Cinema Scumbags Movie Podcast · Cinema Scumbags

#188: Catching up with Matt

·1 hr 32 min·5 clips

Matt says crowdfunding is “literally people giving you money” and that success starts with asking 100 people.

1. Cinema Scumbags Movie Podcast #188 centers on Matt catching up with Seth and Nick after years away. 2. Seth and Nick host, and Matt joins as an original Cinema Scumbag member whose film work now drives the conversation. 3. The episode asks what changed in Matt's life since COVID and how he keeps making movies on tight budgets. 4. Matt says he quit a 12-year retail job because post-COVID stress and California store management became too much. 5. He describes one day when two managers quit by phone and he had to work open-to-close for 12 hours without a backup plan. 6. Matt explains that he saved for a year before quitting so he could survive on reduced expenses and take film jobs. 7. He says his rent is cheaper because he shares a place with many roommates, which made the leap possible. 8. Matt says he now works as a full-time filmmaker, but the writer's strike and the wider film slowdown hurt steady work. 9. He explains that non-union workers lose jobs when union crews accept non-union gigs during slow periods. 10. Matt says most jobs come from networking, word of mouth, Facebook groups, Craigslist, and Staff Me Up. 11. He says his current sitcom-pilot shoot got him hired again because the team liked the vibe and interview process. 12. Matt and the hosts spend time on low-budget producing, including 95-degree outdoor shoots and an interior location that had no AC. 13. Matt says he only hires people he gets along with because 12-hour days with difficult crew members are not workable. 14. The discussion turns to Shadow Marsh, Jib and I, Sean, and the practical side of crowdfunding and crowdfunding fatigue. 15. Matt says a consultant with a history of successful campaigns gave them the blueprint, but the work still comes down to personally asking for money. 16. He says their rule is to write down 100 people, ask them for 10 dollars or a blu-ray, and follow up until the campaign closes. 17. Matt says their films are on Tubi and Amazon, and Shadow Marsh has earned about 12,000 dollars in sales with zero marketing. 18. He says criticism from Letterboxd is easier to say than to match, especially when a 30,000-dollar movie is compared to bigger-budget work. 19. The tone is loose, self-aware, and conversational, with the hosts trading jokes while Matt gives concrete film-business details. 20. Listeners who like indie filmmaking and budget talk will get the most out of it. key_takeaway":"Matt frames indie filmmaking as a numbers game: save for a year, ask 100 people, and keep going when the rates are terrible.","keyword_phrases":["Cinema Scumbags Movie Podcast","Matt catching up","retail job quit","full-time filmmaker","COVID stress","film networking","Indiegogo campaigns","Shadow Marsh","Tubi Amazon","Letterboxd reviews","writer's strike","non-union film work","sitcom pilot shoot","100 people list","cult member role","IMDb credit","low-budget filmmaking","health anxiety","Danielle Harris convention","Halloween convention"],"topic_bullets":["Matt quit a 12-year retail job after a year of saving.","Crowdfunding depends on direct asks and follow-up.","Shadow Marsh reached Tubi and Amazon with zero marketing.","Networking beats job boards for most film gigs.","Letterboxd criticism and budget comparisons come up repeatedly."],"categorization":{"l3_primary":"film-industry","l3_secondary":"indie-filmmaking","l3_tertiary":"movie-podcast","l3_confidence":0.96,"content_tone":"interview","episode_type":"interview","is_interview":true},"entities":{"people":[{"name":"Seth","role":"host","context":"One of the Cinema Scumbags Movie Podcast hosts."},{"name":"Nick","role":"host","context":"One of the Cinema Scumbags Movie Podcast hosts."},{"name":"Matt","role":"guest","context":"Returning original Cinema Scumbags member and working filmmaker."},{"name":"Danielle Harris","role":"mentioned","context":"Referenced during a Halloween convention photo story."},{"name":"Anthony Michael Hall","role":"mentioned","context":"Mentioned in a convention anecdote and movie-fan joke."},{"name":"John Lansing","role":"mentioned","context":"A friend the hosts ask about during the catch-up section."},{"name":"Richard Linklater","role":"mentioned","context":"Named in a joke about the film Hit Man."},{"name":"Jebediah","role":"mentioned","context":"Named as part of Matt's film and role-selling discussion."},{"name":"Alexis","role":"mentioned","context":"Named as part of a movie campaign discussion."},{"name":"Jib","role":"mentioned","context":"Named when Matt lists projects tied to the films they crowdfunded."},{"name":"Sean","role":"mentioned","context":"Named when Matt lists projects tied to the films they crowdfunded."},{"name":"Cure Gilchrist","role":"mentioned","context":"Mentioned by the hosts as a connection for potential film work."},{"name":"Andrew McCarthy","role":"mentioned","context":"Discussed in relation to the Brat Pack documentary."},{"name":"Emilio Estevez","role":"mentioned","context":"Referenced in the Brat Pack documentary discussion."},{"name":"John Crier","role":"mentioned","context":"Mentioned for a comment about Andrew McCarthy."},{"name":"Molly Ringwald","role":"mentioned","context":"Named as one of the Brat Pack figures not participating in the documentary."},{"name":"Judd Nelson","role":"mentioned","context":"Named as one of the Brat Pack figures not participating in the documentary."},{"name":"Robert Englund","role":"mentioned","context":"Referenced when the hosts discuss convention photos and horror fandom."},{"name":"Michael Myers","role":"mentioned","context":"Referenced in a convention photo comparison."},{"name":"Michael Myers","role":"mentioned","context":"Referenced in a convention photo comparison."}],"shows":[{"name":"Boy Meets World","context":"Referenced in a joke about Matt's favorite performance from Danielle Harris."},{"name":"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia","context":"Used as a comparison for the sitcom pilot Matt is shooting."},{"name":"Broad City","context":"Used as a comparison for the sitcom pilot Matt is shooting."},{"name":"Letterboxd","context":"Used for review reactions and film discussion."},{"name":"Tubi","context":"Streaming platform where Matt says their films are available."},{"name":"Amazon","context":"Streaming platform where Matt says their films are available."},{"name":"Indiegogo","context":"Crowdfunding platform discussed at length."},{"name":"Brat Pack","context":"Documentary topic discussed near the end of the episode."}],"organisations":[{"name":"Slacker Media","context":"Promoted in the show intro as another place to find content."},{"name":"YouTube","context":"Promoted in the show intro as another place to find content."},{"name":"Staff Me Up","context":"Job platform Matt mentions for film gigs."}],"topics":[{"name":"crowdfunding","context":"Matt explains campaign structure, donor lists, and role incentives."},{"name":"retail burnout","context":"The reason Matt left a 12-year store job."},{"name":"writer's strike","context":"A strike that slowed available film work."},{"name":"non-union film work","context":"Matt explains how union crews affect non-union job availability."},{"name":"networking","context":"Primary way Matt finds film jobs."},{"name":"IMDb credit sales","context":"Used as an incentive for campaign backers."},{"name":"health anxiety","context":"Seth and Nick discuss age, symptoms, and worry."},{"name":"blood pressure","context":"Discussed in the context of aging and doctor visits."},{"name":"vegetarian food","context":"Mentioned through a restaurant example and diet talk."},{"name":"video games","context":"Nick mentions gaming, including Alan Wake 2."}],"locations":[{"name":"California","context":"Where Matt worked retail and later filmed projects."},{"name":"Arizona","context":"Referenced as where Matt had been living before."},{"name":"Tempe","context":"Named as Matt's former location in Arizona."},{"name":"Chicago","context":"Mentioned in connection with Chronic Con."},{"name":"Indiana","context":"One of the places Matt says he may be filming in October."},{"name":"Kentucky","context":"One of the places Matt says he may be filming in October."},{"name":"Monrovia","context":"Referenced in a joke about internet budget and location."}],"targeting":{"best_audience":"People interested in indie filmmaking, crowdfunding, and behind-the-scenes production talk.","not_for":"Listeners who want only movie reviews or tightly edited segments.","host_credentials":"The hosts identify as Cinema Scumbags Movie Podcast presenters; Matt is an original member and working filmmaker."},"hidden_gem":{"is_hidden_gem":true,"reason":"Matt gives practical crowdfunding and low-budget production details that are specific enough to be useful outside the fandom context."}}}

As heard by us

A loose reunion episode with convention stories, Brat Pack talk, and an easy, lived-in rhythm.

Episode 188 comes off as a loose reunion hang, with Matt back in the chair and the crew swapping convention stories, including the pricey Halloween photo with Danielle Harris.

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Why you'd press play

You want a reunion hang that gets weird fast.

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