The barrier to making your first film has never been lower, and this episode breaks down exactly how to start.
In Part 2 of his conversation with host Gregg Goldfarb, filmmaker Steve Dabal pulls back the curtain on how his documentary Italian Wannabe came together: shot largely on a phone, edited by hand from terabytes of footage, and finished through community crowdfunding.
Steve makes the case that you don't need a perfect subject or a big budget to begin. You need a story you care about and the willingness to start filming. From the free tools that turn a phone into a cinema camera, to why short films are the best reps a beginner can get, to how AI is quietly reshaping what independent filmmakers can afford, Steve offers a grounded look at the craft and the business of documentary work today, and why "make the thing" matters far more than worrying about how it will be received.
Join Gregg and Steve on Cut to the Chase as they explore:
KEY MOMENTS
00:00 — Cold open: which films "climb the ladder"
00:01 — You've got a story and an iPhone — what do you actually need?
00:02 — The Blackmagic app: turning a phone into a cinema camera
00:03 — "Just start filming" — 14 terabytes and finding the story
00:04 — Do you really need a great subject to begin?
00:06 — Making the thing vs. releasing the thing
00:07 — Why short films are the best reps for beginners
00:09 — The money question: what $0 can (and can't) get you
00:10 — Rough cuts, honest feedback & the freelance colorist
00:12 — Spend $0 first, then crowdfund the finish
00:13 — AI and YouTube: best or worst time to start?
00:14 — Handmade stop-motion vs. AI temp graphics
00:15 — Inside the festival world: programmers & blind submissions
00:17 — Pairing screenings with dinners to build community
00:18 — What's next: roadshows, AI outreach & the film-as-event
00:21 — Closing: stop chasing the checklist — just make the thing
Steve Dabal is an Italian-American director, cinematographer, and editor with a deep VFX background and a focus on non-fiction storytelling. As co-founder and Creative Director of The Family, a New York-based production house, he has interviewed subjects ranging from Scarlett Johansson and Fortune 500 CEOs to war veterans and 9/11 survivors.
His work has screened at SXSW, the New York Film Festival, and internationally. Italian Wannabe is his debut feature documentary. The film sold out five screenings at the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Festival and was also an official selection at the Berkshire International Film Festival. The film was directed, shot, and edited by Dabal, and produced with The Family in association with Current Mindset.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Want to hear more conversations about life, law, and the stories that matter? Subscribe to Cut to the Chase: with Gregg Goldfarb.
Want to stay updated on our latest podcasts? Subscribe to Cut to the Chase: Podcast Newsletter for monthly podcast releases and the latest legal news: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/KqDopgE
