Welcome back, Rebels!

In this episode of Low-Budget Rebels, we’re tackling one of the most important skills in indie filmmaking: building a film around what you have.From choosing the right location to balancing ambition with practicality, today’s guests share how they shape their movies by leaning into their resources — not fighting against them. We talk about making the most of time and space on set, finding creative solutions when money is tight, and how passion fuels projects when budgets can’t.

First up, I talk with Trenton Judson, director of Bad Btch*, about the realities of using your environment as a character in itself and how limitations can fuel creativity.

Then Dennis Cahlo, director of The Trouble with Tessa, joins me to discuss building projects around accessibility, collaboration, and letting necessity inspire story choices.

Next, I sit down with Jason Zink, the filmmaker behind Looky-Loo, to dig into how he embraces small resources to tell big stories and why scaling to your means can actually improve your film.

Finally, Jason Buterin, writer and director of Kill Giggles, talks about tailoring your script to what you have in front of you, avoiding wasted time on set, and keeping the vision intact while staying realistic.

This episode is all about turning limitations into strengths and showing that with the right mindset, passion, and creativity, you can craft something unforgettable without waiting for a big budget.Thank you so much for supporting Low-Budget Rebels. Your support keeps the show alive and gives you ad-free access to these conversations. If you’re not already a member, head to patreon.com/flushstudios to join.

And don’t forget to follow and support this episode’s incredible guests:

• Trenton Judson – Bad Btch*
• Dennis Cahlo – The Trouble with Tessa
• Jason Zink – Looky-Loo
• Jason Buterin – Kill Giggles

More conversations with bold, independent filmmakers are on the way — stay tuned, and stay rebellious.

Cheers,
Josh