Indie Horror Duo the LeVecks: From Production To Press On ‘A Creature Was Stirring’
Explicit content warning
12/22/23 • 40 min
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Damien and Natalie LeVeck are the masterminds behind the film, A Creature Was Stirring. The film is a holiday horror that explores topics such as secrets, guilt, and mental illness. We had the honor of interviewing each filmmaker separately in the past. Now, this married duo is back to discuss all things production, including planning, shooting, and distributing.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with director Damien LeVeck and producer Natalie LeVeck to discuss:
- Shooting a winter-themed film in the middle of a very hot summer
- Using expensive, concert style lasers in the film
- Surrounding yourself with a production team you trust
- Saying “no” while trying to find a middle ground
- Being married and working together - what is that like?
- The biggest on set challenge that ended up working out for the better
- How having editing experience can become a director’s super power
- Why you should make your own press kit and what to include in it
- Posting pictures before your film is purchased by a distributor
- What makes this horror film unique
Memorable Quotes
- “You really need to know what hills you will die on. And what sacrifices are you willing to make.” [6:31]
- “Making any independent film is going to be harder than pretty much anything you ever do in your life.” [12:44]
- “Movies don’t want to be made.” [13:07]
- “You’re not directing to find it in the edit. You’re directing to get the edit you have in your mind.” [19:48]
- “The horror movie fans are some of the best fans out there.” [21:07]
Mentioned:
Top Legal Mistakes Filmmakers Make and How To Avoid Them
Piloting Real-Time Post-Collab on Damien LeVeck’s Holiday Horror
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!
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Damien and Natalie LeVeck are the masterminds behind the film, A Creature Was Stirring. The film is a holiday horror that explores topics such as secrets, guilt, and mental illness. We had the honor of interviewing each filmmaker separately in the past. Now, this married duo is back to discuss all things production, including planning, shooting, and distributing.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with director Damien LeVeck and producer Natalie LeVeck to discuss:
- Shooting a winter-themed film in the middle of a very hot summer
- Using expensive, concert style lasers in the film
- Surrounding yourself with a production team you trust
- Saying “no” while trying to find a middle ground
- Being married and working together - what is that like?
- The biggest on set challenge that ended up working out for the better
- How having editing experience can become a director’s super power
- Why you should make your own press kit and what to include in it
- Posting pictures before your film is purchased by a distributor
- What makes this horror film unique
Memorable Quotes
- “You really need to know what hills you will die on. And what sacrifices are you willing to make.” [6:31]
- “Making any independent film is going to be harder than pretty much anything you ever do in your life.” [12:44]
- “Movies don’t want to be made.” [13:07]
- “You’re not directing to find it in the edit. You’re directing to get the edit you have in your mind.” [19:48]
- “The horror movie fans are some of the best fans out there.” [21:07]
Mentioned:
Top Legal Mistakes Filmmakers Make and How To Avoid Them
Piloting Real-Time Post-Collab on Damien LeVeck’s Holiday Horror
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
A Shocking Netflix Dump, Plus Lessons From Our Fav Holiday Flicks
Netflix delivered your Christmas gift early this year! For the first time ever, the platform just released all of its streaming data! This “data dump” is beneficial for many in the industry, and it seems we will be getting more of these gifts in the foreseeable future.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine, GG Hawkins, Jason Hellerman, Ryan Koo and writer Amanda Barnes discuss:
- The streaming data that was recently released by Netflix
- The metric Netflix used in ranking it’s shows and movies
- Observations we have been making since the data dump
- Using the data as a negotiation talking point for future films
- How to avoid chasing others and instead attract attention
- Borrowing lines and ideas from our favorite holiday movies
- How to respond when you receive shitty notes
- The blessings and curses of being a writer
- The concessions you make as an indie filmmaker
- Handling heavy themes by wrapping them in joy and humor
Memorable Quotes
- “What it was like to not know how many people were watching my movie out in the world.” [2:45]
- “The one thing Netflix has never done is tell us who is watching what.” [7:26]
- “I want to know who’s watching my show, so I can get paid accordingly.” [7:56]
- “Oh shit, now I have to learn how to write a Christmas movie.” [51:01]
- “If you have a vision and you need it executed your way and only your way, you have to make it yourself. And you have to be okay with the fact that maybe no one will see it.” [57:34]
Mentioned:
The making of Ryan's film 'Amateur'
Netflix Releases All Its Streaming Data for the First Time Ever
Connect with Amanda on Instagram
Watch ‘Just Like a Christmas Movie’
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode
Micro Budget by Design With the Screenwriting Life’s Jeff Graham
If you are a micro budget filmmaker, you may think your lack of money is holding you back from having the tools or resources you need. Instead of approaching your project from this limited mindset, we want to challenge you to view your “limitations” as an opportunity, not an obstacle.
In today’s episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with director and podcast producer, Jeffrey Crane Graham to discuss:
- The beauty of podcasting and providing helpful tools to listeners
- Why Jeff advocates table reads throughout development of a project
- Exploring topics like grief, fear, and shame in his film, Always Lola
- How other people will feel seen through what you’re making
- Tips and tricks to stay within your micro budget
- How to get talented people invested in your low budget film
- Simple, affordable, and effective production tools
- Why directors shouldn’t cut their own material
- Balance - does it exist for creatives?
Memorable Quotes
- “You need to bring on a lot of different perspectives and voices, even if they aren’t necessarily your method or craft.” [4:25]
- “Because filmmaking is so hard, you have to will your way through it.” [10:09]
- “We were running around like highschool kids making a movie, but with really nice equipment.” [21:34]
- “It’s really fun to see what people do without much money.” [31:20]
- “People will be so excited to watch you chase your dream. People still want to believe in the power of independent filmmaking.” [34:34]
Mentioned:
The Screenwriting Life Podcast
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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