Ep. 101 - When Faith Meets Film with Nathan and Meghan Leon
03/20/25 • 69 min
Nathan and Meghan Leon share their journey as Christian filmmakers who have found creative ways to balance their family life with independent film production while maintaining creative control and authenticity in their storytelling.
• Started from creative backgrounds with Nathan in an Act One mentorship program and Meghan with a master's in creative writing
• Prioritize family by including their children on set and creating a familial environment for cast and crew
• Believe God blesses work when family comes first, even if it means fewer working hours
• Focus on creating authentic Christian stories that address real-life struggles rather than sanitized versions of faith
• Made "Grace by Night" for under $500,000 while competing with $5-10 million productions at festivals
• Hire small groups of talented people rather than overstaffing to maximize budget efficiency
• Find creative solutions for expensive-looking shots without breaking the bank
• Build relationships with potential investors through smaller projects and networking
• Remain independent to maintain creative control over their storytelling
• Create positive set environments where cast and crew feel respected and valued
Visionary Film Productions can be found at visionary-filmproductions.com
Nathan and Meghan Leon share their journey as Christian filmmakers who have found creative ways to balance their family life with independent film production while maintaining creative control and authenticity in their storytelling.
• Started from creative backgrounds with Nathan in an Act One mentorship program and Meghan with a master's in creative writing
• Prioritize family by including their children on set and creating a familial environment for cast and crew
• Believe God blesses work when family comes first, even if it means fewer working hours
• Focus on creating authentic Christian stories that address real-life struggles rather than sanitized versions of faith
• Made "Grace by Night" for under $500,000 while competing with $5-10 million productions at festivals
• Hire small groups of talented people rather than overstaffing to maximize budget efficiency
• Find creative solutions for expensive-looking shots without breaking the bank
• Build relationships with potential investors through smaller projects and networking
• Remain independent to maintain creative control over their storytelling
• Create positive set environments where cast and crew feel respected and valued
Visionary Film Productions can be found at visionary-filmproductions.com
Previous Episode
Ep. 100 - Q&A with Anna Thalman at the St. Louis International Film Festival
Celebrating the 100th episode, we take a look back at our journey from conceptualizing our first low/no-budget feature film, "The Loved & Lost" to making a living as feature filmmakers now. We share a memorable Q&A session captured during our festival run. The discussion highlights the emotional themes, affordances and limitations of indie filmmaking, and the learning experiences that shaped our storytelling and career.
This podcast episode includes:
• An overview of the Q&A and reflections on the St. Louis Festival
• Insights into our first film's origin and production challenges
• Exploration of thematic motifs and emotional depth
• Audience reactions and questions about the film
• Discussion about directing children and capturing authentic moments
• Technical details about gear, resourcefulness, and filmmaking techniques
• Announcements, including a distribution deal update and our current scholarship opportunity in the Feature Filmmaker Academy
• Introduction to our next feature release, the documentary, 'Ride in Paradise'
Next Episode
Ep. 102 - Legal Essentials for Filmmakers with Entertainment Attorney Pete Salsich III
Legal expertise isn't just a box to check—it's a vital component of successful filmmaking that can make or break your project. Entertainment attorney Pete Salsich III pulls back the curtain on the often intimidating world of film law, revealing how proper legal structuring serves as the foundation for creative freedom rather than an obstacle to it.
At the core of film production lies one fundamental principle: copyright law governs everything, and establishing clear ownership is non-negotiable if you hope to secure distribution or funding. Pete walks us through the process of creating a dedicated LLC for your project, executing proper work-for-hire agreements with every contributor, and ensuring that all intellectual property flows to a single owner—crucial steps that many filmmakers overlook until it's too late.
Rather than viewing legal services as a drain on limited resources, Pete encourages filmmakers to reframe production legal as an essential line item in their budget—just like camera equipment or insurance. This shift in perspective transforms the attorney-client relationship from a transactional expense into a true creative partnership. Whether you're working with a micro-budget or gunning for seven figures, proper legal structuring signals professionalism to investors, qualifies you for valuable tax incentives, and prevents the heartbreak of "falling in love with footage you can't use."
The conversation demystifies everything from investor agreements to music licensing, offering practical guidance for filmmakers at every level. Pete emphasizes that while DIY contracts might suffice for your first project, they create a ceiling that prevents growth into larger budget productions. As you elevate your filmmaking ambitions, having an attorney who understands the entertainment landscape becomes not just helpful but necessary.
Ready to transform your approach to film legal? Visit www.thescreenlawyer.com to learn more about Pete's services or to connect with him for your next project.
Film and Family - Ep. 101 - When Faith Meets Film with Nathan and Meghan Leon
Transcript
Welcome to the show Nathan and Megan Leon .
Speaker 2Yeah , thanks for having us . Thanks , guys .
Speaker 1Absolutely so . Quick introduction
Speaker 1Nathan and Megan both come from creative backgrounds .
Speaker 1They started out well
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