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Filmmaker contributor John Yost recently joined forces with Alexander Berberich to launch Fifth Column Features (Fcf), a boutique independent film studio and online distribution company. Though the concept may sound familiar, Fcf boasts the industry’s first pay-as-you-wish content model, which Yost likens to a barometer for audience commitment. Filmmaker spoke with Yost about what Fcf is doing differently, and how, as filmmakers themselves, they are able to prioritize their colleagues’ best interests. Filmmaker: Why do you feel the industry was lacking a pay-as-you-wish platform? Are you operating from a standpoint that audiences are the most valuable entity to an independent filmmaker? John Yost: Pay […]...

Filmmaker contributor John Yost recently joined forces with Alexander Berberich to launch Fifth Column Features (Fcf), a boutique independent film studio and online distribution company. Though the concept may sound familiar, Fcf boasts the industry’s first pay-as-you-wish content model, which Yost likens to a barometer for audience commitment. Filmmaker spoke with Yost about what Fcf is doing differently, and how, as filmmakers themselves, they are able to prioritize their colleagues’ best interests. Filmmaker: Why do you feel the industry was lacking a pay-as-you-wish platform? Are you operating from a standpoint that audiences are the most valuable entity to an independent filmmaker? John Yost: Pay […]...

Here is the introduction to a series of posts from filmmaker John Yost on today’s micro-budget filmmaking scene. Check back each week for John’s conversations with various filmmakers debating issues related to the making and distribution of ultra-low-budget movies. — S.M.

What is micro-budget filmmaking? What makes a film micro-budget? Is it simply the amount of money spent? Is it the quality of the story, image, and sound? Is it a cliché at this point? Where did it come from? What about the word “indie”? Is “indie” just a buzz word now? Is the sky falling? Are we going to be able to make better films in the future as equipment and resources become cheaper? Who is going to help us show these stories once they’re finished?

This series will try to answer some of these questions by having current micro-budget filmmakers talk about their experiences with their own process and journey.