Ep696 - Stefan van de Graaff, Filmmaker ‘One of Us’ & ‘Simmer’

Ep696 - Stefan van de Graaff, Filmmaker ‘One of Us’ & ‘Simmer’

From Creative Principles by Creative Principles Podcast

April 3, 2026 · 25 min

About this episode

Stefan van de Graaff discusses his journey in filmmaking, including his micro-budget films and the impact of social media on independent cinema.

Stefan van de Graaff is a writer, director, EP, and digital marketing strategist. His first micro-budget film, SIMMER, was sold to HBO Max after getting 1M views on Facebook. Now, his second film, ONE OF US, starring Kit Connor, follows the members of a family who begin dying one by one at a funeral. He is also the founder of The Jung School, a coalition of artists making divergent new media. In this interview, we talk about the logistical benefits of co-directing for a first feature film, managing constraints of micro-budget filmmaking, leveraging social media following and social proof to create credibility for independent films, and much more. Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend, as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the…

People in this episode

Guest: Stefan van de Graaff

Topics covered

  • filmmaking
  • micro-budget films
  • social media
  • co-directing
  • independent films

Keywords

  • One of Us
  • Simmer
  • HBO Max
  • The Jung School

Mentioned in this episode

Products: INK BY THE BARREL

Books & works: One of Us, Simmer, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, Write Review

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