Empire of Lies: Making an Indie Thriller on a Shoestring with Matthew Hope & Joseph Millson
What happens when an established action director strips everything away to make a micro-budget thriller in just 8 days?
This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, Giles Alderson sits down with director Matthew Hope (The Veteran, All the Devil’s Men) and returning champion, actor/producer Joseph Millson (Casino Royale, Signs of Life), to discuss their tense new two-hander, Empire of Lies.
Matthew and Joseph pull back the curtain on true guerrilla filmmaking. They break down what it is actually like to shoot a feature film in under 10 days with a crew of just 4 to 5 people, the realities of self-financing (including how Matthew pitched the investment to his wife!), and how an epiphany on the M1 motorway finally cracked the script.
We also do a massive deep dive into the business side of indie film, exploring how they utilized data analytics, Instagram, and targeted ads to independently distribute a sub-£100k movie into cinemas. If you are waiting for permission or a massive budget to make your first feature, this episode will give you the kickstart you need to just go out and shoot it!
🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
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Going Micro: Matthew’s pivot from massive budget action movies to an intimate, self-funded indie.
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Guerrilla Filmmaking: Shooting a feature in 8–10 days with a skeletal crew of 4-5 people (and a very obliging mother-in-law’s field!).
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Cracking the Script: The collaborative writing process, layering clues for rewatchability, and the M1 car ride that unlocked the twist.
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Prep vs. Spontaneity: The “John Williams analogy” and why meticulous directorial prep gives actors the freedom to improvise.
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Indie Distribution Masterclass: Using data analytics, social media ads, and the strategies of Jonathan Sadler to release a sub-£100k film.
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Reading the Room: Experiencing live audience reactions and the unexpected themes of grief viewers took away from the film.
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Working with Emerging Talent: Collaborating with first-time lead Natalie Spence, composer Ryan, and DOP Elliot Millson.
🔗 Links, Mentions & Resources:
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Watch Empire of Lies — Available now on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
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Keep an eye out for Waking Slowly — The upcoming documentary about the making of Joseph Millson’s directorial debut, Signs of Life.
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Book Recommendation: Film Marketing and Distribution: An Independent Filmmaker’s Guide by Jonathan Sadler.
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Follow The Filmmakers Podcast on Twitter & Instagram: @filmmakerspod
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