In this episode I’m thrilled to be joined by Luke Barnett to discuss our viral short film<i> OVATION</i>, made for just $50 over a two-hour shoot. The film satirizes the never-ending standing ovations at major festivals that have dominated the trades in recent years.<br /><br />Within days of completion, the short caught fire online and even landed a feature in Variety - proof that the smallest, most spontaneous projects can yield outsized results. Throughout the discussion we unpack <i>OVATION</i> in detail, along with Luke’s wildly successful short <i>The Crossing Over Express,</i> another viral sensation viewed by millions that was transformative for his career.<br /><br />Topics covered include:<br /><ul><li>The origin of <i>Crossing Over Express</i> and building a deeply personal short</li><li>Shorts that connect vs. features that stall - and why connection beats runtime</li><li>What “branding yourself” as an artist really means for your career</li><li>Crafting <i>OVATION</i>: single take, no dialogue, real applause, two lights, tiny room</li><li>Satire vs. parody: the importance of keeping it grounded and real</li><li>Festivals or internet? How to decide where your short belongs</li><li>“Asymmetric bets”: making fast, cheap work with huge upside</li><li>Hustle, grit, and the necessary (healthy) delusion to survive this industry</li></ul>If you enjoy <i>OVATION</i>, please leave a comment, thumbs up, or share with a friend!<br /><br /><b>Links from the show:</b><br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_xugUCw6o" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OVATION - Watch On YouTube!</a></b><br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVgnL_ylM3o" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><b>The Crossing Over Express</b></a><br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/iamlukebarnett/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luke Barnett - Instagram</a></b><br /><br /><a href="https://x.com/LukeBarnett" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><b>Luke Barnett - X</b></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.noamkroll.com/newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><b>Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday</b></a>