Ep 274 – Behind Pandorum & Infinity Chamber with Travis Malloy

This is one of my lost episodes—an incredible deep-dive with writer-director Travis Malloy, known for the cult sci-fi hits Pandorum and Infinity Chamber. We explore how he went from indie shoots in Minneapolis to selling a film in Hollywood, building sets in his garage, and writing stories that studios actually wanted. Travis shares the gritty truth behind low-budget filmmaking, working without a script, and learning to trust his artistic gut. This one’s packed with hard-earned lessons every screenwriter and indie filmmaker should hear.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Travis sold his first indie film and broke into the studio systemThe origin and evolution of Pandorum from a shelved ideaHow Infinity Chamber was made with no crew, no money—and a ton of gritThe danger of chasing trends vs. writing what lights you upWhy limitations can unlock creativity on a contained sci-fi filmKey Moments:(01:01) From Minneapolis to Hollywood: Travis’s breakout moment(04:08) Turning a failed script into Pandorum(09:04) Building Infinity Chamber before writing it(20:26) Cutting a twist to strengthen emotional impact(35:34) Advice to indie filmmakers: stop waiting, start shootingAbout the Guest:Travis Malloy is the writer-director of Pandorum (starring Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid) and the mind behind the cult hit Infinity Chamber. With deep experience in both studio writing and garage-level indie filmmaking, Travis brings a rare and inspiring perspective to the craft.About the Host:With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level. Resources Mentioned in the Episode:Pandorum (2009)Infinity Chamber (2016) Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun:Podcast WebsiteInstagram @screenwriterpodTikTok @screenwriterpodLike what you heard? Share the show with a fellow filmmaker, leave a review, and follow for more behind-the-scenes insight into screenwriting and indie filmmaking.#TheSuccessfulScreenwriter #TravisMalloy #Pandorum #InfinityChamber #IndieFilm #SciFiFilmmaking #ScreenwritingPodcast #DIYFilmmaking #GeoffreyDCalhoun🎬 Get Free Script Leads — be the first to know which producers are requesting scripts and accepting submissions.If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Share it with a fellow screenwriter who’d find it valuable!