IFH 843: How to Turn a Short Film Into a Film Career with Jennifer & Kevin Sluder

About this episode

Jennifer and Kevin Sluder discuss their journey in building an independent film company and the importance of creating opportunities in filmmaking.

Jennifer and Kevin Sluder share their journey from North Carolina to Los Angeles and how they built Sunshine Boy Productions into a growing independent film company. Kevin’s early recognition as a screenwriter opened doors, but instead of waiting for projects to materialize, the couple chose to produce their own short films. Their first project ignited a passion for hands-on filmmaking and laid the foundation for their creative partnership. As their experience grew, so did their ambitions. Jennifer stepped into marketing and branding while Kevin transitioned into directing with Heartless, a Poe-inspired horror short now touring festivals. Their story highlights the importance of networking, strategic growth, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for them—offering a practical blueprint for filmmakers ready to take control of their own careers. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support .

People in this episode

Guests: Kevin Sluder, Jennifer Sluder

Topics covered

• filmmaking
• independent film
• screenwriting
• marketing
• networking

Keywords

• Sunshine Boy Productions
• Heartless
• Poe-inspired horror
• short films

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Heartless

Places: North Carolina, Los Angeles

More episodes of Indie Film Hustle® - A Filmmaking Podcast

• IFH 851: Why Your Film Might Never Get Distributed (Brutal Truth) with Liz Manashil · April 21, 2026 · 1h 11m
• IFH 850: Why Most Creators Never Finish Their Film (Hard Truth) with James Altucher · April 14, 2026 · 1h 8m
• IFH 849: Why 99% of Indie Films NEVER Get Distribution with Bill Ostroff · April 7, 2026 · 1h 22m
• IFH 848: Why Most Filmmakers NEVER Finish Their Movies with Rob Dimension · March 31, 2026 · 53 min
• IFH 847: The Indie Filmmaker’s Survival Guide (No Hollywood Required) with Ethan Marten · March 24, 2026 · 1h 31m
• IFH 846: Why Breaking Into TV Is HARDER Than You Think with Sandra Leviton · March 17, 2026 · 51 min