Off The Lot

In this episode of Off The Lot, Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp reflect on the final days of prep as Remnant officially heads into production, opening with a discussion on the passing of Catherine O’Hara and her lasting impact on film and television.
They discuss the intensity of week three of pre-production, from major art department transformations and schedule reshuffling to creative decisions around camera strategy, lenses, aspect ratio, and visual texture. The conversation also touches on the current moment in Canadian film and television, legacy creators, and why risk-taking still matters.
The episode closes with a look at how preparation, collaboration, and creative commitment shape the first days of a shoot — and what it means to step onto set ready to make decisive choices.
Follow Ken's Indie Horror Feature Remnant here:
www.remnantmovie.com
Follow Ken Kabatoff's newsletter The Film Founder here:
https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about
Follow Anthony Epp's newsletter The Filmmaker's Notebook here:
www.anthonyepp.com
Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here:
@ken_kabatoff
@epptri

In this episode of Off The Lot, Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp share updates from the front lines of indie filmmaking, including early details on the psychological thriller Blue Box.
They discuss investor strategy, why genre matters, and the importance of building sustainable, repeatable paths to get films made outside traditional systems.
The episode also checks in on pre-production for Ken’s horror feature Remnant, covering department coordination, planning challenges, and the constant balance between creative ambition and logistics.
If you want an honest look at how films actually get made before cameras roll — this episode is for you.
Follow Ken's Indie Horror Feature Remnant here:
www.remnantmovie.com
Follow Ken Kabatoff's newsletter The Film Founder here:
https://kenkabatoff.substack.com
Follow Anthony Epp's newsletter The Filmmaker's Notebook here:
www.anthonyepp.com
Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here:
@ken_kabatoff
@epptri

Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp dive into the early realities of getting a film off the ground — from reclaiming responsibility over financing to stepping into the chaos of official pre-production.
They discuss stepping back from oversubscribed government funding programs to focus on private investors, brand partners, and audience-building, and why waiting for permission can stall momentum.
The episode then breaks down the first week of pre-production on Ken’s horror feature Remnant, covering script breakdowns, department meetings, scheduling pressure, and the process of turning a script into a work order.
If you want an honest look at real-life filmmaking and the transition from planning to execution — this episode is for you.
Follow Ken's Indie Horror Feature Remnant here:
www.remnantmovie.com
Follow Ken Kabatoff's newsletter The Film Founder here:
https://kenkabatoff.substack.com
Follow Anthony Epp's newsletter The Filmmaker's Notebook here:
www.anthonyepp.com
Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here:
@ken_kabatoff
@epptri

In the Season 2 premiere of Off The Lot, hosts Ken Kabatoff and Anthony Epp get brutally honest about where filmmaking is right now — and what it actually takes to survive (and thrive) as an indie creator.
Ken announces that his debut horror feature Remnant is officially greenlit and takes listeners deep into the real nuts and bolts of indie filmmaking: financing setbacks, investor psychology, tax credit loans, crew logistics, and the pressure of personally guaranteeing a first feature.
This episode sets the stage for a new weekly format where listeners will follow the making of Remnant week by week, from pre-production through to delivery.
If you’re a filmmaker trying to figure out how to move forward in a broken system — this episode is for you.
Follow Ken's Indie Horror Feature Remnant here:
Remnant
Follow Ken Kabatoff's newsletter The Film Founder here:
The Film Founder
Follow Anthony Epp's newsletter The Filmmaker's Notebook here:
The Filmmaker's Notebook
Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here:
@ken_kabatoff
@epptri

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
Finding and working with the right people
Why now is the time to make your movie — no excuses

Plus — a huge thank you to Peliplat and Craftsman Films for fueling this first season. We’ll be back this fall with an even bigger, better Season 2. Until then… keep creating, keep hustling, and keep telling your stories off the lot.
👉 Want to listen to the show? Check out www.offthelotpodcast.com/listen
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📚 Sponsored by Craftsman Films — Each week, successful indie producer Daren Smith shares his vast knowledge of indie filmmaking in a highly anticipated newsletter. If you sign up at the link below you'll get access to his must-read book Blockbuster absolutely free! www.craftsmanfilms.co/offthelot
🖥️ Follow us on Instagram: @offthelotpod, @ken_kabatoff, @epptri
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