Truly Independent: Demystifying the Indie Film Journey

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: so if
I can't get Tom Cruise to be in approach,

I can at least shoot it in Ukraine and
say, wow, this is, this is something new.

This is something I
haven't ever seen before.

The audience hasn't ever seen that before,

This is Truly Independent, a show that
demystifies the indie film journey by

documenting the process of releasing
independent films in theaters.

Each week, Garrett Batty and I,
Darren Smith, will update you

on our journey, bringing guests
to share their insights into the

process and answer your questions.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Garrett from the other side of the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Hey,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: How

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
from the other side of the world.

Well, uh, I'm doing good.

You can tell I'm no longer, I'm not in my
comfy kind of poster, uh, lined office.

Apologize to my editor
for the ugly background.

Uh,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the lighting

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: the,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: though.

You at least nailed that part.

Are you in a dorm room?

Like where?

Where are you calling from?

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
so I'm calling from.

Abbi, John Ivory Coast,

and uh, no, it is far from a dorm room.

It's a nice, uh, Airbnb
that, uh, that we're at.

And, um, I've been down here for,
this is day six out of I think 39.

Uh, so we'll be here.

Well, I'll be in various different
countries in Africa, um, for the

next, uh, yeah, about five weeks.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
nice, nice.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Well, how about you?

Where are you?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
I'm in the same place I'm in

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I'm in the same place.

Okay, good.

My house

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
my posters and my lights and

uh, feeling, feeling good.

We are in summer break though, so

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
summer break.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
has a harder gig right now.

You traveling

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: and
working hours or me with three, two teen,

pre-teen and one teenage boy at home,
constantly asking, what are we gonna do?

What are we gonna do,
what are we gonna do?

I say, figure it out.

I'm working

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yep.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: So.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Boredom.

Boredom is a great tool for creativity.

Great inspiration for creativity.

Uh, well good.

Well, good.

Well, hopefully summer
break goes by, uh, for them.

Uh, and it's filled with fun activities

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
So far, so good.

We'd had a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: so far.

Still,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: 15

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: nice

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
ride along the,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
bike ride.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: we
did when we were scouting for, uh,

angels in the mine, faith of Angels.

Uh, we rode that Vivian

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: We

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
all the way to our house.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
all the way to our

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
took an hour and a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
15 miles.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
day anyway.

Yeah,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
it's fun.

Well, wonderful.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Fun.

All right, man.

Well, you're in

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: man.

Well, you in Africa and it.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: this
thought of, you know, we should really

have already talked to you about
co-productions because if we count, if I,

I did some, some matting on my own here,
but you've done, if I'm correct, eight

movies and I think four of them have been

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Think four of them have been

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
of the United States.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
outside of Penn States,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: done a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: which
means you've done a lot of co-productions.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
about that

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: So

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: do you

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
we should talk about that.

What do you think?

Yeah, yeah, that sounds great.

And uh,

definitely in the spirit of
truly independent, uh, those

being very independent films.

I don't know if they were ever
co-productions, uh, except for.

The one that you and I did the carpenter,
uh, the rest are, are a little bit

different structure, but, uh, maybe we
can get into that or, yeah, whatever.

I'm, I'm excited to talk about what you,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Yeah.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
uh, you want to, to talk about.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the topic has been,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
topic has been,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
online, from what I can tell.

Over the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
from what I can tell the.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: weeks.

We had our, our president Trump sent
out a truth, I think is what they call

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Proof, I think is what they

call it, that they were gonna

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: tariff on

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
put a hundred percent tariff

code, foreign produced films,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: went,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and the entire industry went.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: What is a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
You talking about

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: film?

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
what does a foreign produced

film, what does that

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: movie

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Because every movie

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: level,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
produced at the studio level,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: some

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
it seems, has some sort of

co-production, whether it's a,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
it in London

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
they're shooting it in

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: uh,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Africa.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: It's
like how, what does it qualifies?

So that kind of sparked the conversation

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Kind
of sparked the conversation on why,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: what I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
what that

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: And so

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
can tell.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: start

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
And so I think we gotta start

with what is a co-production.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: know

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
So I dunno

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
have the most

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
that we need to have the most

specific accurate term ever.

I think we need to
understand how do we see

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: it to

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
co-production.

So what does it,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the word co-production,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: you

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: does

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
hear the word co-production, what

does that Well, I mean, I think,
I think it's either a financing

partner, um, or a production partner.

But they're both like involved
in the ownership of the film

or, or some aspect of the film.

So for example, I did a movie
a while ago called Freetown.

Uh, it was actually shot in Ghana, but
it is a co, it is a co-production or we

had a production company in Ghana that
was sort of our Ghana based entity.

Now, they did not bring
any funding to the film.

But they were a production partner
in the fact that, you know, I 60

productions is experienced in that area.

They know the crew and the cast and
the, uh, rental houses and kind of

have those contacts and are, are
very, very embedded into that area.

And so we worked, we being actually
my company, Three Coin Productions

and Adam Abel's Company, go Films,
uh, all worked in conjunction

with I 60 to produce this movie.

Three Coin Productions raised the money
and uh, you know, essentially executive

produced once that was done, uh, you
know, and, and took care of the story

and the creative once that was set
up, Three Coin Productions hired Go

Films as a co-production company and
Go films contracted I 60 for the um,

needs that we would have in Africa.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Yeah.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
So if is that, yeah, so.

I don't know if that's what you mean.

And, and it grows, each production
grows, um, you know, through

the various stages and shrinks.

So once we left Ghana, you know,
I 60 didn't, we didn't need their

production services, uh, as much.

And they don't, they don't
retain ownership of the

film or anything like that.

Uh, we can reach back out to them
for premieres or, uh, you know,

we needed some a DR stuff and they
helped line that up, line it in place.

But, uh, it grows and shrinks.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
definition of,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: I
like that definition of, uh, you know,

partnerships where you're cooperating,
you're collaborating on producing a movie,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
concerned about,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I'm less concerned about,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: who's

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: um,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
and things like that.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
who's financing

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
there's of the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: There's

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
should include

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: of the
conversation should include this idea of

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
You can find money outside of

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: find
money outside of the United States.

For more

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: they fit

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
films if they fit certain

parameters and fit certain

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
and requirements as

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and requirements

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
who's working

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: far as,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
movie, where the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: uh,
who's working on the movie, where the

money's coming from, where the money's
coming from, et cetera, et cetera.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
being spent.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
And even how it's being spent.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
idea or the definition

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
the idea or the definition

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: to

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: of
companies that are working together.

And so you have a movie, it's,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
so you call them and

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and so you call.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
are producers there.

You have all the contacts,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: have
all the context, the resources, you have,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: film

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: the
locations, you know, the film commission.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: in

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: You
have experience working in this area.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: you or

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
We'd like to partner with

you or elaborate with you on

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: much

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
producing this.

That's very much what we did

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: as well.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
with the carpenter as well.

We didn't get any financial
backing into the film

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: worked

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
from the company with, but you found a.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
a movie in Cape Town.

They were based in Cape Town.

we chatted with them, we were filling them
out, going, okay, do we trust these guys?

Do they,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
We trust these guys today.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
They seem like they're a level

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
we're looking for for this

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
we're looking for, for this building

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: out.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and all things checked out.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
scout or a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Location scout,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
in April of 2022.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
April of 2022 met, everybody

felt really good about them.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: of

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Locations

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
So what it looked like during

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
so what it looks like

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
we had a local

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: was we.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: was
taking care of all of the local spend.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Of the local spend.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: lump

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
So we basically had a lump sum that

we could say, look, here's your

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: for the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
of money

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
of this movie

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
production of this,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
and they managed all of that.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and they managed all of that.

So they provided the library, upm

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
everything was local,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
everything was local.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the relationships

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
all the relationships

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: and the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and initiations and deals with

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
with vendors, with

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: with.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
with the film

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Crew with the film Commission

helped us get that taken care of.

So we relied on people that were local

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: to

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: can

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
co-produce the movie.

You can see that it's a co-production
because when we play the

movie, it says Three coin film.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: BoomTown

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
next card is

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: And

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
BoomTown film.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: these

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
So you go, okay, these companies

work together to produce this.

I love that.

Uh, yeah, the, the, the opening credits
of those, you know, greatly huge

blockbusters, you'll see five or six.

Production companies from the various
creative partners or executive partners

that are helping to either finance or
orchestrate or negotiate or distribute,

uh, that movie that, that project.

Um, and we're seeing that now in the, the
indie world where, you know, these are

one, 2 million, 5 million budget films.

And, um, one of the great things
of using those production partners,

those co-production partners,
especially foreign partners, is.

Usually they will have experience
tapping into the rebate.

And so there is a financial benefit
and financial element of saying,

okay, BoomTown films, we're coming
in with, uh, this budget for this

movie and we understand that South
Africa or whatever it is, we've done

one in Romania, we've done one in,
um, Ghana and uh, one in Ukraine.

We said, we understand that
there are rebates and um.

You guys have done that before?

You've got the government,
you know, whatever.

It's the relationships, just the
practice and going through it, just

like we would do if a production
company came to Utah, you know, said,

Hey, we'd like to do a film based in
the beautiful Utah mountains, or the

red, you know, rocks of, uh, Moab.

Um, and we'd like to tap into that rebate.

Well, you and I would be, um, it's
a common thing that we could do.

And therefore we co-produced
the film with them.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
So it sounds like you've

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
So it sounds like you've

done two with kind of local

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
What about

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
production companies.

What about the other two

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: or maybe

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
internationally,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Have you

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: or

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: where

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
have you done anywhere

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: not
like, where you haven't worked with a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
you haven't with?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
was the difference and what, what

are kind of the upsides, downsides?

I.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I think you've got the option to

either do a co-production where you're
working with a production company where

they're gonna manage all that thing.

Or essentially a fixer where you
would, uh, reach out to essentially

one individual or, or, you know,
there's, there's various companies

that kind of source different fixers
depending on the areas you need.

So you'd say, okay, I'm
going to Southeast Asia.

I'm gonna need, need three,
three different countries.

And I'll, you know, uh, I'll
reach out to East Asia fixers.

And, uh, they'll, they'll say, oh,
okay, for Philippines, you're gonna

wanna use this individual and for India,
you're gonna wanna use this individual.

And I've done that on, on,
uh, commercial campaigns.

Uh, so when we shot in Ukraine, um,
you know, we were going, part of

our production was, uh, US based,
and then we had a kind of a second,

uh, it was still part of principal
photography, but uh, it was, uh,

kind of the second half of the shoot.

And, um, we knew that we were
taking a very small crew.

I mean, this was a super independent film.

Um, but we, so we took the
crew and just had a fix.

We reached out to, uh, one individual that
had had, you know, experience on National

Geographic films and things like that.

I think we found him online
and coordinated with him.

It was like, okay.

He just became part of our crew.

So we're gonna, okay, we
need to rent some gear.

Where would we go there?

We need to scout out some locations.

Where would we go there?

Um, his, he doesn't have a, a
production company credit in

the movie or anything like that.

It was just essentially, here's
your fee for working for us for four

weeks pre-production and then the
week that we're there, and then any

sort of posts that we would need.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Yeah.

Awesome.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Uh, which is a great, it's,

yeah, it's a great way to do it.

We were not really dependent
on him to find the rebate

or, or crew, our production.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Gotcha.

Yeah.

'cause there's a smaller scope.

So that begs the question then, so where,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
question,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: how and

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I guess, how and when

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: decide

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: you.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
it should be a co-production

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Be

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: it

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
a comfort whether it should

be an international shoot.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
questions,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I guess those are two different

questions, but I kind of see
them as the same thing because,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: uh,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
you know, even with,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
looking at

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: the
carpenter, we were looking at a studio

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
as an option for the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
as an option for the shoot.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
financial and

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
weigh the financial and time travel

and all those different elements

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: of

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: the

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: So

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: of.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
do you go through that?

What does the process look like for
you and how do you make that decision?

And

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: How do
you make that decision and when process?

I think, uh, that's a good question.

I don't know that, uh, I have a
set, uh, you know, rules or, or

threshold that it needs to be.

You did mention scope and I think
that that plays a very key part of it.

You know, where are,
uh, I'm trying to think.

You know.

Yeah.

I think our Romania film.

A multimillion dollar budget.

So we definitely used a co-production
to make sure we get the rebate

and we were renting studios there.

And, uh, it was gonna be a, a three
month shoot, uh, or, or three month

stay there, including pre-production
post or pre-production and production.

Um, South Africa was, was a
significant budget that, so I'm

wondering if that is a threshold
where we say we need a co-production.

Uh, rebates were certainly part of that.

So maybe that's something that goes into.

The co-production mode.

Maybe you need a, uh, foreign
production partner in order

to qualify for the rebate.

I think every project is different.

Um, but, uh, I, and I guess I, I,
we've done bigger budget commercials

where we just use fixers and smaller
budget, uh, feature films where we

needed that co-production company.

Um, I dunno if I'm doing a good
job of answering your question.

But it's probably on a per case basis
based on the scale and the amount of

labor that you are gonna be outsourcing.

How's that?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: that's
great, and I think it's certainly

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I think that's great.

Certainly

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
crew decision.

That's kind of how I've looked at it as
well, is, you know, your, your initial

reason for thinking about an international
location is, is this where the movie takes

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
This where the

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: If it

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
takes place, right?

If it takes place

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: uh,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: in,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Sav

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
where did you shoot?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
that was Ukraine?

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
That was Ukraine.

Yeah, that was Ukraine.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: happened.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
that's where the story

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: look.

great.

make it look really authentic and
it worked out financially for you to

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: and

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: even on

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
financially.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
then that makes sense.

Um, so I think it,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Um, so.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
way I look at it, and I haven't had

as much experience as you though,
is, you know, does it serve the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Is, you know, does it serve the story?

What's the story we're trying to tell?

Where does the story take place?

If it's in a stage

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: well it

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and you're building a set,

well it doesn't really matter.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: really

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Then it becomes really

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: tax

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: true.

And tax remain

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Type thing,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
incentive,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
We know that if we can

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: right?

We know that if we can

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: in

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
spend American dollars in

Canada, we get more bang for.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
to the dollar, something like that.

So you can do the math and you can
start making decisions that way.

But we knew with the carpenter
there were like three

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
There were like

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
in the world that

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
three places.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: made

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
The board had a set

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
that could look like,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
that could look like

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
of Christ Jerusalem.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
time crisis.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
went to the one that looked the best

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

So we went,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
we, we made that happen.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
made that happen.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: so for.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: you
know, and Daren, one thing that, sorry,

one thing that does come to mind and, and
that, uh, they'll get to your question,

but, uh, it, it may also, you may, I mean,
consider just your initial thing being

to reach out to that fixer, you know.

Put together those initial conversations.

Say, Hey, here's what we're doing.

It's a 120 page script, and we we're
looking for six day, you know, six week

shoot and a, and a four week prep, or
whatever it is, a three month prep.

You know, and your fixer may
or may not have input on that.

Say, okay, we, there's a production
company we'll need, or we don't

have those resources here.

Uh, I can help you find whatever it is.

Um, but I think that they
become a valuable partner.

On determining whether or not you're
just gonna use them or go to a

bigger production company model.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: I would

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
people look

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I also suggest look at

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
commissions themselves.

You

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
film commissions themselves

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Zealand Film Commission, I've had

calls and emails with them 'cause
we were looking at a movie that was

potentially gonna shoot out there.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
potentially.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: we were

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Got there

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and where we're looking for a

production company that fit our budget,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: and

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: done
our size buildings was rake us over the

coal 'cause we didn't know anything.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: really

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: the
felt commission is really tapped into

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
there, uh,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
the industry.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: to do so.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Uh, it's their job to do so.

So it's really, it's

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: as a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: a
smart place to start as a producer.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
or Ukraine or South Africa, you

know, call the film commissions.

Who are the good production companies
that they like working with, that

they do a lot of rebates with, that

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Rebates with

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: at

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: that,
they are working at the same budget

because they'll know if they're applying

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
incentives.

They know the budgets

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
incentives they know the budget

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: we

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
working on, so we can say, look, we need a

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: in the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
production company that can

work in the to 5 million range.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
They go, oh, talk to these guys.

you also looked at

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
You also looked at what's another,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the one we're trying to make,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
like the one.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
another great option, which is, um,

there's quote I love from Derek Sives.

He says, the fastest way to
get anywhere is to call the

destination and ask for directions.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Ask for directions.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: did

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: So

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Hey, you made

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
you did that.

You said, Hey, you made a,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
of Christ, or

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
that said at the time, Christ, or

said Biblical times in South Africa.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: And they

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
you help us make one too?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: So,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: can.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: um, my

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: So,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: though

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
um, my next question though is

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: how does

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I was curious about that.

How does it affect the creative?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
do you feel like it's limiting?

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
you feel like.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
work with, you know,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
to work with

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: that way?

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
partners in that way,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: free

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
or does it

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
more of the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
you up to do more of

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: do?

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: the

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: does

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: stuff?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: 'cause

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
does it impact?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: have a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Because here in the States you

have a hundred percent control.

Three Coin Productions

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
percent like

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
a hundred percent.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
of Angels.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
The faith making.

Um,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
as a producer from

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I came on as a producer

from outside of the company.

Right.

It wasn't a co-production between
you and I, it was very much

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
it with you.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
hired me to produce it with you

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: percent

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: you.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: of all
those decisions, how does it change,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
does it change

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
for better or worse when

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
for, for better course when you go,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
I think some people

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
because I think

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: that

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
some people might be

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
control or

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
be giving up creative

control, financial control,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
how does it.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: So

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: out for

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
how does that work out for you?

Uh, in my experience, uh, those
times that I have done that,

they, they've been very positive.

They've been creative collaborations.

I mean, ultimately, um.

You know, the, it, it probably does
need to be contracted on who owns the

ultimate, the final creative decisions.

Um, but my, my goodness, going to South
Africa and saying, okay, we're doing this

time of Christ Fight movie, uh, what,
where, and, and you were with us on this.

Where can we find some props?

We're gonna need some props.

And not only did the co-production
partner BoomTown films with, uh.

Murray McDonald and, and, uh, Bruce
McDonald and cj, they all, uh, said,

oh, well, let's go to these prop houses.

We have good relationships with them,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: father,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
but they said

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: My

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
the pop the prop father, that was

the moment that we knew that we
were gonna shoot there, right?

Because we just looked in and it was
just this amazing prop house that, uh,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: they also

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: yeah.

But.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
purchased all of the stuff from the movie

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: From

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: they

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: the,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
owned a bunch of,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
that's Yes.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
bunch of that time period

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Time period

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: as

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
far as props, as far as

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
wardrobe.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
which also was a big selling point.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yes.

So that, that is that
second element you say.

Okay.

Uh, as far as co-production and creative
input and collaboration, they already

had some creative input via the, the
previous props that they use now.

There were certainly things that
we rejected from their, um, prop,

um, collection and their wardrobe
collection that just maybe wouldn't

have applied or wouldn't have played
well in the film that we were creating.

But, um, to be able to have that,
you know, creative collaboration,

get everybody on the same page,
the other, uh, was very helpful.

The other, um, element of like
creative collaborating and not.

Not surrendering, but uh, definitely,
um, I guess collaborating is through

the different crew members, right?

So we say, okay, co-production
company, this is our movie.

Here's our look book.

This is what we wanna do, and can you
find us, help us find creative, uh,

department heads who can execute this.

And with BoomTown films they
gave us, you know, we interviewed

three dps, we interviewed, uh.

Some, you know, well, we interviewed
different gaffers, right?

And, uh, wardrobe and hair and
makeup and the production designer.

Uh, and, um, they gave their
strong recommendations, uh,

based on what our needs were.

And, um, I think we, I think we, yeah,
we, uh, certainly took those into

consideration, but ultimately selected
who we thought would be best for the film.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
It was such a fun

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Yeah, that was such a fun process too.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: of

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
We combined all of that with our

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: our rec,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
location scout,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: scouting

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: so our

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: meetings

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
scouting that we're doing meetings with,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: at

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
uh, department heads.

And at night it was so fun to just

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: wow,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
meet people

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: is

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and go, wow, the town here is crazy.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: So,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: not,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
guess, um, not, not

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: and say

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: to.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: I'm
not supposed to say wrapping up, but

like, I'm curious, uh, where you think
the future's headed with co-productions.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: happen.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
I, I'm curious

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I, I'm curious

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
that, I think

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
if you realize that, I think

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
you've done

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
unique in that you've done half

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
internationally.

I think most

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
position.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
most people would be

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: number

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
to hear that number and B, like

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: you

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
trying to figure out how to do that.

Even,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
a lot of filmmakers

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
think a lot of Don, oh, if it's,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
budget, like a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
it's a low budget, like.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: that
means we're shooting locally with people

we know we're calling in all the favors.

Um, it's a one or two locations

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
one or two locations,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
already have access to, whereas

you're like, no, we're gonna film

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
whereas you're

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
in Ukraine, or we're gonna film the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: We're
gonna, it's a movie that has to be filmed

in Africa or else it will not look.

You can't film a movie set in Ghana,
in southern Utah, for example.

so, in Utah in

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
not enough black people here.

So, um,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Well, we, it's not that we didn't

try, not that we didn't scout.

Uh, no.

Well, I think, uh, yeah, it might be
unique, um, thing and it, and it, and it

should be, and I'm, I'm glad that it is.

I, I think in the spirit of truly
independent and say, look, we

have very low budgets for these
movies, and as an independent

filmmaker, I have a very low budget.

So what do I have and where do
I best want to spend that money?

Well, we.

It's hard to find in, in my mind,
it's very hard to find a star that

is gonna have enough, draw enough
audience to come to your movie,

uh, that, that I can afford, right?

So what can I afford?

You know, who's the third
character of your movie?

It's your location,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Hmm.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: right?

You got your antagonist, prote,
or protagonist antagonist.

And then the location.

Like what is this?

That's why in rom-coms, my
wife watches rom-coms and she

just comments on the house.

I.

That they use in the furniture
and everything like that.

Like that is a draw.

That's a significant draw.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: amazing.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: so if
I can't get Tom Cruise to be in approach,

I can at least shoot it in Ukraine and
say, wow, this is, this is something new.

This is something I
haven't ever seen before.

The audience hasn't ever seen that
before, and that's worth that.

I think that's very enticing
to say, yeah, I'll, I'll, I'll

spend 10 bucks to watch that.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Yeah.

I love it.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Um.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: So

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Which is probably one of the reasons

why Utah, sorry to interrupt.

Yeah.

There might be, lag might be one of
the reasons why Utah, uh, is such

a draw because of the incredible
scenics that they have, right.

Uh, or yeah.

So, um, it's a, it's a cheap way to get,
uh, some significant production value.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Yeah, I would say that we

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: heavily

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: benefit

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
uh, well, really both movies.

Like the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
really both them was like the

mine location that we had.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Um, and it was a,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Um, and it was,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: four

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
you know,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: shoot I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
out four weeks of,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
At the mine, but then we

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
but then

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: from

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
definitely benefited from

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Cape

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
patients

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
that was the reason to film

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: that.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the amazing crew, the amazing team

that we worked with locally, the tax
rebate, all of that played in, but

the locations were what did it for me.

That was the reason why I
was like, oh, we have to film

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Reason

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
can't get this look

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
is we can't get this anymore.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
So I'm curious, um.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I'm curious, um,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
question is

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
maybe the last question is,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: in

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: where
do you think it's going in the future?

Do you think

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: that

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
that people are,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: producers

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
filmmakers, producers

especially, are gonna

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
to or benefit

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
to or benefit from relying

on co-productions more?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
is that a skillset we need to start

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: that,
a skillset we need to start building?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: to post

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Just like being able.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
LinkedIn or record podcasts is

a skill that we need to master

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: We

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
filmmakers now?

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
as filmmakers now,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: that.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
where do you think that,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the future

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
where do you think the future

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
these things?

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
it, it's, yeah, it's a

good, it's a good question.

And I think that there's
room for all types, right?

And say, well, I'm focusing
on a certain genre where, um,

exotic location may not be.

Um.

The draw, you know, if I'm, if I'm doing
a horror movie, then it might just, I

might just need to find a, uh, nice or
spooky house or a, a wooded, uh, you know,

a wooded, I dunno, backwood somewhere.

Um, so, so maybe those aren't dependent
on co-productions or foreign travel.

And I, and I don't know if you're asking
the same, if you're saying a foreign.

Uh, locations is the
same as co-productions.

Uh, you know, maybe, maybe, maybe
that's a shrug, but, um, yeah.

I, I, I do think, and I, and we've seen,
you know, um, right now KS is happening

and I've been out to Ks a few times.

Uh, the film festival in the film
market there, and aside from the

festival that's there, they have the,
the march to film or whatever it is,

uh, which is basically the film market.

Um, where everybody's selling their
films and then on the promenade or

whatever, uh, they have just tent,
after tent, after tent, after tent

of, you know, 80 different countries.

They're there, um, proposing or,
you know, offering or showcasing all

of the locations and incentives and
production services that they have.

So you can go to literally,
you know, write down the.

The, the aisle, and you can go
to each Caribbean island and

talk to them about incentives.

And then you go to the different countries
in, you know, the Slavic countries and

then, you know, the Italy and Greece and,
and all, you know, European countries.

Um,

and so, yes, so there, there, there is
very much an industry that wants to work

with outside productions com companies.

Um, and I think it's a
great tool and we've seen.

Several Utah.

We, in fact, we had Brian Bru on
this, uh, in our first season, right,

talking about the, you know, 40 films
that he's made or whatever it is.

And there's a number of them just in
different countries as a co-production

in order to take advantage of those
tax rebates and incredible locations.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
that's what.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
So it's a, it's a great tool

to, great tool to learn.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
That's the episode I was

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: to.

'cause he, I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Back to, because he, I think,

said something along the lines of,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
I find a cool

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: I
pick, I find a cool location register

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: there.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
so I can check.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: well,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Sure.

It's like,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: think

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: well, I

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: And what

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
think that's right.

And what I,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
where we're headed

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
where we're

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: um,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: is,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
it's a studio or

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: whether
it's a studio or it's independence,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: 'cause of

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
focus on.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
But I think we're, they're

gonna become more sovereign.

And the way that they do
that is by having multiple

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
That is by having multi

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: multiple

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: funding

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
multiple sources of rebates,

multiple sources of post, so that if.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
so that if

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: laws

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
President changes the laws around

tariffs, you are not affected.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: got

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: You can
say, oh, I've got enough partners here,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
to be able to produce it a

hundred percent and not be

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
percent and not

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: affect

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: tariff.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Great.

So you can do that,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Great.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
So you can do.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
filmmakers

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
think that's where most of

the filmmakers are right now.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
I can shoot in my hometown

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: can
shoot in my hometown or in my home state

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: tax

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and get the local tax incentive,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: get some

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
get some, get some discounts

on locations or off

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
there and that's a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: oners
because I have relationships there that's,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
those that really

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
but those that really want have

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
independent,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: truly.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
around being able to

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Around

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
movies for the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
being able to produce movies

for the rest of career.

I think it's gonna require
having these relationships,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: oh,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: being
able to say, oh, I got a guy in Canada,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
in Australia

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: I
know people in Australia or New Zealand,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
or South Africa.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: or

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
got some of

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Africa.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: already,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Got some

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
those kind of one-on-one through

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: kind

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: online

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
relationships

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
I know that if I wanted to film in

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
where I.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
or Toronto, I got half a dozen

people I can call and say.

You know, who should I be talking to
and whether it's them or someone I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Whether it's them or someone,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
can go shoot there

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: I
know that I put you there because the,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
incentive changed or

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: the,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
And so I think that is a strategy

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I think that is a strategy that

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
be looking at.

Not saying you have to do your next movie

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: have,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: in order
to check a box, but if you're able to.

Then

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: to

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
like you said, when you go to

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
exactly like you said.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: if you're
an indie filmmaker, you've got dozens of

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Got dozens of

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
country or

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
local country or state,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
commissions that are there

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
uh, commissions that are there

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: money to

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
to attract

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: their

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: to.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
And so people are, now it's,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
And so people are now.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
got the leverage.

You've got a movie with money to
spend and Tahiti or Jamaica or Bali or

whatever is gonna say, come film here
and we'll give you 30% of your money

back from what you spend in state.

So it's a great way to expand.

Your impact as a filmmaker to be
able to say, I can tell more stories

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Tell stories,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
stories that are local to

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: tell

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: areas.

I can work with different people.

I can make different
types of movies than I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
different types of,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
And that's, uh, that's only going to

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
that's gonna get more

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: think.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: common.

I would agree.

Um, one of the ways, one of the things
that comes to mind as you were mentioning

that is 'cause those relationships are.

Um, essential and needed.

Um, then, uh, a word of advice and
something that I think that we've tried

to do is to preserve those relationships
and make sure that they are valuable.

I would include, you know, making sure
that we're not, you as an independent

filmmaker in any situation, aren't taking
advantage of your crew or, you know,

uh, I think culturally you go in and you
learn, and the culture, you learn what

are, what, how do they typically work?

Um.

And, you know, the great, I love, I love
going to, uh, you know, a foreign country

and meeting with, uh, foreign crews
where I don't even speak the language.

And yet we all kind of speak that
communicate through film and, uh,

you can get on set and everybody
just knows, uh, the, the, the routine

and the communication of film.

Uh, even though they can't really,
we can't really talk to each other.

Um, uh, I, I went on
my own tangent, but I.

So learn and preserve those relationships
and respect culturally their, their

work hours, um, and work habits and,
and just kind of what they're used to.

And I think you did a good job with
that in South Africa saying, Hey, this,

this is, um, you know, we're gonna try
to work how you're comfortable working.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: It was
easy because they just put a toastie

in my hand at three o'clock every day
and I was a very happy producer, so,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
And may, maybe that comment is, uh,

coming from my current situation

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: maybe.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
is not the case and our, our hours

are a little bit, uh, a little bit
heinous right now, but, uh, but

uh, you know that that's the gig.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
That's the gig.

Well, very cool.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

That's

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: do think,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
very cool.

I do think, um, I wanna let you go
to bed because it's late there, but

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
we should talk for just a.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
weekend's box

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
This weekend's,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
is what they're calling it.

I've heard, I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
are they really

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: I
saw both movies over the weekend.

We saw on

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
over the weekend?

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
with our boys to see Lilo and

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Thursday.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
and it was fine.

They liked it.

My wife loved it.

I was just like, why do we need this?

it made a.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
It just killed it.

Made a ton of money at the box office.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: and then
Mission Impossible, the final reckoning.

I want to just spend our last few
minutes talking about Tom Cruise.

calling him the last great movie star,
but I wanna really focus on have you

seen all the marketing that Tom Cruise
himself has done over these last few weeks

leading up to the the opening weekend
for Mission Impossible Final Reckoning.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
It, it's pretty amazing.

It's pretty inescapable and a
lot of behind the scenes kind

of selfie type stuff, and.

Yeah, lot, lots of PR opportunities.

For

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
One thing I was just

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
one thing I was just blown

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the spread of.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
the, the spread of

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
that he was

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
partnerships that he was able

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Uh, Phil mc, is it Phil McAfee?

His, he's like A-E-S-P-N
sports show and he had Tom

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: ESPN

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
for like a 35

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Tom

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: and

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
for like a.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
And he just loves movies.

You can tell Tom Cruise loves.

Movies and then I'm, you know, I'm
seeing ads in between, or I'm, I'm

flipping through YouTube and I see
that he's got like a, an integration

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
got like

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: who

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
integration.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
and Daniel Mack

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I saw that one.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: and
just like, and the number of people that

are influencers that have big audiences

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Influencers that.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
that he partnered with in

a way to where they would.

They would naturally do this
storytelling where it looks like

one of their videos and then

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Looks like one of their videos and then

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: a

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
progress.

Progress.

And somehow they're at a premiere

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: then they

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: of
mission possible and then they have

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: in the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
20 seconds.

With Tom Cruise in the
video at the end was like,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: that

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: mind

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
made himself

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: and he

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: as the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
made himself available as the

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
this movie and this

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: of

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
to go, oh, I'm going to tap

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
to go, oh, I'm gonna tap.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
single community online possible.

And I'm sure there's hundreds of
others that I didn't even see 'cause

I'm not in those communities or uh,
uh, accessible to those communities.

Right.

But I was just blown away at the
level that he personally was doing

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Personally,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
if not one, upped what Ryan

Reynolds does for his movies.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Rey

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
was really impressed by it.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
and all of that needs to be

planned so far in advance, right?

This is year, you know, months and
months and months, uh, and beyond.

Saying, how are we going to take
this movie to an audience and we're

gonna find people who already have
that audience and work with them.

Uh, yeah.

I, I agree.

I echo what you're saying.

Uh, that little clip of him, of
the runner guy, I don't even know.

That's, that's the fun thing.

I, I don't even know
who the runner guy is.

I know I've seen his videos before.

He does the really fast, super fast runs
and slams all the cupboards or whatever

it is, and then it morphs into him running
to the premier permission possible.

And I.

Man that had to be planned out
and pitched and, and delivered and

executed and all in the right time.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Yeah.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
It's pretty cool.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: and it

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Well done.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: I'm sure

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Also, just

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: those

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
sure that.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
from the marketing budget of Mission

Impossible to do those integrations.

You know, maybe some of them were
like, oh, I would do it for free.

But you, you don't, know the value
that they have with their platforms.

They know they're gonna get a
million, 5 million, 10 million

views on a piece of content.

that's part of the marketing strategy is

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
part of the marketing stream.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
like we talked about with

uh, Jonas a few months ago.

So just the idea of.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
just the idea of marketing

should be part of the discussion

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
and like anything's possible if

Tom Cruise, who's a boomer in his
sixties or maybe a really old Gen X,

I don't know, I think he's like Young
Boomer was born in 66, maybe he's Gen

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: 66

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
But really old Gen X can like speak

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
can like speak to Gen Z

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: of

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: because

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
team he's assembled for these movies.

To be able to tap into that was really
impressive and just showed the power of

that and you know, yeah, they took number
two spot and it's the biggest opening

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
whatever's biggest opening.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Of all the, what, eight

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
films that they've done.

So congrats.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
So congrats.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: amazing.

I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
The movie was amazing.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
want to go see it

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Im

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Like just, I love movies

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
just, I love movies.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: feel

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Yeah.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: of the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
The love

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
Cruise, I spoke

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
creators.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: this,
I think with Ryan Coler when he was

talking about the IMAX film for Sinners.

I

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: I film.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
I wanna go see the

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I was just like,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: person

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
I wanna go see

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
movies and

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: person,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the same language and I want to

go and support what they're doing.

So.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: yeah.

Well, I did check my email and we
did not get an invite, uh, you know,

being the influencers that we are
with the audience that we have.

So, uh, I don't know if it just got lost.

It probably checked my spam box,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: Yeah,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: but

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
he probably

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
on that note, sh

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
or Garrett with one T and

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
yeah, they always do that.

That's a good idea.

Uh, on that note, share this podcast,
share it, and uh, spread the word.

So that, uh, next year
mission possible 10.

The resurrection of Tom Cruise.

We will,

uh, we'll be there on
the red carpet with him.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
the movie.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
didn't die.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
but he doesn't

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852: Oh,

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: in,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
he doesn't die.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: um, James

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
He doesn't die.

Yeah.

He never dies.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
you know, there's, there's

an opening there, there's,

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Could be chance.

Could be chance.

The final reckoning.

The, the, yeah, the reckoning Awakens.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
reckoning.

Amazing.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Uh, awesome.

Hey, great discussion.

Uh, thank you very much.

We're gonna be chatting, um,
next week, uh, from Monrovia.

So we're moving to the
next country on Friday.

And uh, yeah, hopefully we can,
we can log in and my background

will look a little bit different.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852:
We're just gonna have everybody

watch 'em on YouTube so

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Everybody watching on YouTube so can see.

daren-smith_1_05-27-2025_165852: week.

I love it.

garrett-batty_1_05-27-2025_225852:
Yeah, that's true.

If you're losing any, you don't
care about the background.

Okay, man.

Great to see you.

Thanks.

Thanks for the episode.

Thank you for listening to this
episode of Truly Independent.

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