From Actor to Director: Robert Larriviere’s Indie Journey With "This Is Jan"

What does it take to make your first film? Robert Larriviere shares the journey from conceptualizing to having an award-winning debut. 

John Cooke and Bishop Porter sit down with Robert to unpack the making of This is Jan, discussing topics such as crowdfunding, casting, securing a SAG-AFTRA contract, and creating space for queer stories rooted in history. With warmth, candor, and behind-the-scenes wisdom, Robert shares how he turned a deeply personal experience into a festival-winning short. 

Key insights from this episode: 

• What first-time directors need to know before stepping behind the camera 
• How Robert turned screenwriting accolades into momentum for fundraising 
• Why choosing the right lead actor changes things 

 

Chapters: 

(00:00) Meet Robert Larriviere 

(01:59) Inspiration behind This is Jan 

(04:48) Winning awards before filming began 

(06:59) Planning every shot, then embracing the moment 

(09:36) How the location affected the entire story 

(14:25) Crowdfunding strategy that actually worked 

(18:13) Working with SAG-AFTRA on a short film 

(22:05) Advice for first-time indie filmmakers 

 

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What is Inside Indies?

A look at what it takes to make an indie film. Each episode shares advice on things like funding, planning, and getting a project across the finish line, without a studio-sized budget.