BPS 320: No-Budget, $600 Camera, 3 Lights & Still Sold Worldwide with Elliot and Zander Weaver

Today on the show we have two filmmakers that shot a sci-fi feature
film with a $600 camera, three lights, no budget, no stars, and a
dream. Amazingly they were still able to get worldwide
distribution. The film is called COSMOS and the filmmakers are
brothers Elliot Weaver & Zander Weaver.

COSMOS is a no-budget sci-fi feature film directed and
self-produced by brothers Elliot Weaver & Zander Weaver, taking
on all key crew roles throughout production, with the exception of
writing the score.The film is a contemporary sci-fi mystery
following three amateur astronomers who accidentally intercept what
they believe is a signal from an alien civilization. Realizing they
may have just stumbled across Mankind’s greatest discovery, they
must race to document their finding, prove its authenticity and
share it with the world before it is lost forever. But the truth
they uncover is even more incredible than any of them could have
imagined.

Inspired by Amblin-era adventure, set over one night and against
the backdrop of a World-changing discovery, COSMOS offers spectacle
and thrills but reminds us success is nothing without people to
share it with.You can see the insanity that they went through to
make this film.

They started pre-production in 2013 and production in 2015. They
shot it on my favorite camera the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera
1080p, the same camera I shot my indie feature On the Corner of Ego
and Desire with. Their soundstage was built in their garage where
they would build up and break down the set every night. The film
took 5 years to complete.The pure insanity of these filmmakers is
awe-inspiring. The brothers and I discuss what it took to make
COSMOS, the tech they used, how they keep the actors for years and
so much more.

Enjoy my inspiring conversation with Elliot and Zander
Weaver.

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