Pod Cast
Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking
with Noam Kroll
Raising $400K, Casting Without Names, and Writing the Iron-Core Story with Mick Lexington
In this episode filmmaker and novelist Mick Lexington joins Noam Kroll to unpack the development phase for his debut feature Mr. Jack - an existential New York drama adapted from his own novel. Through the interview we dig into the process of raising a ~$400K production budget, why he brought on a dedicated fundraising lead, and how his “agile filmmaking” approach allows him to start elements of production ahead of principle photography. We also dive deep on writing craft - outlining, “killing your darlings,” beating procrastination with consistent routines and much more. Topics include:
- Working with a fundraising specialist to raise a target budget of $400K
- “Agile filmmaking”: building momentum by shooting key exteriors ahead of produciton
- Casting strategy without star names and avoiding audience-misleading cameos
- Turning New York City into a story engine: LES & Williamsburg as living backdrop
- Writing cadence & anti-procrastination: consistent daily blocks vs. bursts
- Why the final rewrite is the edit - and planning for pickups and pivots
Filmmaking Conversations Podcast
with Damien Swaby
Finding Stories in Unexpected Places with Mick Lexington
In this episode, Damien Swaby sits down with filmmaker and multi-disciplinary creative Mick Lexington to talk about his journey through art, music, and writing — and how it all led him back to filmmaking. From restless college days in the Midwest to wandering the streets of Paris, playing music in London, and finally honing his craft as a writer and filmmaker, Mick shares a candid look at what drives him to create.
They dive into:
- How Mick’s unconventional path shaped his voice as a storyteller.
- The realities of indie filmmaking and staying true to your artistic instincts.
- The importance of persistence, curiosity, and “getting things out of your system” to find your real calling.
- Why failure, detours, and even being “a bum in Paris” can become part of an artist’s foundation.