Off The Lot: An Indie Film Podcast

Anthony Epp sits down with Ken Kabatoff for a candid conversation about the recent changes to Telefilm Canada's development funding, the challenges facing emerging Canadian filmmakers, and the growing need to balance creative ambition with financial sustainability.
They reflect on networking, content creation, building an audience, and why long-term careers are built through persistence rather than overnight success.
Listen now for an honest discussion about filmmaking, funding, creative resilience, and what it really takes to keep making movies.
Vulture: The Unglamorous Financial Realities of 5 Indie Filmmakers
https://web.archive.org/web/20260623153204/https://www.vulture.com/article/indie-filmmakers-money.html
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 Greenlight Report here:
https://greenlightreport.substack.com/?utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3
Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here:
@ken_kabatoff
@epptri

Anthony Epp and Ken Kabatoff discuss two of the biggest stories in independent filmmaking right now: the debate over crew compensation on breakout indie hits and the growing influence of YouTube creators in the film industry.
Using the success of Obsession as a starting point, they explore backend points, producer risk, union protections, and what filmmakers and crew members can realistically expect from low-budget productions. They also examine how creators like Curry Barker, Kane Parsons, Markiplier, and Chris Stuckmann are using online platforms to develop their craft and build careers outside the traditional studio system.
Along the way, Anthony and Ken discuss film financing, distribution, audience building, and why the recent success of independent horror films may be opening new doors for emerging filmmakers.
Listen now for a conversation about independent film, creative opportunity, and the changing path to a career in filmmaking.
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

Anthony Epp sits down with Julie Bruns and Steven Kammerer, filmmakers and actors behind Beneath Crimson Sails for a wide-ranging conversation about fantasy storytelling, independent filmmaking, and the passion projects that keep artists creating. Drawing inspiration from worlds like The Lord of the Rings, The Witcher, and classic adventure cinema, the guests discuss building immersive universes, crafting memorable characters, and bringing ambitious genre stories to life on independent budgets.
The episode explores the challenges of writing and developing long-form creative projects, the importance of world-building, and how filmmakers balance inspiration from beloved franchises while creating something uniquely their own. Along the way, the conversation branches into gaming, practical storytelling lessons, favorite films, dream acting roles, and the enduring appeal of fantasy adventures.
Anthony and his guests also share advice for aspiring filmmakers, emphasizing the importance of reading widely, experiencing the world firsthand, and choosing projects you genuinely love—because filmmaking is a long journey that demands persistence, curiosity, and commitment.
Listen now for an entertaining discussion about fantasy, filmmaking, creativity, and what it takes to build stories that audiences can truly get lost in.
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

Anthony Epp sits down with filmmaker, visual artist, and Vancouver Film School instructor Chad Costen to discuss the long journey behind his new fantasy feature film, Mister Sandman. Chad reflects on discovering filmmaking through Star Wars, making homemade monster movies as a teenager, and building a career that spans directing, visual effects, creature design, and teaching.
The conversation explores the making of Chad’s first feature, The Coming, the lessons learned from early filmmaking struggles, and the years-long process of bringing Mister Sandman to life. Chad shares how a proof-of-concept trailer helped launch the project, why he created a series of interconnected short films to support the feature, and how the pandemic forced major changes to casting and production plans.
Along the way, Anthony and Chad discuss creative collaboration, independent filmmaking, practical effects, and the importance of finding the right team. They also dive into the influence of Star Wars, the storytelling philosophy of Robert Zemeckis, and Chad’s upcoming theatrical tour for Mister Sandman across Western Canada.
Listen now for an honest conversation about resilience, creativity, and what it takes to turn a lifelong passion for filmmaking into a feature film.
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

Anthony Epp sits down with producer Matt Cervi for an in-depth conversation about the realities of independent filmmaking in Canada, from financing challenges to the thrill of bringing ambitious genre stories to life. Matt reflects on studying at USC School of Cinematic Arts, working with companies behind The Walking Dead and The Terminator, and later building Mad Samurai Productions around his passion for smart genre filmmaking.
The episode explores the difference between producing and executive producing, the risks of independent film financing, and why relationships are often the most important currency in the film industry. Matt also shares stories from producing films like The Colony and executive producing Remnant, while discussing why privately financed projects can move much faster than traditional Canadian funding models.
Along the way, Anthony and Matt talk about the untapped potential for Canadian genre cinema, the unpredictability of movie success, and the importance of collaboration, resilience, and creative passion in surviving the chaos of independent filmmaking.
Listen now for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to get independent films made — and why filmmakers keep coming back despite the risks.
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