Shooting An 8 Day Feature Film Using "Structured Improv" With Director Christopher Folkens

from Show Don't Tell: Micro-Budget Filmmaking · host Noam Kroll

In this episode, I am joined by filmmaker Christopher Folkens to discuss his debut feature film The Catalyst - a psychological thriller that was produced in just 8 shooting days. Throughout our discussion, we explore the unconventional production methods Christopher employed, including structured improvisation and a non-traditional shooting schedule. Topics covered include: Why Christopher chose to embrace structured improvisation with actors How they filmed nearly half the movie in a single night Completing a feature film in just 8 total shooting days The evolution from a 12-person proof of concept to a 7-person final cast Using obstacles as opportunities in low-budget production The benefits of having an editing background as a director Finding the balance between having a plan and remaining flexible on set Links from the show: Christopher Folkens - Instagram The Catalyst Movie - Instagram Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 18, 2025

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Shooting An 8 Day Feature Film Using "Structured Improv" With Director Christopher Folkens

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