Explore every episode of the podcast The Art of Film Funding
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Script to Screen to Strategy: Spade Robinson on the New Era of Filmmaking | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:57:35 | |
Spade Robinson is an award- winning screenwriter and director, with experience that spans feature film, documentary, television, commercial and theater. Spade is the owner of full service production company, Spade Ink Media, producing and developing a slate of film, television and podcast projects. Spade is also the owner of Atlanta Film Project, a screenplay and documentary consulting firm, helping storytellers and companies to tell the most compelling version of their stories. | |||
| What Everyone Gets Wrong About Crowdfunding — with Bri Castellini | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:59:54 | |
Description: We’re joined by Bri Castellini, one of the top crowdfunding experts in the indie film world. While at Seed&Spark, Bri helped filmmakers raise over $25 million—achieving an incredible 85% success rate. Bri is an independent film and screenwriting consultant and a subject matter expert in arts crowdfunding, indie filmmaking, film festivals, podcasting, romance novels, and the USA television show Burn Notice. As a filmmaker herself she's known for her short film Ace and Anxious (writer/director, 160k+ views on YouTube) and for her podcast Breaking Out of Breaking In. She personally helped launch over $25 million dollars in crowdfunding campaigns with an 85% success rate while she was the Manager of Creator Success at the artist crowdfunding platform Seed&Spark, and she’s spoken at over 200 events and festivals virtually and in person on the subjects previously mentioned. Her full work history can be found on her website BriCastellini.com. And find her at https://www.instagram.com/castellinifilmschool/. In this powerful conversation, Bri reveals what most filmmakers get wrong about crowdfunding, why going viral is not the goal, and how to fund your film by simply telling your story with heart. | |||
| Emily Best on Crowdfunding That Works: How Seed&Spark Helps Filmmakers Succeed | 10 Aug 2025 | 00:39:04 | |
Emily Best is the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, a platform that makes entertainment more diverse, inclusive, connected and essential. Seed&Spark’s platform and national education program have helped thousands of bold storytellers raise millions to bring to life entirely new stories, and Seed&Spark delivers those stories into workplaces for employee training, engagement, and intelligence through an enterprise SaaS platform Film Forward. In 2023, CNBC named Seed&Spark one of the top 200 fintech companies in the world. She serves on the Advisory Board for a variety of early stages startups and the Board of Film Impact Georgia. In 2024, alongside Christie Marchese at Kinema, Emily spearheaded an effort to launch The Distribution Playbook, a free and open- sourced field guide for independent filmmakers to succeed in distribution. She has produced films, VR, shorts and series that have premiered at Sundance, SXSW, Slamdance, Tribeca and more. She is currently touring with a feature documentary she produced called RATIFIED about the 100+ year struggle for the Equal Rights Amendment. | |||
| Successful documentary self distribution shared by Robyn Symon | 03 Aug 2022 | 00:53:37 | |
Join Robyn Symon who raised over $200K on Kickstarter for her documentary. | |||
| Techniques for Using Your Mind to Fund Your Film | 18 Jul 2022 | 00:51:37 | |
Join Breianne Pryse as she shares about how your mind is your greatest asset. For more info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Puzzle Theory is a New Platform for Filmmakers to Market & Find Distributors | 06 Jul 2022 | 00:56:57 | |
Join Helen Hall as she shares about the filmmakers new online form to engage audiences early. Learn more about about Puzzle Theory at:Puzzle Theory Platform: https://www.puzzletheory.com/landingPuzzle Theory - next information session - July 29, 2022, 9 AM PST.https://puzzletheory.splashthat.com/To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Extraordinary Filmmakers book funds Documentary Emergency Fund | 08 Jun 2022 | 01:01:47 | |
Join Alexandra Hidalgo and Carole Dean for info on this new fund for documentarians.For more info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit wwwFromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Join Sally Rubin to learn how making an impactful short can advance your career | 01 Jun 2022 | 00:44:26 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Sally Rubin about how making an impactful short can advance your career. | |||
| How Marlon Fuentes blended fact & fiction for his trailblazing documentary film. | 04 May 2022 | 00:51:25 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Marlon Fuentes about his groundbreaking film "Bontoc Eulogy."Bontoc Eulogy #Independent Film #Experimental Film #Documentary Film #ethnographic film | |||
| Michael Culyba Discusses His Directorial Debut, "Keeper of Time" | 20 Apr 2022 | 00:45:18 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Michael Culyba about his directorial debut, "Keeper of Time." | |||
| Janice Engle shares how to get your film into Sundance | 13 Apr 2022 | 00:52:18 | |
Guest host Heather Lenz interviews Janice Engel about her documentary: RAISE HELL: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins. | |||
| How to do Financially Successful Screenings with Partner’s Lists | 06 Apr 2022 | 01:00:02 | |
Join Ryan Hetrick for tips on successful paid virtual distribution. To learn more about Ryan visit https://watch.showandtell.film/watch/restoringbalancefocusforhealth. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Pete Chatmon shares guidance and support for directors | 23 Mar 2022 | 00:59:10 | |
Pete Chatmon shares guidance and support for directors from his new book, Transitions: A Director’s Journey + Motivational Handbook.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| The Future is Fan-Funded: A Conversation with Legion M’s Jeff Annison | 30 Jul 2025 | 00:52:12 | |
Jeff Annison is the co-founder and President of Legion M, the world's first fan-owned media company that is using new equity crowdfunding laws enabled by the JOBS Act to create a film and television company built from the ground up to be owned by fans. He was also the co-founder and CEO of Underground Labs, a product development studio that built mobile apps, websites, and enterprise products for clients including AT&T, Sprint, NFL, SEC, ACC, Universal Music, Warner Music, Sony Music, Diet Coke, Paramount Pictures, and more. Underground Labs also created the New York Rock Exchange, a first-of-its-kind marketplace that allowed fans to own a piece of a song. Prior to Legion M, Jeff was a cofounder of MobiTV, one of the world’s first live mobile television services. Jeff led engineering and product development as the company scaled from 3 co-founders to over 300 employees, won an Emmy Award for Innovation in Television, and grew to over 25MM paying subscribers. Jeff started his career designing toys for Hasbro and theme park ride effects for Universal Studios. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA. To connect with Jeff visit | |||
| Protecting Yourself from Energy-Draining EMFs | 09 Mar 2022 | 00:53:17 | |
Join EMF expert Monika Krajewska teach us how to improve health in your home & work space.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Jenny Waldo discusses her feature film, "Acid Test." | 02 Mar 2022 | 00:59:54 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Jenny Waldo about her feature film, "Acid Test." | |||
| Shoot right for Editing and what brings an editor to the film party? | 23 Feb 2022 | 00:56:11 | |
Join Gael Chandler to learn much more from her new book Editing for Directors - a Guide for Creative Collaboration.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Carole Dean Discusses Resources Offered by From the Heart Productions | 16 Feb 2022 | 00:56:32 | |
Carole Dean, president and founder of From the Heart Productions discusses FTH grants, classes, and more with guest host Heather Lenz.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Norm Anderson Amandi discusses his documentary, "The Donut Dollies" | 09 Feb 2022 | 00:51:12 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Norm Anderson Amandi about his documentary, "The Donut Dollies." | |||
| Film Directing shot by shot: visualizing from concept to screen | 02 Feb 2022 | 01:04:41 | |
Join producer/author Steven Katz to learn how to put your script on the screen.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Hear Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com | |||
| Dion Labriola discusses his film, “Dear Ike: Lost Letters to a Teen Idol." | 19 Jan 2022 | 00:50:10 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Dion Labriola about his film, “Dear Ike: Lost Letters to a Teen Idol." | |||
| A dancer moved to Hollywood and becomes a successful producer and entrepreneur | 15 Dec 2021 | 00:37:14 | |
Jordan Cann will share tips on how to create and monetize films.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Tory Foster of Underground Jam Media discusses decks & more | 01 Dec 2021 | 00:44:57 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Tory Foster of Underground Jam Media, a company that turns ideas into job-winning decks & treatments. | |||
| New Successful Documentary Marketing and Distribution Concepts | 24 Nov 2021 | 01:02:43 | |
Join Beth Dolan, Director/Writer/Producer of Stranger at Home.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Filmmaker Philip Shane shares strategies to create award winning documentaries - Hosted by Heather Lenz | 16 Jul 2025 | 01:04:36 | |
Our special guest today is the award-winning documentary filmmaker, Philip Shane. A few of his career highlights include co-directing, writing, and editing BEING ELMO, which won the Special Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. For his editing work on DANCING IN JAFFA, which had its World Premiere at the TriBeCa Film Festival, Shane won the Best Editing Award at Israel's DocAviv Film Festival. He worked at ABC News for nearly a decade and edited many distinguished long form programs including Ted Kopple's Iraq War documentary, TIP OF THE SPEAR, which won the DuPont Columbia Award for Broadcast Journalism and MARTIN LUTHER KING: Searching For The Promised Land, which won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Program. Beyond filmmaking, Shane also produces and hosts the long-running podcast, WHAT THE IF. Each week he invites scientists, science historians, and journalists to show us how they would use real science to explore extraordinary imaginary scenarios. Shane has also become a regular speaker and consultant on the use of Artificial Intelligence in documentary filmmaking and beyond. Currently he is directing and producing a feature documentary, THE WORLD I WANT TO LIVE IN, about Myst, a video game currently in The Museum of Modern of Art in New York. Recently he directed and produced JADE DOSKOW: PHOTOGRAPHER OF LOST UTOPIAS, which we’ll discuss today. | |||
| How to Build an Audience and Raising Money for Your Film | 17 Nov 2021 | 00:38:26 | |
Join Jeryl Jagoda to learn benefits and tricks of marketing.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com | |||
| Astrology for Filmmakers: Zodiac Hacks, a Guide to Making a Great Year. | 10 Nov 2021 | 01:02:09 | |
Arik Xander teaches improve your life and reach your goals with his unique information.For More info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| How to Monetize Your Documentary with Successful Virtual Screenings | 01 Nov 2021 | 00:53:11 | |
Ryan Hetrick shares his tips on distribution directly to its audience.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Mike Camoin discusses the student loan crisis & his film "Scared to Debt." | 20 Oct 2021 | 00:45:55 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Filmmaker Mike Camoin about his film "Scared to Debt: Exposing America's Student Loan Scam." | |||
| Filmmaker Pedro Kos discusses his new film, Rebel Hearts | 13 Oct 2021 | 00:50:07 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Filmmaker Pedro Kos about his new film, Rebel Hearts, which premiered at Sundance. | |||
| Ron Thomson on how A I is Used in Production/Scilla Andreen from iNDIEFLIX | 29 Sep 2021 | 00:57:23 | |
Learn about iNDIEFLIX distribution & other benefits for filmmakers.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com | |||
| Tom Malloy discusses film financing, his new movie, & his educational website | 22 Sep 2021 | 00:37:06 | |
Filmmaker Heather Lenz interviews Writer, Director, Producer, & Actor Tom Malloy about film financing, his educational website for filmmakers, & his new film, "Ask Me to Dance." | |||
| Director/Producer Kelly Galindo & Her Doc "26 Seconds" on Global Sex Trafficking | 13 Sep 2021 | 00:54:14 | |
Join us as Director/Producer Kelly Galindo shares about the benefits of using short clips of your film for marketing and funding. To learn more visit https://www.26secondsdoc.com/.To learn more about Carole and From the Heart Productions please visit FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Filmmaker Mary Sette discusses her animated short film, Hot Toddy | 08 Sep 2021 | 00:36:22 | |
Heather Lenz interviews Filmmaker Mary Sette about her animated short film, Hot Toddy. #Mary Sette #Independent Film #Animation #Comedy #Heather Lenz | |||
| Filmmakers Chana Gazit & Martie Barylick discuss "Ballerina Boys" | 25 Aug 2021 | 00:37:54 | |
Filmmakers Chana Gazit & Martie Barylick discuss "Ballerina Boys." #Chana Gazit #Martie Barylick #Ballerina Boys #Ballet #Dance #Documentary | |||
| How to Raise Money for Your Doc with Jilann Spitzmiller | 09 Jul 2025 | 00:49:01 | |
Jilann Spitzmiller is a veteran filmmaker with over 20 awards for her documentary and multi-media work. For more than three decades, she has honed a mastery in long-range, character-driven, cinema verité storytelling, supported multiple times by funders such as Sundance Institute, ITVS and George Soros’ Open Society Institute. She has been a Sundance Documentary fellow and was selected for the Stowe Narrative Lab in 2024. Jilann’s most notable films include MEOW WOLF: ORIGIN STORY, which premiered at SXSW and played in over 600 theaters and is now on AppleTV, Amazon and other platforms. She produced the cult favorite, SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS which premiered at Sundance and won 11 awards and went onto US theatrical and worldwide television distribution. She directed the award-winning features STILL DREAMING and HOMELAND which both aired nationally on PBS. Spitzmiller directed and wrote episodic documentary for Discovery’s MEDICAL DIARY and NBC’s LIFE MOMENTS, Jilann also has many cinematography credits, shooting on nonfiction episodic for NETFLIX, CNN, PBS, DISCOVERY, NBC, and Bravo. Jilann is currently teaching film funding in her Doc Funding Hub https://courses.desktop-documentaries.com/memberships/doc-funding-hub | |||
| Film and TV Producing and Financing | 18 Aug 2021 | 00:58:51 | |
Join Ron Thomson on video creation, packaging, financing, delivery, and monetization.For more info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Filmmaker Hart Perry discusses shooting the Oscar winning "Harlan County USA" | 11 Aug 2021 | 00:53:18 | |
Filmmaker Heather Lenz interviews Director, Producer, and DP Hart Perry about his career, including shooting the Oscar winning documentary "Harlan County USA." | |||
| Showrunner Mary Robertson Discusses "Framing Britney Spears" | 28 Jul 2021 | 00:38:54 | |
Filmmaker Heather Lenz interviews Mary Robertson, showrunner for The New York Times Presents, about "Framing Britney Spears." | |||
| From a Personal Experience to a Film, Join Jen Senko, The Brainwashing of My Dad | 21 Jul 2021 | 00:51:09 | |
Learn how Jen raised funds, found her audience, book publisher, and won the Webbie Award.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Benefits of New World Hybrid Distribution and Virtual Screenings | 07 Jul 2021 | 01:03:02 | |
Keith Ochwat will share his strategies that have helped filmmakers raise over $3 million in sponsorships, PBS underwriting, and license fees.For more information about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com | |||
| Director & Producer Holly Tuckett discusses her documentary, "Anchor Point" | 30 Jun 2021 | 00:51:56 | |
Filmmaker Heather Lenz interviews Director & Producer Holly Tuckett about her documentary, "Anchor Point," about female firefighters courageously battling fires and sexism. | |||
| What’s Unique About Directing Series Television? Join Top TV Director Dan Attias | 23 Jun 2021 | 00:58:41 | |
Join Dan Attias, top TV director, as he shares language of camera, taking risks, working with the show runner, getting the performance and more. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Producer Jessica Hargrave discusses her documentary, "Assassins" | 16 Jun 2021 | 00:43:05 | |
Filmmaker Heather Lenz will interview Producer Jessica Hargrave about her documentary, "Assassins," and use it as a case study to discuss international productions and the true crime genre. | |||
| Accelerate Your Video Editing Flow with a New Program for Indie Filmmakers | 09 Jun 2021 | 00:32:00 | |
Join Larry Rosenzweig for full info on how this fast track editing works.For more info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||
| Composer Allyson Newman Shares Tips for Getting a Great Film Score | 19 May 2021 | 00:37:49 | |
Allyson Newman will discus tips for working with a composer. | |||
| Creating your future: How Filmmakers access genius through the quantum field | 18 Jun 2025 | 00:28:47 | |
Today’s episode is especially important because I’m sharing the opening chapters of my new book, Creating your Future: The Difference between normal and genius is your connection to the field. I’ve written to empower filmmakers—not just with funding tools—but with access to the quantum field. I want to hear what resonates with you. Your feedback will help shape the rest of this book. So please email me at Info@fromtheheartproductions.com with your thoughts, ideas, or stories of how you connect to the field.” A talented filmmaker, photographer, and producer, Carole Joyce is Vice-President and Director of the 501(c)3 non-profit From the Heart Productions and the Roy W. Dean Grant, which she has been an integral part of for 30 years. From the Heart Productions has provided Fiscal Sponsorship for thousands of films, including the Emmy Award winning documentaries "I Am Evidence" and "Belly of the Beast," the renowned Central American film "Cadejo Blanco," and the 2022 HBO documentary "A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting." | |||
| Tips for Making a Character Driven Documentary | 12 May 2021 | 00:39:14 | |
Co-Directors Allison Otto & Maria Clinton will discuss their award winning short POV film, "The Love Bugs." | |||
| Miracles: Bringing Abundance Into Your Life - Part 2 | 28 Apr 2021 | 00:37:21 | |
Join Carole Dean for a miracle action plan.To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com | |||
| Fair Use for Filmmakers with Jack Lerner Esq. | 21 Apr 2021 | 00:54:32 | |
Fair Use strategies and tips for filmmakers.To learn more about From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. | |||