Getting a $75K Feature On HBO & Selling a Video Agency For $17MM With Stefan van de Graaff
About this episode
Stefan van de Graaff discusses his journey from a micro-budget filmmaker to a successful entrepreneur, sharing insights on film financing and audience building.
In this episode I'm joined by filmmaker and entrepreneur Stefan van de Graaff, whose $75,000 micro-budget feature Simmer landed on HBO after going viral on Facebook. Stefan also co-founded a video agency that grew from a two-person team into a 100-employee business before selling for $17 million, which we discuss at length. Throughout the episode we talk about Stefan’s unconventional path - from Midwest filmmaker to running a digial advertising business. We also cover how his commercial production work became the foundation for financing and producing indie features, and what it took to scale from a scrappy first feature to a $1M international production. Topics covered include: How uploading Simmer to Facebook led to 1M views and sales agent interest How indie films without stars can land on major platforms like HBO Financing a micro-budget feature with personal funds, partners, and partial fundraising The jump from a $75K film to a $1M feature using tax incentives, grants, and talent deals Why having the right producer dramatically increases credibility with agents and financiers Lessons from building and selling an ad agency - and why strategy beats fulfillment How reducing…
People in this episode
Host: Noam Kroll
Guest: Stefan van de Graaff
Topics covered
- micro-budget filmmaking
- indie film distribution
- entrepreneurship
- digital advertising
- financing films
- audience building
- production strategies
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: HBO, One of Us, Instagram
Books & works: Simmer
More episodes of Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking
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- How an Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker Shot a $60K Boxing Feature With Production Value
- TEACHER’S PET Feature Release - Q & A With Noam Kroll & Luke Barnett
- Getting Into Sundance With A $30K TV Pilot
- West Eldredge On Making An $80,000 Debut Feature Film
- Building Netflix Thrillers While Retaining IP With Filmmaker Anna Elizabeth James
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