Making an Indie Feature in Real Time | 'Snare' in Pre Production Sonja O’Hara, MARS & Adam Hoelzel

Описание: What does pre-production on an independent feature film actually look like — just weeks before cameras roll?
In the first full episode of The Next Film, we sit down with the producing team behind the upcoming Tribeca-backed indie feature 'Snare' — Sonja O’Hara, MARS, and Adam Hoelzel — as they are deep in pre-production and just weeks away from shooting.

We talk candidly about:
— Balancing creative ambition with budget realities
— Wearing multiple hats as director, writer, producer, and actor
— Building momentum before production
— Protecting the work while everything is moving fast
— What it really takes to get an indie feature from idea to set

'Snare' participated in the 2025 Tribeca Creators Market, and in this conversation we unpack how the project grew from concept to a film about to enter production in less than a year.

About the Guests:
— Sonja O’Hara is an Emmy-nominated director, writer, producer, and actor whose previous features include 'Root Letter' and 'Mid-Century' for Lionsgate. She is co-directing and starring in 'Snare', which she co-wrote with Adam Hoelzel.
@sonjakohara
— MARS is a writer, producer, and actor, producing and co-starring in Snare. Their previous feature 'Triple Threat' premiered at Cinequest.
@marzapproved
— Adam Hoelzel recently completed his feature debut 'Tender', is developing his next project with XYZ Films, and is co-directing 'Snare'.
@ahoelzel

The Next Film follows the real-time journey of making a second feature — documenting what it actually takes to level up in scope, budget, and craft. Each episode features candid, craft-focused conversations with filmmakers who have done it, are doing it, or are experts in the process.

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker & actor Jessica Michael Davis ('Escaping Ohio')
@jessicamichaeldavis

🎬 New episodes premiere every Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Let us know in the comments what stage you’re at in your filmmaking journey, what advice resonated most from this episode, or what topics you’d love us to cover next.

📍 Shot at Bear Punch Studios in LA
🎙 Produced by Casey Geraghty
🎧 Episode presented with support from EP's Jeffrey Weber & Mark Bazil

Subscribe and join the journey, we'd love to have you!
@thenextfilmpodcast

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:48 How Snare started
03:19 Building momentum in pre-production
09:08 Writing from personal experience
15:02 How to finance an independent film
19:42 Getting industry backing & partnerships
29:49 Casting strategy & building the right team
46:34 Writing for your resources
48:12 Evolving as a director
54:58 Creating the visual language
56:45 Partner Ad Read
57:09 Bringing on a casting director
1:03:09 Staying inspired in today’s industry
1:06:58 Advice for your next film

#filmmaking #podcast #indiefilm