Indie Film Hustle Podcast
Hosted by Indie Film Hustle
A veteran indie filmmaker interviews established Hollywood pros about their career war stories, practical craft, and the realities of the film business.
This is a long-form interview show that digs into the professional journeys of successful film industry veterans. Host Alex Ferrari leverages his own extensive experience to guide conversations beyond surface-level anecdotes, focusing on pivotal moments, career-altering mistakes, and the practical 'hustle' required to build a sustainable career in film.
“Unlike purely craft-focused shows, Indie Film Hustle emphasizes the entrepreneurial and resilient mindset needed to survive in the film business. The host's 'no BS' approach and peer-to-peer dynamic with high-level guests create a candid atmosphere where failures are discussed as openly as successes.”
Who hosts this show
Alex Ferrari is an author, filmmaker, and entrepreneur who has worked in the film industry for over 25 years. He created Indie Film Hustle as a platform to provide unfiltered, real-world advice to filmmakers and screenwriters on how to navigate the industry. The podcast features in-depth interviews with professionals, aiming to share the lessons learned from their successes and failures.
Credentials & credits
- Founder of Indie Film Hustle®
- Author of "Rise of the Filmtrepreneur" and "Shooting for the Mob"
- Award-winning writer/director with 25+ years in the industry
- Speaker at USC Film School, UCLA Film School, and American Film Market
- Post-production/VFX supervisor
Other ventures
- Indie Film Hustle TV (IFHTV)
- Bulletproof Screenwriting® Podcast
- Filmtrepreneur® Podcast
- Next Level Soul Podcast
- Bulletproof Script Coverage
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02Adventures in Producing James Cameron Films with Chris DebiecJun 23, 2026 · 1h 34m
- 03Becoming a Jack of All Trades Writer/Director with Greg MottolaJun 20, 2026 · 1h 25m
- 04How NOT to Quit on Your Filmmaking Dream with Pete ChatmonJun 16, 2026 · 1h 28m
- 05The Guide for Every Screenwriter with Geoffrey D. CalhounJun 13, 2026 · 1h 13m
- 06Lighting for David Fincher & Michael Mann with Erik MesserschmidtJun 9, 2026 · 1h 17m
Notable episodes
- 01Adventures in Producing James Cameron Films with Chris Debiec
Producer Chris Debiec shares intense, firsthand stories of working with director James Cameron on his deep-sea documentaries, including navigating production during 9/11.
- 02RAW Confessions of a Hollywood Blockbuster Screenwriter w/ Ted Griffin
Screenwriter Ted Griffin gives a candid account of his career, from writing the blockbuster "Ocean's Eleven" to the experience of being fired from his directorial debut.
- 03Becoming a Jack of All Trades Writer/Director with Greg Mottola
Director Greg Mottola discusses his journey from the 90s indie scene with "The Daytrippers" to directing the hit comedy "Superbad" and working with Aaron Sorkin.
What you'll be asked on this show
The podcast is structured as a one-on-one conversational interview. Alex Ferrari is an engaged and knowledgeable host who asks pointed questions from a fellow filmmaker's perspective. The tone is informal and direct, often feeling like a candid shop-talk session between two industry professionals.
Questions Indie Film Hustle keeps coming back to
- “Why did you want to get into the film business?”
- “What advice would you give a filmmaker or screenwriter trying to break in today?”
- “What is the lesson that took you the longest to learn in the film industry or in life?”
- “What are three of your favorite films of all time?”
- “What was a day on set where everything came crashing down and how did you overcome it?”
- “How many scripts did you write before you sold your first one?”
Signature segments
- · Asking guests for their three favorite films of all time.
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show books established Hollywood professionals, including Oscar-nominated screenwriters, blockbuster directors, seasoned producers, and top-tier cinematographers with significant and recognizable credits.
- Ted Griffinon RAW Confessions of a Hollywood Blockbuster Screenwriter w/ Ted Griffin | Bulletproof Screenwriting®
- Chris Debiecon Adventures in Producing James Cameron Films with Chris Debiec
- Greg Mottolaon Becoming a Jack of All Trades Writer/Director with Greg Mottola
- Pete Chatmonon How NOT to Quit on Your Filmmaking Dream with Pete Chatmon
- Geoffrey D. Calhounon The Guide for Every Screenwriter with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
- Erik Messerschmidton Lighting for David Fincher & Michael Mann with Erik Messerschmidt
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast primarily promotes the host's own ecosystem of products and services, including his books like "Rise of the Filmtrepreneur," script coverage services, and online filmmaking courses.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of the Indie Film Hustle Podcast?
- The host is Alex Ferrari, a filmmaker, author, and entrepreneur who founded the Indie Film Hustle brand.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases new episodes on a weekly basis.
- What is the format of the show?
- Each episode is a long-form, one-on-one interview with a professional from the film industry, focusing on their career and practical advice.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and has a video version on the Indie Film Hustle YouTube channel.
- What kind of guests are featured?
- The show features highly experienced industry professionals, including directors, screenwriters, producers, and cinematographers with major film and television credits.
- What is Bulletproof Script Coverage?
- Bulletproof Script Coverage is a service offered by the Indie Film Hustle brand that provides professional feedback on screenplays, matching them with readers experienced in that script's specific market (e.g., micro-budget, studio film).
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]About Indie Film Hustle®indiefilmhustle.com
- [02]Alex Ferrari | Author, Speaker, Filmmaker & Entrepreneuralexferrari.com
- [03]Indie Film Hustle Podcastindiefilmhustle.com
- [04]Indie Film Hustle - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [05]Alex Ferrari - Mini Biofamousfix.com
- [06]Alex Ferrari - Author Profileaudible.com
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