#6 - Interview with Vanishing Angle’s Matt Miller and Natalie Metzger

What It Covers

Vanishing Angle producers Matt Miller and Natalie Metzger explain their strategy of building long-term filmmaker relationships through short films, their approach to pitching studios, and how they've produced 27 features and 60+ shorts.

Key Questions Answered

• •Short Film Strategy: Vanishing Angle produces shorts with directors before features to identify their specific needs—whether extended post-production, two-camera setups, or production design priorities. This tailoring process helps directors succeed on their first feature and builds toward larger studio projects through proven collaboration patterns.
• •Pitch Framework: When pitching executives, address two elements simultaneously: provide risk mitigation through comparable films, proven talent, and clear audience targeting, while also inspiring passion by demonstrating personal connection to the material. The subtext is always "here's why you won't get fired if this fails."
• •Feedback Methodology: Effective notes reinforce the creator's vision rather than imposing your own. Listen beyond surface-level suggestions to identify underlying concerns. Even seemingly disconnected executive notes often reveal brilliant instincts about what isn't working. Train yourself to hear the note behind the note through regular practice.
• •Personal Connection Pitch: Lead with seemingly unrelated personal anecdotes during initial conversation, then connect them to your project during the pitch. Example: Director Sean Mullen discussed his Ground Zero experience and Wall Street stand-up comedy before pitching his film about a veteran working on Wall Street, establishing unique authority.
• •Relationship Building: Approach industry connections as genuine friendships rather than transactional networking. Submit projects repeatedly to the same contacts even after rejections—programmers and executives track careers over years. One filmmaker received three short film rejections from Sundance before their feature was accepted with enthusiastic support.