film financing model is DEAD and what you need to do RIGHT NOW to build a sustainable filmmaking career.
Filmmakers and creative rebels—RNG REGISTRATION WEEKEND IS UPON US. So buckle up for a raw, unfiltered dive into Vancouver's revolutionary film festival! We sit down with Joel McCarthy and Sasha Duncan, the maverick leaders of Run N Gun - the scrappy 48-hour competition that's transformed from indie underdog to Vancouver's hottest ticket in filmmaking.
This is the episode indie filmmakers CANNOT MISS! Producer Daren Smith delivers a game-changing masterclass on achieving true independence and profitability. Whether you're struggling to fund your first feature or trying to build a sustainable filmmaking career, the strategies revealed in this conversation could completely transform your approach to the business of indie film.
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