🎬 filmmaker’s notebook | making movies that matter (without millions)
Hi Reader,
Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get said enough in this industry:
Great films aren’t made by money.
They’re made by clarity.
Clarity of story.
Clarity of vision.
Clarity of scope.
And clarity about what you can actually pull off without maxing your credit cards and losing your mind in the edit bay.
That’s what this week’s been about for me—thinking a lot about how to build The Quiet Canadians not with big-money bloat, but with bold indie choices. So it was perfect timing to sit down with Lauro Chartrand-Del Valle on the podcast.
If you don’t know Lauro, he’s the stunt coordinator and second unit director behind Shogun, The Last Samurai, and dozens more. Oh—and he’s also directed seven indie features. The man knows action and indie hustle.
And the thing is? Despite working on $20M-per-episode shows, he still believes:
🧨 “It’s not about how much money you have—it’s how smart you are with what you’ve got.”
💡 Here are 5 takeaways from Lauro’s masterclass that we should tattoo to our Final Draft (actually I use Fade In now, it's better!) toolbar:
1. The Story Tells You the Budget
Lauro starts every project with a yellow highlighter and a script. He highlights the action, then builds his logistics from there.
“You don’t make a script fit your budget. You shape your budget around a script that fits your story and your reality.”
✅ Can your vision actually live inside the box you’re building it in?
✅ Or do you need to rewrite the box?
2. Pre-Production Is Your Superpower
Protectors of the Land, his latest indie feature, shot in 14 days with fight scenes, skydive sequences, firelight exteriors, and no studio money.
How?
He lived on location for 3 days, rewrote the script to fit the setting, and rehearsed everything.
🎯 “The more you prep, the safer your set, the smoother your shoot, and the better your film.”
3. Write to Your Resources
Lauro had a 100-acre filming site with a mock Western town. That became his studio. A plane was already flying to Comox for military training—so he built a skydiving scene around it.
“I realized I didn’t need to dream bigger. I needed to dream smarter.”
This is such a mindset shift. You don’t need to raise millions. You need to see what’s already around you and build the story from there.
4. The Crew Is Your Storytelling Braintrust
Lauro encourages every department head to ask questions and challenge decisions.
A props guy questioned a grocery bag in a scene—resulting in a character rewrite that made the moment feel authentic, not weird.
✨ The best indie films don’t have directors barking orders—they have directors listening for better ideas.
5. Success Isn’t About Scale. It’s About Feeling.
What makes Protectors of the Land feel big isn’t expensive gear or VFX—it’s thoughtful cinematography, bold storytelling choices, and a clear emotional core.
“If it feels real, the audience will believe it—no matter what the budget was.”
✨ So Here’s the Heart of It
The dream of every filmmaker I know?
Make a movie that matters.
One that connects.
One that gets seen.
One that leaves a mark.
But you don’t need $20M to do that.
You need:
• A script that matches your budget and your ambition
• A team that believes in the story
• A plan that puts your money where the story is most visible
• And a mindset that says, “We can do this with what we’ve got—let’s go.”
That’s what The Quiet Canadians is built on.
And it’s what this newsletter is all about.
🎧 Listen to the full episode with Lauro here — seriously, it’s gold for any filmmaker thinking about their next move.
📬 And if you want to follow our behind-the-scenes journey with The Quiet Canadians (script development, location scouting, investor outreach, and more), hop on our insider list:
👉 insiderintel.quietcanadiansmovie.com
To wrap this up:
Your movie doesn’t need millions.
It needs a clear story, a clear scope, and a clear strategy.
That’s your real budget.
And in a world hungry for more great films—we all benefit when yours gets made.
See you next week,
— Anthony 🎬 (He/Him)
P.S. Love these emails? Buy me a coffee to say "thanks"!
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If you're an independent filmmaker, you should check out Anthony's "Filmmaker's Notebook" where he takes you behind the scenes of what he's working on now, offering lessons learned while making his projects.
https://newsletter.habethyfilms.com
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Ways to Work With Me
- Monthly Coaching: To help you get unstuck in a script, your marketing plan or movie launch, etc.
- Consultation Calls: Great for Pitch Deck reviews, script discussions, pep talks.
- "Scratch to Screen": A guided 52 week email and live coaching course.
- Budget and Scheduling: Telefilm is opening up applications for funding! If you want to apply, or pitch your script or film idea to producers and investors, you need a tailored budget and schedule. Reply to this email if you'd like this service.
Resources I Like That Could Help You
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🎬 If you’re looking for a no-fluff, boots-on-the-ground kind of course to actually make your film this year, check out Make It Now Filmmaking by my friend Tyler Reid. It’s launching May 12, and there is a pre-launch sale on right now. I've see a sneak peak and it will be super practical and designed to get you moving right now — no waiting, no wishing. tylerreid.podia.com/make-it-now-filmmaking
- 🎬 6K Filmmaker – A practical guide for indie filmmakers on how to make movies with low-budget, high-quality production techniques. Check it out here.
- 📝 Idea to Outline Workshop (by Naomi Beatty) – A step-by-step system to take your film idea and turn it into a structured, compelling outline. Perfect for screenwriters at any stage. Join the workshop here.
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With 15 years in Hollywood and Canadian TV productions, I navigate today's rapidly evolving film industry while sharing my journey through uncharted territory. Through my weekly newsletter and Off The Lot podcast, I deliver real-world insights and practical strategies from active projects—helping fellow filmmakers adapt and thrive in an industry that's constantly redefining itself. |
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Story and Plot Screenwriting
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Naomi | Write+Co. for screenwriters
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Watch and Support My Previous Work
"13 Miles" a Telefilm grant recipient, is now available to watch!
Upcoming Projects
"The Quiet Canadians", a feature movie about skilled Canadian operatives who are trained in the elimination of local and foreign targets, is in development. Click here for more information
"Xing'er: Origins", a feature film about a family's fight for survival against a deadly sect of assassins, is in development. Click here to find out more.
See more of our projects in development by checking out our website.
Behind the scenes
As we prep for our next projects, we are sharing some of the highs (and lows) of trying to bring everything together.
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