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PODCAST

The Art of Film Funding

The Art of Film Funding

Discover the secrets to funding and creating successful indie films with The Art of Film Funding Podcast. Join Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions and author of The Art of Film Funding, and Heather Lenz, director of the award-winning documentary Kusama-Infinity, as they chat with top film industry pros. Get practical insider tips on crowdfunding, pitching, saving on budgets, marketing, hybrid distribution, and the latest in A.I. filmmaking. Whether you’re funding your first project

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

48:09

Own Your Film, Own Your Future: Nicki Micheaux on...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/10/22

Send us Fan Mail What if you could stop waiting for Hollywood to discover you and learn how to fund your films, pitch investors and buyers, protect your creative vision, and build a successful filmmaking career on your own terms? Our guest is Nicki Micheaux, an accomplished actress, award-winning writer and director, producer, and founder of Elevate Creative Talents. Nicki built a remarkable acting career starring in the television series Lincoln Heights, earning three consecutive NAACP...

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60:44

The Magic Happens in the Editing Room: How a Great...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/10/15

Send us Fan Mail Steven Lifshey, an award-winning editor, director, and filmmaker with more than 30 years of professional post-production experience. Steven has worked with major television networks, including A&E, AMC, Discovery, Showtime, Comedy Central, and Food Network. His credits include editing episodes of Hoarders, Tiny House Nation, and Cold Case Files, along with promotional work for acclaimed television series including The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Dexter, and Chopped. (htt...

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61:46

Hollywood Goes Vertical: How Filmmakers Can Create,...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/10/01

Send us Fan Mail Dana Protsyshak is the founder of Dana Productions, the LA Vertical Drama Market, and Vert-I-Go Media, a vertical drama platform designed with creators and community in mind. Grant application: https://fromtheheartproductions.com/roy-w-dean-film-grants-and-awards Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/

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63:38

Beyond the Festival: How to Protect, Distribute and...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/09/24

Send us Fan Mail Apple TungFong is the founder and CEO of CineLot, a technology platform designed to connect the many stages of the film-festival process—from submissions and judging to programming, screenings, filmmaker communication, and opportunities beyond the festival. Today, through CineLot and its partnerships, Apple is also helping bring professional film-identification and content-protection tools within reach of independent filmmakers. We are also joined by Marc Gray who is Chief E...

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41:37

Don’t Wait for Hollywood: Garrett Patten on Building...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/09/17

Send us Fan Mail Garrett Patten is a versatile actor, director, and filmmaker known for his work on Self Custody. As an active force in the West Coast creative community, Garrett builds projects at the intersection of independent film, visual storytelling, and contemporary culture. He explores narrative depth both in front of and behind the camera, bringing fresh creative energy and strong industry connections to every project.

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29:16

Hook Them From the First Frame: The Art of the...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/09/10

Send us Fan Mail Today we have an important conversation about one of the most critical aspects of film funding. Your trailer. This is by far your most important funding asset. Our guest today is Carole Joyce, Vice President of From the Heart Productions and Director of our Roy Dean and the Carole Dorothy Joyce Grants. Carole has the unique opportunity to see over 500 trailers a year from applications for the Roy W Dean grant. She knows what impact a trailer has on a judge and win...

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46:51

Move beyond traditional funding models with Simone...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/09/02

Send us Fan Mail Description: Today we're talking with Simone Pero, an Emmy-nominated producer and the founder of For Impact Productions. Simone helps mission-driven artists move beyond traditional funding models and build real ecosystems of support around issue-driven work, through her signature Artists for Impact™ cohort program. She's also a sought-after public speaker and writer on the role of art and creative expression in social change. Her website is www.forimpactproduction...

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37:43

Winning Film Grants with Carole Joyce

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/08/21

Send us Fan Mail Our guest today is Carole Joyce, Vice President of From the Heart Productions and Director of our grant programs, including the Roy W. Dean Grants and the Carole Dorothy Joyce Grants. Carole has the unique opportunity to see grant applications from the other side of the table. She knows what makes an application memorable, what causes an application to lose momentum, and what filmmakers can do to communicate the heart, purpose, and potential of their projects more effectively...

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60:06

The Producer Is You: How Filmmakers Can Build, Fund,...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/08/05

Send us Fan Mail Today, we are talking with Irina Chernikina, producer/director/writer, about one of the most important—and often misunderstood—roles in independent filmmaking: the producer. What does an independent producer actually do? How does a producer guide a film from its earliest development through production and post-production? The Film Funding Group event takes place Thursday, 8-6-26 at 4pm PT / 5 pm MT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET Learn More and Sign Up: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bi...

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51:39

Brace for Oblivion: Xackery Irving on Courage, Truth,...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/08/01

Send us Fan Mail Over more than 30 years, Xackery Irving has produced hundreds of hours of nonfiction programming for The New York Times Television, History, and National Geographic. For his work on Brace For Oblivion, he was granted the p.g.a. mark by the Producers Guild of America. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Employment Committee of the Producers Guild of America. Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartpro...

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54:06

Human-Powered Filmmaking: Ben Wolf on Craft,...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/07/29

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a neighborhood asks for one dangerous street to be made safer—and discovers that the fight is really about power, money and who gets to shape the future of a city? Stay with us as filmmaker Ben Wolf reveals how he transformed that battle into his feature documentary directing debut, Changing Lanes. www.changinglanesdoc.com Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart....

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45:55

Bodies of Water: Transforming Grief into a Global Story

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/07/22

Send us Fan Mail Today, we are speaking with award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer, and storyteller Betsy Murphy. Her documentaries have screened at international film festivals and appeared on Hulu, Showtime, and Amazon Prime. Her projects have also been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The UK Sunday Times, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, and Sports Illustrated. Betsy is also the author of eight books, including Autobiography of an Orgasm, Grief Glimmers Grace,...

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56:11

Scaling a Documentary for Global Change: Nivi...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/07/09

Send us Fan Mail Alternative ideas for Outreach distribution for the documentary, Third Degree Burnout – A Survivor’s Guide. In 2020, Nivi Jaswal-Wirtjes lost her father to COVID-19 while struggling through her own burnout after 15 years in high-pressure global marketing and strategy roles across consumer packaged goods, life sciences, and media. That dual reckoning — grief and exhaustion — became the catalyst for her life’s new direction: uncovering the connections between personal wel...

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49:02

Faith, Film & Funding: Jessica Wrabel's Journey with...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/06/24

Send us Fan Mail Today, we're delighted to welcome Jessica Wrabel, a versatile and respected actress and producer with more than two decades of experience in television, film, and theater. Today we'll discuss Jessica's journey as a producer, how she financed her film, the unique opportunities, and challenges of faith-based filmmaking, and what she's learned about bringing an independent film from concept to audience. Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes...

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51:58

Production Management 101: The Real Business of...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/06/17

Send us Fan Mail Deborah Patz’s book, Film Production Management 101, has become one of the industry's most respected resources and is often described as the “essential roadmap to the business side of production.” The newly updated third edition covers everything from budgeting and scheduling to respectful workplaces and sustainable production practices. Deborah covers important producing skills in this podcast. Deborah is also the author of “Write! Shoot! Edit!” for teens - both books publis...

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44:13

Short Films, Big Impact: A Conversation with Rae Shaw

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/06/10

Send us Fan Mail Rae Shaw is a Black female writer-director whose work has been evolving to stretch the boundaries of how Black women see and are seen in the world. Her work concentrates on lifting the experiences of Black women and women of color by telling stories that dimensionalize us in spaces that have sought to diminish, exploit and punish us through stereotypes. Her screenplays have won honors at top international screenwriting competitions, and her film work has screened at top film ...

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28:40

The Future of Independent Filmmaking: Inside From the...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/05/27

Send us Fan Mail Check out our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE! This platform brings together all of From the Heart’s Courses, Classes, Services and Resources in one convenient central hub. Learn more and sign up at https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/ Use Coupon Code AFFPOD10 for 10% anything in the platform. Today, we’re talking about the next evolution of that mission: From the Heart THRIVE — a new educational and membership platform de...

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57:43

The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Formula: Joanne Butcher's Seven...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/05/20

Send us Fan Mail Joanne Butcher has shaped the careers of more than a hundred independent filmmakers as a Consulting Producer, helping them navigate the business realities that define success in the industry. Her deep experience in fundraising and distribution has supported the completion and release of dozens of feature films, and she has been directly involved in bringing over 25 features to screens around the world. What sets her apart is the way she empowers artists to evolve into savvy i...

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33:32

How to Throw a Film Funding Party That Raises Real...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/05/13

Send us Fan Mail Carole Dean interviews her daughter, Carole Joyce — a two-time Telly Award–winning producer and Vice President of From The Heart Productions. With decades of experience helping filmmakers develop, finance, and promote independent films, Carole Joyce has guided countless projects from idea to screen and has become a respected mentor within the independent film community. Together, they explore how filmmakers can create intimate, inspiring fundraising events that not only raise...

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45:55

Think Outside the Box Office: Mastering Film...

The Art of Film Funding ·

2026/05/06

Send us Fan Mail Jon has been at the forefront of independent film for decades. Today, we’re diving deep into what it really takes to get your film seen—and how to survive and succeed in a very challenging distribution landscape. Jon Reiss is a filmmaker, author and media strategist who wrote the book Think Outside the Box Office. His company, 8 Above, creates custom audience-building strategies, theatrical experiences and digital release campaigns for independent feature and documentary film...

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