The Big Damn Podcast

The Big Damn Podcast | Episode 026 – Better Late Than…

Welcome to Episode 26 of the Big Damn Podcast, appropriately titled "Better Late Than..."! We recorded this episode back in March 2026, when we were blissfully sweating through the final 30-day countdown to the Arbor Day: The Root of Evil premiere. Now releasing on May 23rd, this episode is a perfect time capsule of independent filmmaking anxiety. Listen in as Michael and Logan navigate some 11th-hour hurdles, including the recent storms that sidelined our composer in Hawaii and how Tamara Johnson stepped up to save the 5.1 surround sound mix. Plus, Michael shares reactions from showing the trailer at MegaCon, we give a shoutout to Dread Alert Media, and we look ahead to future 4K physical media releases. While the April 24th SModcastle premiere is now in the rearview mirror, the mission continues: we are contributing to the Arbor Day Foundation with every ticket and unit sold to plant a tree in the woods! Catch us on the 10-city US Roadshow kicking off June 6th at the Cinemark Egyptian 24 in Hanover, Maryland. Tickets at bigdamnentertainment.com. Learn more about Big Damn Films by visiting: https://bigdamnentertainment.com [https://bigdamnentertainment.com]. Want to see the chaos as it happens? 👉 Join our Patreon for early access to live recordings, rough cuts, and more behind-the-scenes mayhem: https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms [https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms] Follow us on socials: Facebook: https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms [https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/ [https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms [ https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms [https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms] Episode Music by Zafer. Find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/ [https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

The Big Damn Podcast | Episode 025 - Birthdays, Pine Barrens, and Big Damn Premieres

Welcome to Episode 25 of the Big Damn Podcast, titled "Birthdays, Barrens, and Big Damn Premieres"! In this episode, Mike and Logan are joined by special guest and Patreon supporter Bill Feero. We celebrate Logan turning 42 and dive into the final sprint for the premiere of Arbor Day: The Root of Evil. Listen in for details on the Smodcastle Cinemas premiere scheduled for April 24, 2026. We discuss VIP tickets that include early access, a cast photo, and a limited-edition engraved axe. We also talk about our charity campaign, "Plant your body in a theater and we'll plant a tree in the woods," aiming to plant one million trees. Plus, get updates on The Friday Before Christmas 2 dropping on Tubi, the locked status of RIFTERS, and a massive 500% boost in our streaming numbers for February. Keep telling your big damn stories! Learn more about Big Damn Films by visiting: https://bigdamnentertainment.com [https://bigdamnentertainment.com/]. Want to see the chaos as it happens? 👉 Join our Patreon for early access to live recordings, rough cuts, and more behind-the-scenes mayhem: https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms [https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms] Follow us on socials: Facebook: https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms [https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/ [https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2291345/episodes/%20https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms [https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms] Episode Music by Zafer. Find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/ [https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info]. Learn more about Big Damn Films by visiting: https://bigdamnentertainment.com [https://bigdamnentertainment.com]. Want to see the chaos as it happens? 👉 Join our Patreon for early access to live recordings, rough cuts, and more behind-the-scenes mayhem: https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms [https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms] Follow us on socials: Facebook: https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms [https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/ [https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms [ https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms [https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms] Episode Music by Zafer. Find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/ [https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

The Big Damn Podcast | Episode 024 - The Start of a Big Damn New Year

Welcome to Season 3 of The Big Damn Podcast! It’s a new year and a massive milestone for Big Damn Films: Arbor Day of Evil is officially finished. In this episode, the hosts take a deeply emotional look back at the editing process, the realization of completing a feature film after 15 years, and the surreal feeling of seeing the final cut. We also drop the biggest announcement in our company's history: The World Premiere is coming to Kevin Smith’s Smodcastle Cinemas!. In this episode: * Production Diaries: The obsessive reality of editing a horror movie frame-by-frame and the "palate cleanser" logic behind the anthology format. * The Arborist: Why the practical effects and the "Arborist" character design (and silhouette) are terrifyingly effective. * Premiere Details: Tickets go on sale soon for the premiere at Smodcastle Cinemas. 2026 Roadmap: Updates on Drifters, the 37-Hour Film Festival, and future projects. Learn more about Big Damn Films by visiting: https://bigdamnentertainment.com [https://bigdamnentertainment.com]. Want to see the chaos as it happens? 👉 Join our Patreon for early access to live recordings, rough cuts, and more behind-the-scenes mayhem: https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms [https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms] Follow us on socials: Facebook: https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms [https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/ [https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms [ https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms [https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms] Episode Music by Zafer. Find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/ [https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

The Big Damn Podcast | Episode 023 - The Last One of 2025

Episode 23 is the year-end curtain call. Michael and Logan look back on the chaos and the wins of 2025, what it actually took to get back behind the camera, and how the weird detours shaped the way Big Damn Films thinks about making work going forward.  They also unpack the creative domino effect that turned “one idea” into multiple projects, why Arbor Day is built to let them test a whole bench of collaborators, and what 2026 is shaping up to be with Arbor Day landing on Arbor Day plus multiple long-gestating Darkstone releases and more time out in the wild promoting, selling, and showing up.  In this episode: * A 2025 recap: what worked, what surprised them, what they are carrying forward  * The “one mockumentary” idea that spiraled into “let’s make three movies”  * Why Arbor Day is a talent-lab for actors, writers, directors, and “day players”  * A 2026 preview: bigger releases, more promotion, more conventions  Support the show: If you want to help keep the indie magic moving, join the Patreon. They even float the idea of a future “crew tier” where supporters can come be crew for a day.    Theme music: Huge shout-out to DJ Zephyr.  Learn more about Big Damn Films by visiting: https://bigdamnentertainment.com [https://bigdamnentertainment.com]. Want to see the chaos as it happens? 👉 Join our Patreon for early access to live recordings, rough cuts, and more behind-the-scenes mayhem: https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms [https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms] Follow us on socials: Facebook: https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms [https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/ [https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms [ https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms [https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms] Episode Music by Zafer. Find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/ [https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

The Big Damn Podcast | Episode 022 - Nurturing the Rise of a Horror Icon

Episode 22 of The Big Damn Podcast, titled Nurturing the Rise of a Horror Icon, takes you behind the scenes of a major milestone for Big Damn Films. Michael and Logan sit down right after wrapping production on Arbor Day: The Root of Evil to unpack how this project grew from a small concept into a full cinematic feature with a powerful new horror presence at its core. They explore the chaotic fun of directing six different shorts with one unified crew, the emotional weight of completing their first feature as a company, and the standout performances that helped shape the new horror icon audiences will meet soon. The episode also includes updates on editing progress, holiday shipping news for The Fright Before Christmas 2 physical release, and a reminder of what Patreon members receive before anyone else. This is an honest, grounded conversation about building a studio, shaping a new genre villain, and celebrating the momentum that fuels Big Damn Films. Learn more about Big Damn Films by visiting: https://bigdamnentertainment.com [https://bigdamnentertainment.com]. Want to see the chaos as it happens? 👉 Join our Patreon for early access to live recordings, rough cuts, and more behind-the-scenes mayhem: https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms [https://patreon.com/BigDamnFilms] Follow us on socials: Facebook: https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms [https://facebook.com/bigdamnfilms] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/ [https://www.instagram.com/BigDamnFilms/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms [ https://www.tiktok.com/@bigdamnfilms] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms [https://www.youtube.com/bigdamnfilms] Episode Music by Zafer. Find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/ [https://www.instagram.com/duende.zafer/] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].