r/Filmmakers • u/ClingingVineFilms • 3d ago
Article Just wrapped our first feature.
https://deadline.com/2025/04/unbearable-christmas-julia-stiles-david-cross-alex-moffat-1236357343/We love and learn from this sub all the time so happy to answer any (non-spoiler) questions.
Thanks! -kc
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u/Hairy-Advertising630 3d ago
Congrats! How’d you obtain this stellar cast/funding?
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
Thank you!! After securing funding, we hired a casting director and started making offers with a pitch deck, screenplay, and links to previous shorts (can watch them here).
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u/Bob-Zimmerman 3d ago
Love the casting!! Who was the casting director? Congrats and best of luck w post!
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u/Schhmabortion 3d ago
Julia Stiles and Cross reunion.
It’s A Disaster is an overlooked gem.
Congrats on all your successes
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u/MusicFilmandGameguy 3d ago
Major congrats! Having worked on some indie feature lengths, I know what a rare animal they’ve become and how difficult they are to get made. Just getting it wrapped is a major accomplishment!
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u/ConsciousPatroller producer 3d ago
Congratulations! This feeling after finishing your first feature... savor it! You managed to pull off something 50% of indie filmmakers never do, and I wish you all the best in the difficult stage that comes ahead!
(Also, this cast is stellar! How'd you get them on board?)
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
Thank you!! We are principal wrapped so far from feeling “finished.” Was wild and incredible. Regarding the cast, it was really hiring a casting director and trying to make the screenplay and pitch deck as compelling as possible.
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u/zayetz 3d ago
Follow-up: what did you find to be most effective in your pitch deck? What did people really respond to?
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
Hard to say. We pulled some cool inspiration visuals from ShotDeck and tried to keep the concept really tight and compelling. Nothing too intense. Ultimately, just a tool to get talent/agents to open the first few pages of the screenplay so we had a chance.
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u/ConsciousPatroller producer 3d ago
Ha! I love seeing more people use pitch decks, usually I only encounter moodboards and/or reels. Cudos to your producer :)
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
Thank you!! Released our first short 9/28/23. You can watch it here. It got a million views on Twitter so it got a decent amount of attention and helped solidify an incredible team of collaborators. I’ve been writing and directing commercials since 2010.
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u/KeeperSC 3d ago
Wow! Your short actually got traction on twitter. To be one (tiny) location and minimal dialog this was super exciting and well executed. Thank you for some inspiration.
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
Appreciate it. Was totally organic, too. I have some following from my day job, but it took off like crazy. Credit to our cast and our incredible crew.
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u/midnight_marauders 3d ago
How was it working with Alex Moffat? He was so funny on snl.
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
Unbelievable. Seriously next level. Don't want to get ahead of things here, but I would be shocked if he's not a household name after this film.
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u/smbissett 3d ago
This question will never get answered but I always see a cast like this on an indie and wonder what kind of rates youre able to get them for. I know you cant get specific but any indication on what SAG contract these folks came under? Even something like "We paid XXXXX to an actor for one day or work" or "We paid XXXXX to our lead actor for 3 weeks of work" would be incredibly helpful to me as i navigate prep on my own film (DM will be fine too and totally understand not using names, but any info helps)
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
Great question with no good answer. My advice would be to touch base with a few casting directors and be specific with your budget, shooting days, distro, location, roles, etc. That was invaluable to us. Alternatively, you can call agencies directly.
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u/smbissett 3d ago
Haha totally fair and expected answer
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u/Nivlak87 2d ago
SAG has pay rate minimums. Depending on the budget would determine their rate. Anything over $2mil is full theatrical contract with specific rates. Below that would be low budget, moderate low, and ultra low. Having their own performer minimum rates based on the current CBAs. All rates can be found on their website.
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u/smbissett 2d ago
Yep I was asking if he’d be willing to say what contract he paid actors under. Additionally those rates don’t always indicate what you’d pay someone, so whereas one actor might be willing to work for scale, another might want 10k a day. It was not the most appropriate question to ask but I think it’s helpful for producers to know what you’d pay someone were able to pay someone / for how many days to get a sense of the caliber of actors willing to work for scale, etc
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u/BetterCelery3383 3d ago
Congratulations!! This is inspiring! You mentioned it was privately funded, could you go into some detail on budget and how you were able to get such a cast?! Wow!
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
Putting a ton of work into the screenplay and pitch deck. As mentioned, we hired a casting director and weren’t flying blind. We made offers. One yes leads to another. Also, when an agency really loves and believes in a screenplay, it goes a long way. So one takeaway is screenplay, screenplay, screenplay.
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u/wrosecrans 3d ago
Congrats on wrapping the shoot. Now all that's left is the other 90% of the work! ;)
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
If you know you know. :)
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u/wrosecrans 3d ago
Currently in post on my own first little indie feature. Lol, I wish I didn't know so well. With that cast it does sound like you are working at a bit of a bigger scale than me, so you are honestly probably a bit better positioned to have a smooth post process than I was.
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u/inevitablycool 3d ago
Congratulations! You mentioned in another comment that you hired a casting director - would you mind sharing a bit about that process? Curious if you had a previous working relationship or if it was just a lot of outreach to find the right person.
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u/Nateddog21 3d ago
Aunt Hilda?!? Ok I'll be there. Can I be in the next one?
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
THE BEST. Wait until you see this. We've been wrapped for like a week or so and I'm still cracking up.
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u/shinzilla 2d ago
Congratulations! Is Blake Sennett the co-writer the same Blake Sennett from Rilo Kiley?
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u/EddiePensieremobile 1d ago
What elements attracted/convinced the investors to come aboard? Was it the script and pitch deck first, then the money, then the casting director, and so on? BTW congratulations on your channel.
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u/ClingingVineFilms 1d ago
Thanks!! I don’t want to speak for our investor but in general having a (subjectively) good idea, a track record, and a concrete plan was probably most critical. To your specific question of order, we did not have actors pre-attached. I’m aware that’s fairly abnormal, but that’s how it worked for us.
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u/sfad2023 3d ago
congratulations, what was the budget?
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
Thanks! Can’t disclose that at the moment but…. less than $100 million and more than my last short that cost $0. 🤫
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u/Panicless 3d ago
Looks great congrats! What were your biggest challenges during the shoot?
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u/ClingingVineFilms 2d ago
Time. We only had 20 shooting days.
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u/Panicless 2d ago
Damn! So you shot what, like 5 minutes a day? That leaves zero room for error I guess.
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u/wtfisrobin 3d ago
Who's doing the music? and can I send my resume for bid?
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u/ClingingVineFilms 3d ago
There is an email on our website if you want to send something over. Our co-writer is a very accomplished songwriter and musician, so he's leaning into that part of our film right now.
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u/dizzi800 3d ago
Congrats! That is an insane cast! If you don't mind me asking - how was funding acquired? I'm assuming selling distribution?