NonDē Uprising – Details, episodes & analysis

Dan Mirvish is a prolific filmmaker, equally prolific author, and the co-founder of Slamdance Film Festival. His book The Cheerful Subversive Guide’s to Independent Filmmaking was a #1 Amazon bestseller. His most recent film 18 1/2 is currently available to stream, while his upcoming film Atomic Fondue just launched on Kickstarter.

In Episode #005 of NonDē Uprising, Dan Mirvish talks about the extensive pre-production process for his upcoming film Atomic Fondue. He talks about crowdfunding, ways to increase a film’s production value, and the eternal uphill battle of NonDē filmmaking.

Danielle A. Scruggs is the founder and curator of Black Women Directors, a digital library. Her work has been featured in Marie Claire, Blavity, The Cut, and Block Club Chicago. In 2025, Danielle won two Webby Awards, including Best Personal Website and a People's Voice award.

In Episode #004 of NonDē Uprising, Danielle A. Scruggs takes us back to the 90s and recalls the significance of Black cinema soundtracks. She gushes about her favorites, ponders their downfall, and offers some hope for soundtracks to come.

Ben Sinclair is iconically known as the star and co-creator of the critically acclaimed show High Maintenance. His long list of additional acting credits includes the film Save Yourselves! and episodes of Dave and The Resort, which he also produced and directed, as well as an episode of Poker Face, which he also directed.

In Episode #003 of NonDē Uprising, Ben Sinclair explains our culture’s need for experiential art and entertainment. He recounts the NonDē origin story of High Maintenance as a Vimeo web series, the destructive forces currently threatening art, and the emerging trends that are finally fighting back.

Elliot Grove founded both the Raindance Film Festival and the British Independent Film Awards, and is a prolific writer championing independent filmmaking.

In Episode #002 of NonDē Uprising, Elliot Grove recounts legendary stories from the lead-up and early years of founding Raindance Film Festival in 1992. He also explains why he believes British people are snobs, questions whether theatrical cinema is dead, and shares optimism on the upcoming NonDē film wave.

Sandi Tan is best known for Shirkers, which made its debut at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and won the Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary. She is also a novelist with two published books: Lurkers and The Black Isle.

In Episode #001 of NonDē Uprising, Sandi Tan talks about how Netflix probably wouldn’t make her 2018 film Shirkers in 2026. She reflects on Shirkers, talks about its impact on aspiring filmmakers, and discusses what she’s working on now.

Richard Lorber is the Chairman and CEO of Kino Lorber, a leading independent film distributor in North America bringing films to audiences in theaters, on streaming with Kino Film Collection, and in physical home entertainment. Kino Lorber and Kino Film Collection are known for curating critically acclaimed arthouse films, documentaries, and international titles, including recent release Mr. Nobody Against Putin, which just received an Oscar nomination last week.

In Episode #008 of NonDē Uprising, distribution legend, Richard Lorber breaks down the misguided distinctions between independent and nondependent distribution strategies. He addresses the frustrations both indie and NonDē filmmakers face when seeking distribution, explains Kino Lorber’s current efforts to address these frustrations, and urges filmmakers to look closer for common ground among their peers.

Marion Ranchet currently runs Streaming Made Easy and co-hosts The Media Odyssey Podcast. With 20 years of experience in the industry, she advises streamers, distribution platforms, and technology vendors on how to launch and grow in Europe.

In Episode #007 of NonDē Uprising, Marion Ranchet offers lessons to Americans from the European cinema ecosystem. She discusses the importance of localization, France’s four-month theatrical window, and why Cineville works despite the failure of Moviepass.

Ted Hope is a producer on over 70 films, studio exec on over 60, and he launched Amazon’s foray into feature film production. Known as FilmStack’s resident coach, his newsletter Hope For Film is not only essential reading for today’s filmmakers, it is also where NonDē was born. Ted also initiated two community-curated newsletters: FilmStack Daily Digest and FilmStack Deep Dive.

Before we started recording, Ted told me two things: “I don’t like video podcasts” and “I don’t like the 20-minute format.” On the other hand, he did let me choose his topic. In Episode #006 of NonDē Uprising, Ted Hope has 20 minutes to tackle everything there is to say about utopia. Good luck, buddy.

Courtney Daniels has written and directed three feature films: What Other Couples Do, Bedroom Story, and It’s Not You, It’s LA. She’s also published a book about microbudget filmmaking called Yes You Can – How to Make a Movie for Almost No Money, as well as a short novel, A Blind Date in NYC. And if that weren’t enough, she also hosts the podcast Gen X at Midlife.

In Episode #009 of NonDē Uprising, Courtney Daniels talks candidly about her journey in developing a proactive, healthy work ethic. She explains the interconnectedness of action and pride, how she’s managed to overcome doubt to reclaim a productive attitude, and what’s keeping her motivated in 2026.

Having worked as an entertainment journalist and film critic, Charlotte Simmons now writes for her publication, The Treatment, while also writing screenplays, designing games, and being extremely modest about her creative output. Charlotte is without a doubt one of the sharpest, most introspective film critics on Substack. In her review of Saltburn, she essentially introduces a new method of film criticism, which she brilliantly puts on display in her review of One Battle After Another.

In Episode #011 of NonDē Uprising, Charlotte Simmons demonstrates her infamous “new film criticism” by applying it to comic book movies. With a profoundly philosophical lens, she analyzes the cultural significance of comic book movies, explores their interconnectedness to genre, and offers points of contemplation that may offer audiences a way to enhance their cinematic experiences.