The secret to staying under budget isn’t just cutting costs. It’s mastering the right tools and strategies.

In this episode of Inside Indies, seasoned line producer Steve Gruskin shares his proven methods for managing production budgets efficiently. With experience at major production companies like ABC News Studios and Embassy Row, he offers invaluable insights into budgeting, forecasting, and planning for indie films.

Alongside host Steve Bizenov, he discusses how he uses Showbiz Budgeting to manage shifting schedules, compare cost scenarios, and answer tough financial questions without manually updating every line item. Whether you're dealing with complex financials or just trying to streamline your process, Steve’s tips will help you stay in control and avoid costly mistakes.

Key insights from this episode:

• How Showbiz Budgeting simplifies planning and forecasting
• Why phases and subgroups save time when shoot plans change
• What real-time actuals do to keep budgets accurate and responsive

Chapters:

(00:00) Meet Steve Gruskin

(02:36) How Showbiz Budgeting helped Steve in his early years

(06:54) Using Showbiz Budgeting for what-if scenarios

(08:42) Managing tax incentives with Showbiz Budgeting

(10:36) Importing payroll actuals to save time and improve accuracy

(13:41) The benefits of using Showbiz Budgeting for episodic productions

Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/

Contact us at http://info.mediaservices.com/inside-indies

Follow us on our socials:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/CastCrew

Instagram: https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/

LinkedIn: https:/linkedin.com/company/castcrew/

X: https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews

How do you produce a Grand Jury Prize-winning indie film? Daniel Tantalean joins John Cooke and Anthony López to walk us through the creative, chaotic, and deeply personal journey behind the making of “In the Summers.”

From cold emails and festival mixers to navigating production without a post supervisor, Daniel shares how he found his voice as a producer and why trusting your instincts (and your community) can take a project further than you'd imagine. You'll hear about the four-year path to Sundance, how “In the Summers” survived budget gaps, and what it’s like to support first-time writer-directors through their boldest work.

Key insights from this episode:

• Building trust with first-time directors
• Creative ways to stretch a limited budget
• Why your early jobs on set still matter later

Chapters:

(00:00) Meet Daniel Tantalean

(01:26) How early crew jobs guided his approach to producing

(04:07) A turning point after personal loss

(07:50) Cold email that led to “Ale Libre”

(11:52) What made “In the Summers” script stand out

(17:06) Stretching a microbudget for a complex shoot

(26:39) Story behind “Rebel Without a Pause”

(34:35) Real advice for aspiring indie producers

Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/

Contact us at http://info.mediaservices.com/inside-indies

Follow us on our socials:
Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/

Contact us at http://info.mediaservices.com/inside-indies

Facebook: https://facebook.com/CastCrew

Instagram: https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/

LinkedIn: https:/linkedin.com/company/castcrew/

X: https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews

If your workflow feels like a bigger production than your film, Florian Reimann has a fix you’ll want to hear.

In this episode of Inside Indies, Florian joins hosts John Cooke and Steve Bizenov to share how his experience producing films, commercials, and documentaries led him to co-found Yamdu, a production management platform that streamlines everything from script breakdowns to budget exports. He explains how indie creators can use Yamdu alongside tools like Showbiz Budgeting and shares how his work with MovieLabs and the Media Carbon Calculator is helping build more sustainable workflows across the industry.

Whether you’re scheduling a weekend short or budgeting your next feature, this conversation is filled with practical insights for building efficient, future-ready production pipelines.

Key insights from this episode:

• How Yamdu connects your workflow from script to budget
• What indie filmmakers can automate and what they shouldn’t
• Why better workflows mean more room for creativity

Chapters:

(00:00) Meet Florian Reimann

(02:30) What Florian’s early jobs taught him about workflows

(03:33) How Yamdu helps organize your entire production

(09:12) The value of Yamdu’s partnership with Cast & Crew

(12:07) Breaking down the Showbiz Budgeting integration

(15:42) Simplifying onboarding and connecting to payroll tools

(17:45) What global sustainability means for indie filmmakers

(23:01) Upcoming features and innovations in Yamdu

Learn more on https://castandcrew.com/

Contact us at http://info.mediaservices.com/inside-indies

Follow us on our socials:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/CastCrew

Instagram: https://instagram.com/castandcrewllc/

LinkedIn: https:/linkedin.com/company/castcrew/

X: https://x.com/CastAndCrewNews