What does it really take to make an ambitious independent feature film in Colorado?In this episode of Set Talks, host Nick Fiorella sits down with two filmmakers helping build Colorado’s independent film scene: writer-director Jesse Stewart, founder and CEO of Epocene Motion Picture Company, and producer Alex Rhodes-Wilmere, CEO of ARWorks Motion Picture Company.Together, Jesse and Alex share the journey behind their independent feature film Piggy Duster, from developing the script and building their production companies to filming in the Colorado mountains, navigating production challenges, protecting the creative vision of the project, and bringing the finished film to audiences.The conversation also explores their award-winning short film Mt. Molehill, an ambitious Colorado production that helped lay the groundwork for Piggy Duster and shaped their approach to independent filmmaking.In this episode, we discuss:🎬 Building an independent film production company🎥 Taking a feature film from script to screen🏔️ Making ambitious independent films in Colorado✍️ Writing and developing Piggy Duster🎞️ How Mt. Molehill helped pave the way for a feature film🤝 The relationship between writers, directors, and producers📋 Planning for complex low-budget productions🌲 Filming in remote Colorado mountain locations🎭 Working with actors to protect a film’s emotional core📸 Storyboarding, shot lists, and visual storytelling💰 Producing independent films with limited resources🎪 Navigating the film festival circuit📺 Distribution and releasing an independent feature🏢 Why filmmakers build their own production companies🎯 Protecting a film’s creative vision from development through distributionWhether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, producer, writer, director, film student, or independent creator trying to get your first feature made, this episode offers a candid look at what it takes to build a production company and bring an ambitious film from idea to finished release.ABOUT THE GUESTSJesse Stewart is the founder and CEO of Epocene Motion Picture Company, as well as a writer and director whose award-winning short film Mt. Molehill helped lead to the development of the independent feature Piggy Duster.Alex Rhodes-Wilmere is the CEO of ARWorks Motion Picture Company and a producer behind both Mt. Molehill and Piggy Duster. His work focuses on helping ambitious independent films move from development into production while building sustainable filmmaking infrastructure.www.piggyduster.comFollow @Piggyduster on Social MediaMt. Molehill | Award Winning Short Film | Action Adventurehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af4JHGx8rkk ABOUT SET TALKSSet Talks is Colorado’s film industry podcast, featuring conversations with filmmakers, producers, directors, actors, crew members, educators, film commissioners, and industry leaders working across film, television, commercial production, and independent media.Subscribe for more conversations with the people making films and building Colorado’s creative community.Connect with the Local Colorado Film community!Become a member of WIFMCO - https://www.wifmco.org/membersBecome a Member at CFVA - https://www.cfva.com/memberships#SetTalks #IndependentFilm #ColoradoFilm #Filmmaking #FilmProducer #FilmDirector #IndieFilmmaking #FeatureFilm #FilmProduction #ColoradoFilmmakers #PiggyDuster #FilmIndustry

00:00 Introduction

01:55 Jesse Stewart

03:35 Alex Rhodes-Wilmere

07:53 Starting a Film Production Company

14:05 Award Winning short Film Mt. Molehill

18:59 Mt. Molehill Short Film – Cinematography

23:02 Producing Mt. Molehill Short Film

30:58 From Mt. Molehill to Piggy Duster

35:47 Piggy Duster Script

40:40 Piggy Duster – Shooting on Location

1:03:34 Filming with a Bear & Bear VFX

1:21:52 Piggy Duster Distribution

1:29:01 Follow Piggy Duster