Off The Lot

Chad Costen: From Homemade Monster Movies to Mister Sandman

Anthony Epp sits down with filmmaker, visual artist, and Vancouver Film School instructor Chad Costen to discuss the long journey behind his new fantasy feature film, Mister Sandman. Chad reflects on discovering filmmaking through Star Wars, making homemade monster movies as a teenager, and building a career that spans directing, visual effects, creature design, and teaching. The conversation explores the making of Chad’s first feature, The Coming, the lessons learned from early filmmaking struggles, and the years-long process of bringing Mister Sandman to life. Chad shares how a proof-of-concept trailer helped launch the project, why he created a series of interconnected short films to support the feature, and how the pandemic forced major changes to casting and production plans. Along the way, Anthony and Chad discuss creative collaboration, independent filmmaking, practical effects, and the importance of finding the right team. They also dive into the influence of Star Wars, the storytelling philosophy of Robert Zemeckis, and Chad’s upcoming theatrical tour for Mister Sandman across Western Canada. Listen now for an honest conversation about resilience, creativity, and what it takes to turn a lifelong passion for filmmaking into a feature film. Follow Ken's Indie Horror Feature Remnant here: www.remnantmovie.com [www.remnantmovie.com] Follow Ken Kabatoff's newsletter The Film Founder here: https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about [https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about] Follow Anthony Epp's newsletter The Filmmaker's Notebook here: www.anthonyepp.com [www.anthonyepp.com] Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here: @ken_kabatoff [https://www.instagram.com/ken_kabatoff/] @epptri [https://www.instagram.com/epptri/]

Matthew Cervi On Producing Movies You’d Pay to See

Anthony Epp sits down with producer Matt Cervi for an in-depth conversation about the realities of independent filmmaking in Canada, from financing challenges to the thrill of bringing ambitious genre stories to life. Matt reflects on studying at USC School of Cinematic Arts, working with companies behind The Walking Dead and The Terminator, and later building Mad Samurai Productions around his passion for smart genre filmmaking. The episode explores the difference between producing and executive producing, the risks of independent film financing, and why relationships are often the most important currency in the film industry. Matt also shares stories from producing films like The Colony and executive producing Remnant, while discussing why privately financed projects can move much faster than traditional Canadian funding models. Along the way, Anthony and Matt talk about the untapped potential for Canadian genre cinema, the unpredictability of movie success, and the importance of collaboration, resilience, and creative passion in surviving the chaos of independent filmmaking. Listen now for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to get independent films made — and why filmmakers keep coming back despite the risks. Follow Ken's Indie Horror Feature Remnant here: www.remnantmovie.com [www.remnantmovie.com] Follow Ken Kabatoff's newsletter The Film Founder here: https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about [https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about] Follow Anthony Epp's newsletter The Filmmaker's Notebook here: www.anthonyepp.com [www.anthonyepp.com] Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here: @ken_kabatoff [https://www.instagram.com/ken_kabatoff/] @epptri [https://www.instagram.com/epptri/]

Special Episode: Building a Film Crew That Plays Like a Team

Anthony flies solo this week while Ken is deep in post-production on Remnant, leading to a thoughtful conversation about what really makes film sets succeed: chemistry, alignment, and trust. Inspired by the rebuilding of the Vancouver Canucks and comments from Ryan Johnson, Anthony compares hockey teams to indie film crews in a surprisingly relatable way. Drawing from his recent experience assistant directing Sundowning, he explores why many independent productions struggle — from people wearing too many hats to departments pulling in different creative directions. The episode covers leadership, prep, communication, crew dynamics, and how producers and directors can build teams that feel collaborative instead of chaotic. It’s an honest, practical episode about making better movies by building better teams — perfect for filmmakers, film students, and anyone curious about the creative process behind independent filmmaking. Follow Ken's Indie Horror Feature Remnant here: www.remnantmovie.com [www.remnantmovie.com] Follow Ken Kabatoff's newsletter The Film Founder here: https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about [https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about] Follow Anthony Epp's newsletter The Filmmaker's Notebook here: www.anthonyepp.com [www.anthonyepp.com] Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here: @ken_kabatoff [https://www.instagram.com/ken_kabatoff/] @epptri [https://www.instagram.com/epptri/]

The Vertical Boom: Inside the Micro Drama Gold Rush

In this episode of Off The Lot, Anthony Epp sits down with casting director and producer Monika Dalman for a deep dive into the rapidly growing world of vertical micro dramas — the fast-paced, phone-first storytelling format becoming one of the biggest production booms in North America. From billion-dollar industry growth to nonstop productions shooting across Vancouver, Monika explains why the entertainment industry is beginning to take the format seriously. The conversation explores how changing consumer behavior is reshaping film and television, why traditional studios are adapting to vertical storytelling, and what makes these serialized dramas so effective at capturing audiences. Anthony and Monika also discuss casting, financing, fair pay, union protections, and the realities of building sustainable productions in a fast-moving new space. Whether you’re a filmmaker, actor, producer, or simply curious about where entertainment is heading next, this episode offers an inside look at one of the industry’s fastest-growing formats. Follow Ken's Indie Horror Feature Remnant here: www.remnantmovie.com [www.remnantmovie.com] Follow Ken Kabatoff's newsletter The Film Founder here: https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about [https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about] Follow Anthony Epp's newsletter The Filmmaker's Notebook here: www.anthonyepp.com [www.anthonyepp.com] Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here: @ken_kabatoff [https://www.instagram.com/ken_kabatoff/] @epptri [https://www.instagram.com/epptri/]

Want To Make a Movie? Sell Your House! — Inside The BTS Doc About “The Last Stop In Yuma County”

This week on Off The Lot, Ken Kabatoff sits down with directors Eric Foss and Brandon Pickering to discuss their new documentary Sell Your House — a behind-the-scenes look at the making of indie crime thriller The Last Stop In Yuma County that became something far bigger. The film follows producer James Claeys, who sold his own house to finance the movie after years of failed studio development, celebrity attachments, and dead-end distribution conversations. Eric and Brandon break down how a planned 20-minute featurette evolved into a feature documentary about friendship, risk, self-distribution, and the harsh realities of modern indie filmmaking. The conversation dives deep into film financing, predatory distribution deals, audience building through social media, YouTube success stories, and why more filmmakers are starting to question the traditional Hollywood system altogether. If you’re trying to figure out how independent films actually get made — and what happens after the movie is finished — this episode is for you. Follow Ken's Indie Horror Feature Remnant here: www.remnantmovie.com [www.remnantmovie.com] Follow Ken Kabatoff's newsletter The Film Founder here: https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about [https://kenkabatoff.substack.com/about] Follow Anthony Epp's newsletter The Filmmaker's Notebook here: www.anthonyepp.com [www.anthonyepp.com] Follow Ken & Anthony on Instagram here: @ken_kabatoff [https://www.instagram.com/ken_kabatoff/] @epptri [https://www.instagram.com/epptri/]