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Filmmaker Joe Burke and actor-writer-producer Oliver Cooper join No Film School to discuss the making and release of Burt, a black-and-white micro-budget feature inspired by real-life musician Burt Berger. The conversation covers how Burke and Cooper built a narrative film around a non-actor, shot the movie in seven days for $7,000, used a tiny crew to preserve authenticity, and pursued a self-distribution strategy through Filmhub after the film gained momentum on the festival circuit.
In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, Joe Burke, and Oliver Cooper discuss...
How Joe Burke and Oliver Cooper first met Burt Berger and realized he could be the center of a feature film
Why Burt became a narrative film instead of a documentary
Working with non-actors and blending fiction with real-life details
Shooting a black-and-white feature in seven days with a three-person crew
Why the team avoided a traditional production model
How they kept the production legal and professional while still working with almost no money
The role of cinematographer Daniel Kenji Levin and the stripped-down camera package
Raising finishing funds after the film was already cut
Winning festival awards, including Best Comedy at Cinequest
Getting press coverage through persistent DIY outreach
Why the filmmakers chose self-distribution with Filmhub
Building a release strategy around digital ads, TikTok reviewers, podcasts, local press, and community organizations
Setting an “off-ramp” date to avoid burnout during the release process
Advice for filmmakers deciding whether to make a short film or a micro-budget feature
Memorable Quotes:
“It’s a father-son grounded comedy with a bit of a thrilling twist inspired by a real-life friend of ours, Burt Berger, who’s not an actor.”
“I love his spirit and the world needs to know who he is.”
“I’m so tired of waiting for permission.”
“We knew the smaller footprint we had, the more authentic we could do that.”
Guests:
Joe Burke
Oliver Cooper
Resources:
Burt The Movie
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