Grit, Hustle and Self-Distribution: Learnings From Team Behind "Anchorage"

The feature film, Anchorage, is a true indie film that was shot in 5 days and created on a self-funded, budget of only $54,000. The film, which was originally planned to be a short, has gone on to receive 11 awards and 10 nominations across 17 festivals. The film’s team has been independently producing a theatrical tour, across the US and in the UK. 

In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with Scott Monahan, Dakota Loesch, Erin Naifeh, and Spencer Showalter to discuss:

• Getting coverage in big publications like The Guardian
• Developing a short into a feature using the same budget
• Selling family heirlooms in order to finance the film 
• The process of shooting in the high desert for five days
• Letting actors move around and do what they wanted to do 
• Putting your crew together based on personality not talent or budget
• Learning how to do an assembly cut before bringing on the editor
• Cutting and editing depending on what feels right to the story
• Playing at Music Box Theater alongside Oppenheimer and Asteroid City
• The 3 most powerful words you can say as a director

Memorable Quotes

• “The movie changed from a short to a feature, but the budget was the same.” [7:40]
• “We had structure but we also had freedom to improvise and be organic.” [9:35]
• “Sometimes it’s more important what other people bring to your project than what you are bringing to your project.” [35:07]
• “We’re not good will hunting, we are bad will hunting.” [41:37]

Resources:

Anchorage | Official Trailer

Anchorage IG/FB/X: @anchoragemovie

Anchorage | Deeper Into Movies Screening (FREE)

YES, Manchester | September 6th 7:30pm

https://dice.fm/event/gax26-anchorage-qa-6th-sep-yes-the-pink-room-manchester-tickets?lng=en-US

Anchorage | Deeper Into Movies Screening (FREE)

TT Liquor, London | September 9th 3:30pm

https://dice.fm/event/l5d6r-anchorage-qa-9th-sep-tt-liquor-store-london-tickets?lng=en-US

Anchorage | Curzon Q&A Screening

September 12th Curzon Hoxton 6:40pm

https://www.curzon.com/ticketing/seats/HOX1-12139/

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