Burnout Nearly Broke Us | Indie Film Podcast

Burnout in indie filmmaking doesn’t always hit all at once. Sometimes it builds quietly, through overcommitment, creative exhaustion, and the pressure to always do more. And before you know it, the work you love stops being fun.

In this episode of the Indie Film Podcast (S2E02), we talk honestly about burnout: sharing personal stories from post-pandemic projects, unpacking unrealistic productivity expectations, and exploring why burnout can linger even after your workload lightens. We also discuss dangerous filmmaking myths, hard-earned technical lessons, and what it really looks like to set boundaries without walking away from film entirely.

This episode covers:

• Burnout and creative exhaustion in indie filmmaking

• Wearing too many hats and overcommitting

• Post-pandemic hustle culture

• A humbling lesson about Poly WAV audio files

• Industry news on movie theaters and changing audience behavior

• Filmmaker of the Week: Trisha Furhman on self-reflection and growth

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Links & resources:

• Submit Your Story: https://www.indiefilmpodcast.com/submit

• Theaters are making a comeback: https://cinemaunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Strength-of-Theatrical-Exhibition-December-2025-Update.pdf

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