EPISODE · Jul 28, 2025 · 25 MIN
How this indie movie used psychology to beat Hollywood
from Nudge · host Phill Agnew
97% of independent films fail. Boiling Point did not. Today, I chat with executive producer Paul Mellor to learn how this movie applied psychological principles to outperform its peers and compete against blockbusters like James Bond. --- Join the Nudge Vaults waiting list: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Paul’s 13.5 ways to grow an underdog: https://www.mellorandsmith.com/13-ways-to-grow-your-underdog-brand Paul’s agency: https://www.mellorandsmith.com/ Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ --- Binet, L., & Carter, S. (2018). How Not to Plan: 66 ways to screw it up. APG/Matador. Cialdini, R. B. (2016). Pre‑suasion: A revolutionary way to influence and persuade. Simon & Schuster. Ryan, J. D., & Cohen, N. J. (2004). The nature of change detection and online representations of scenes. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 30(5), 988–1015. Trott, D. (2019). Creative Blindness (and How to Cure It): Real‑life stories of remarkable creative vision. Harriman House. van den Broek, E., & den Heijer, T. (2024). The Housefly Effect: How nudge psychology steers your everyday behaviour. Bedford Square Publishers.
What this episode covers
97% of independent films fail. Boiling Point did not. Today, I chat with executive producer Paul Mellor to learn how this movie applied psychological principles to outperform its peers and compete against blockbusters like James Bond. --- Join the Nudge Vaults waiting list: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Paul’s 13.5 ways to grow an underdog: https://www.mellorandsmith.com/13-ways-to-grow-your-underdog-brand Paul’s agency: https://www.mellorandsmith.com/ Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ --- Binet, L., & Carter, S. (2018). How Not to Plan: 66 ways to screw it up. APG/Matador. Cialdini, R. B. (2016). Pre‑suasion: A revolutionary way to influence and persuade. Simon & Schuster. Ryan, J. D., & Cohen, N. J. (2004). The nature of change detection and online representations of scenes. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 30(5), 988–1015. Trott, D. (2019). Creative Blindness (and How to Cure It): Real‑life stories of remarkable creative vision. Harriman House. van den Broek, E., & den Heijer, T. (2024). The Housefly Effect: How nudge psychology steers your everyday behaviour. Bedford Square Publishers.
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How this indie movie used psychology to beat Hollywood
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