In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker West Eldredge to break down how he made his debut feature Take From Me on a budget of $80,000 – and turned it into a real-world release on major platforms.
We talk candidly about what actually moves the needle on an ultra-low budget feature: prioritizing casting, building a crew that can adapt under pressure, using festivals as a testing ground, and leveraging a strong trailer to start distribution conversations early.
Topics covered include:
- Why West chose micro-budget filmmaking as a solution to finally making a feature
- How crowdfunding, personal investment, and favors helped build an $80K budget
- Why he prioritized casting above almost everything – and what 4,000+ submissions taught him
- Chemistry reads, ensemble casting, and avoiding the “name actor trap” on low budgets
- Skeleton crew realities, continuity hacks, and what happens when a key crew member is suddenly gone
- Festival strategy lessons (and how audience feedback helped define the film’s genre + marketing)
- Pitching distributors, why a great trailer matters more than you think, and what to look for in offers
- Post-production burnout, bringing in new collaborators, and finding small wins to stay motivated
This is Episode 265: West Eldredge On Making An $80,000 Debut Feature Film
Subscribe to this podcast via Apple Podcasts
Subscribe to this podcast via Spotify
Subscribe to this podcast via Google Play
Subscribe to this podcast via Stitcher
Subscribe to this podcast via RSS
Links from the show:
Take From Me – Watch on Prime Video
Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday
No Comments