Ever wondered how to pitch a project so a studio executive feels safe saying "yes"? Or why making a short film might actually be the smartest business strategy for your career, even if you’re already established? In this episode we sit down with Matt Miller and Natalie Metzger of Vanishing Angle, an indie production powerhouse (known for films like Thunder Road). They reveal their secret weapon, a "fight club" style feedback group called Fun Lab, and explain why the best networking strategy is simply trying to make friends.
Episode Highlights
- Short Films as R&D: Matt and Natalie explain that they still produce short films not just for art but as a way to "date" directors before marrying them on a feature. It allows them to learn a director's specific needs (e.g., do they need a longer edit? Two cameras?) before money is on the line.
- The "Fun Lab": They created a weekly internal group where writers, directors, and actors read each other's scripts and watch rough cuts. The key rule? "Assume positive intent." It trains filmmakers to detach their ego and look for the "note behind the note."
- The Two-Pronged Pitch: They break down the psychology of a pitch into two arguments. First, the "Why you won't get fired" argument (checking the safety boxes for the exec). Second, the "Why it's worth it" argument (the passion that transcends the risk).
- The "Personal Anecdote" Trick: A masterclass on how to start a pitch. They suggest telling a personal story that seems unrelated at first, but by the end, proves you are the only person on earth qualified to tell this specific story.
- Networking is Just Friendship: They debunk the "icky" side of networking. Their strategy is to find people they genuinely want to have dinner with. If you vibe as friends, you'll likely vibe as creative partners.
Interesting Quotes about Writing and Pitching
On the reality of pitching to executives: "When you are pitching an executive, the only conversation you're having is: 'When my film doesn't succeed... here's why you will not get fired.' You are running through that list, and that's the pitch."
On the "Magic Trick" of the personal pitch: "If you can go in and... drop an anecdote that feels completely unconnected to the film you're pitching, but then by the time you get to the pitch of the film it becomes so clear that you're the person to tell this story... that's the magic trick."
On what you are actually selling: "What you're really pitching is the execution of that idea... and here's why I'm the right person to do that take. Subconsciously, there's an assurance there of 'Oh, this person won't [mess] up this story.'"
On receiving feedback: "If you're open and you listen to it... you'll actually find this brilliant thing that nobody else has been pointing out... behind every note. Just listen, go a little bit beyond what you want the film to be and try to go to what people are receiving as the film."
On the company name: "The 'Vanishing Angle' is a sailing term... It's the highest amount of risk with the most amount of reward... it's that perfect kind of riding the line."
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About the Guests
Matt Miller and Natalie Metzger are producers at Vanishing Angle, an independent production company based in Los Angeles. They are known for discovering and nurturing unique voices in the indie film world, producing acclaimed projects like Thunder Road, The Wolf of Snow Hollow, and Spoonful of Sugar. They are often described as the "Indiana Joneses" of the indie world because they actively hunt for hidden talent at festivals and through their shorts programs.
