Off The Lot is where serious indie filmmakers level up. Hosted by Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp, this podcast delivers 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.
You made your first feature film. Now what?
According to research by film industry analyst Stephen Follows, only about 1 in 4 first-time feature directors makes a second film within five years.
So why do so many filmmakers struggle to get their second movie made?
In Episode 70 of Off The Lot, Anthony Epp breaks down the numbers behind filmmaking careers and explores why getting your film SEEN might be more important than getting it made.
Because the reality is that a great film nobody watches may do less for your career than a good film that finds an audience.
In this episode, we cover:
Why so few first-time directors make a second feature
The relationship between audience visibility and career longevity
Why film festivals and distribution deals aren't enough
How to build your first 1,000 engaged viewers
Why marketing should begin before production
Lessons from indie successes like Hundreds of Beavers and RocketJump
Practical, low-budget strategies for getting your film in front of audiences
We also look at what Canadian independent filmmakers can do differently to build audiences and create sustainable careers outside the studio system.
THE BIG QUESTION: If you've made a feature film, how many ratings or reviews does it have? And what's actually worked to get people watching?
Tell us in the comments. We'd love to hear your experience.
Off The Lot is the podcast for filmmakers building careers outside the studio system.
Hosted by Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp.
For questions, stories, or inquiries: podcast.offthelot@gmail.com (mailto:podcast.offthelot@gmail.com)
5 Oct 2026
Jovanna Burke — Rejection, Film Financing & Finding Another Way
What do you do when the traditional path to making your movie keeps saying no?
This week on Off The Lot, Anthony sits down with actor, writer and producer Jovanna Burke to talk about what she’s learned after more than 20 years working in film and television — and why rejection may actually be one of the most important parts of building a sustainable filmmaking career.
Jovanna opens up about transitioning from actor to producer, learning the business and financing side of filmmaking, building trust with investors, and the idea of pursuing “1,000 rejections” instead of being afraid of hearing no.
They also dig into the realities of making films in Canada: the limitations of relying entirely on public funding, why international co-productions could create new opportunities for Canadian filmmakers, and how we can build more Canadian-owned companies, IP and talent instead of relying exclusively on the service-production industry.
Jovanna also discusses her psychological supernatural horror feature Nuesta, currently being developed through the Whistler Film Festival Producers Lab, and her plans to build a production company connecting Canada with Latin America.
In this episode:
• Why filmmakers quit too early after rejection
• The “1,000 rejections” approach
• Going from actor to producer
• Building trust with film investors
• Why every producer needs to understand financing
• The limitations of Canada’s traditional funding model
• How international co-productions actually work
• Building Canadian-owned film and television IP
• Why starting embarrassingly small can be an advantage
• The importance of running toward the things that scare you
Off The Lot is the podcast for filmmakers building careers outside the studio system.
28 Sept 2026
The 5 Stages of Getting An Indie Film Made
Why do some indie films actually get made while others spend years stuck in development?
In this episode of Off The Lot, Anthony breaks down the stages an independent film goes through between having a screenplay and actually getting the movie greenlit.
We cover what you should be working on at each stage — and, just as importantly, what you probably shouldn't be doing yet.
You'll learn:
• Who you need around you before you start raising money
• When to spend your own development money
• How much financing you should have before approaching cast
• When a casting director actually becomes useful
• When to start talking to distributors and sales agents
• Why attachments can create leverage — or hurt you if you approach them too early
• The difference between momentum and actual progress
• Why you shouldn't build your finance plan around grants
• When a movie can realistically be considered greenlit
• What to do when your project has been stuck for months — or years
Film development isn't one giant leap from screenplay to production. It's a series of smaller steps, with each one creating enough leverage to unlock the next.
The key is knowing what stage your movie is actually in — and what needs to happen next.
If you're developing, financing or packaging an independent feature, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for getting it closer to production.
Who has been a guest on Off The Lot | where indie filmmakers thrive
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Karen Lam
Bob Woolsey
MJ Alhabeeb Jr
Zach Lipovsky
Stirling Bancroft
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
39,771
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
78
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
0
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Questions about Off The Lot | where indie filmmakers thrive
Who hosts Off The Lot | where indie filmmakers thrive?
Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp host the show. Published by Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
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