Want to make your budget go further?

The right production incentives, from tax credits to rebates, can put real money back into your project if you know how each one works.

In this episode of Inside Indies, John Cooke breaks down the two main types of production incentives, explains terms like refundable and transferable, and shares why early planning can make or break your funding.

Key insights from this episode

• What “refundable” and “transferable” really mean for your cash flow
• Why early planning is essential to secure funding
• How indie filmmakers can benefit from state-specific programs

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An LLC might seem like just another legal formality, but in independent filmmaking, it’s a smart tool that safeguards your vision, your team, and your wallet.

In this episode of Inside Indies, host John Cooke shares how and why to create an LLC for your next project. You’ll learn how it protects personal assets, what it means for investors, and the practical steps to getting it done, without the legal jargon.

Key insights from this episode:

• Why having one LLC per project matters
• The steps to legally set up your film company
• How to navigate risk, ownership, and credibility from day one

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What happens when a film runs over budget or misses its deadline?

For many filmmakers, this could mean disaster. That’s where completion bonds come in.

In this episode, Fred Milstein, President and CEO of Media Guarantors, joins John Cooke to explore the world of completion bonds and how they play a crucial role in ensuring independent films are completed on time and within budget. Fred explains how his company supports filmmakers, financiers, and distributors by taking on the risk of completion and why completion bonds are a must-have in the indie film world.

Key insights from this episode:

• How completion bonds protect filmmakers and investors
• The key documents required to get started with a completion bond
• Why understanding production risks is essential to a successful film

Chapters:

(00:00) Meet Fred Milstein

(00:39) How completion bonds protect filmmakers

(02:08) Documents needed for a completion bond

(03:07) Evaluating risks for film completion bonds

(04:35) Monitoring progress and budget management

(06:58) Handling script changes during production

(08:04) Managing overages and adjusting bonds

(08:49) What happens if a film fails

Read more about completion bonds at https://www.mediaservices.com/blog/how-to-bond-a-film-a-definitive-guide-to-completion-bonds/
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The last thing you want on set is a legal headache.

In this episode, host John Cooke explains California’s AB5 law, something every filmmaker should understand to keep their production on track.

Key insights from this episode:

• The basics of California's AB5 law
• The legal risks of misclassifying workers in production
• How an employer of record simplifies hiring and payroll

To know more about this topic, visit our blog at: https://www.mediaservices.com/blog/employer-of-record-payroll-the-basics-explained/

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Skip the paperwork, not the progress.

In this episode, John Cooke walks you through how digital onboarding tools are streamlining production from day one.

Whether you're hiring a crew of five or fifty, discover how online start work, centralized document management, and paperless workflows can save you time, money, and stress.

Key insights from this episode:

• When to implement digital onboarding in your production timeline
• What tools simplify crew start work and document management
• How digital workflows reduce errors and protect your budget

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Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/
Read our blog at https://www.mediaservices.com/blog/digital-onboarding-for-streamlined-payroll/
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When producer Scott Glassgold flew across Europe with a monster’s head in his carry-on, it wasn’t a stunt. It was part of making Tarot, a breakout horror film that turned an $8 million budget into a nearly $50 million box office haul.

That kind of hands-on hustle is exactly what defines Scott’s approach to indie filmmaking, and what’s helped him catch the attention of studios like Universal and filmmakers like Steven Spielberg.

On this episode of Inside Indies, Bishop Porter talks with Scott about how he’s built a creator-first model through Ground Control and 12:01, turning short films and short stories into commercially viable IP. From the early days of Prospect to developing "My Wife and I Bought a Ranch" from a Reddit post into a major feature, Scott shares how emerging formats, new distribution paths, and smart publishing strategies are changing the indie game.

Key insights from this episode:

• Why short stories and short films are ideal springboards for features
• What producers should know about IP rights and development timelines
• How indie creators can build sustainable careers by betting on themselves

Chapters:

(00:00) Meet Scott Glassgold

(01:16) Marketing at Disney and the value of early instincts

(02:51) Filming Hurricane Season in post-Katrina New Orleans

(05:20) Starting Ground Control and shifting into management

(06:45) Turning Prospect into a sci-fi feature with Pedro Pascal

(08:50) How Proof of Concept shorts launched a studio horror debut

(11:00) Inside Tarot: monsters, budgets, and shooting in Serbia

(13:21) Building 12:01 and landing Spielberg and a Universal deal

(16:01) From Reddit to Amazon: "My Wife and I Bought a Ranch"

(18:24) What indie creators need to know about today’s market

(29:41) Advice for building lasting creative careers as an indie

(32:29) Empowering creators through multi-platform IP and publishing strategy

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A well-crafted union agreement can make or break your indie production, and no one knows that better than Jessica Johnson and Olga Rodriguez-Aguirre of SAG-AFTRA.

John Cooke sits down with Jessica and Olga to demystify the SAG-AFTRA contracts that apply to independent films with budgets of $2 million and up. From common pitfalls to budgeting for residuals, they share the advice every indie creator needs before hiring union talent.

Key insights from this episode:

• When and how to engage with SAG-AFTRA (and why earlier is better)
• Which contracts apply to films over $2 million
• Why transparency with the union can save your production

Chapters:

(00:00) Meet Olga Rodriguez-Aguirre and Jessica Johnson

(00:37) Why hiring union talent gives films a competitive edge

(01:27) Common missteps filmmakers make with SAG-AFTRA

(03:48) Which contracts apply when your indie budget hits $2 million

(05:04) What to do when your film’s distribution plans change

(06:55) Updating contracts mid-production

(08:27) What SAG-AFTRA looks for in a producer

(13:52) How to find top-tier talent in smaller markets

Read our blog about this topic at https://www.mediaservices.com/blog/sag-aftra-explained-budgeting-for-union-talent/

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Timecards are the quiet MVP of any union set. Boring? Maybe. Essential? Absolutely.

In this episode, John Cooke breaks down Exhibit G, the daily timecard required by SAG-AFTRA to document performer work hours, breaks, and approvals. If you’re producing under a union agreement, this form is a non-negotiable.

Whether you’re stepping onto your first union set or looking to tighten up your production process, this episode helps you understand where Exhibit G fits into the bigger picture: why it matters, how to manage it smoothly, and what to watch out for as you scale.

Key insights from this episode:

• What Exhibit G is and why every union shoot needs it
• How to fill out Exhibit G accurately for each performer
• The common details often missed on the form

To know more about this topic, visit our blog at: https://www.mediaservices.com/blog/exhibit-g/

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