Directing Indie Folk Horror: Alex Noyer on Funding, 40% Tax Rebates, Two-Camera Setups, Ensemble Casts and his latest indie film 'Love is The Monster'

Noyer on filmmaking, Tax Incentives, Folk Horror, and Directing Love is the Monster What do you do when your folk horror film is deeply rooted in Finnish mythology, but the financing dictates you have to shoot it in Canada? You adapt, you pivot, and you get your movie made. This week on The Filmmakers Podcast, Giles Alderson sits down with returning guest, writer-director, and genre champion Alex Noyer (Sound of Violence) to unpack the production of his latest feature, the creature-feature folk horror Love is the Monster. Starring Madeline Zima and Leonardo Nam, the film follows a toxic couple whose trip to a remote wellness retreat plunges them into a deadly mythological ritual. Alex strips back the curtain on the grueling reality of independent film financing, sharing the exact strategic choices that moved his production across the globe to secure the best tax rebates possible. 🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: Following the Financing: Why Alex pivoted from shooting in Finland (with a 25% cash rebate) to Northern Ontario, Canada, to capitalise on up to 40% in combined tax incentives. Directing Toxic Characters: How to keep an audience engaged when your lead characters are deeply flawed, and why Madeline Zima was the perfect collaborator to find the humanity in the horror. The Two-Camera Rule: Why Alex insists on running two cameras simultaneously at all times to protect his coverage and buy himself freedom in the edit suite. Language & Leadership: The unique challenge of directing an ensemble cast across three different languages (English, French, and Finnish) while maintaining complete control of the set's tone. Protecting the Edit: Moving from the chaos of the set to sitting alongside the editor, and why the script is completely rewritten once you hit post-production. Sending the Elevator Down: The vital importance of supporting emerging talent and fostering a collaborative, ego-free community in the independent genre space. 🔗 Links & Films Mentioned in This Episode: Watch Love is the Monster – Out now exclusively on the Amazon/Prime store (US & Canada). 🎬 Sound of Violence – Alex Noyer’s previous neon-soaked slasher feature. 🎬 Samodiva – Giles Alderson's upcoming folk horror feature. 📱 Connect with Alex Noyer: Follow him on Instagram/X 🎥 Watch Food For Thought 🌱 FOOD FOR THOUGHT⁠ documentary out NOW | Watch it FREE ⁠HERE⁠. A documentary exploring the rapid growth and uptake of the vegan lifestyle around the world. – And if you enjoyed the film, please take a moment to share & rate it on your favourite platforms. Every review & every comment helps us share the film’s important message with more people. Your support makes a difference! 🎧 Subscribe, Listen & Review: Help us out and Subscribe, listen and review us on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts but more importantly, tell your pals about this podcast. Thank you! 👕 ⁠PODCAST MERCH⁠: Get your very own Tees, Hoodies, on-set water bottles, mugs and more ⁠MERCH⁠. 📚 ⁠COURSES⁠: Want to learn how to finish your film? Take our POST PRODUCTION COURSE ⁠HERE⁠. 🌐 ARCHIVE: Check out our full episode archive on how to make films at ⁠TheFilmmakersPodcast.com⁠. Big thank you to: Serena Gardner Mark Hammett Lee Hutchings Marli J Monroe Karen Newman Want your name in the show notes or some great bonus material on filmmaking? ⁠Join our Patreon⁠ for bonus episodes, industry survival guides, and feedback on your film projects! The Filmmakers Podcast is written, edited and produced by Giles Alderson ⁠@gilesalderson⁠ Logo and Banner Art by ⁠Lois Creative⁠ Theme Music by ⁠John J. Harvey⁠ 📲 Support, Merch & Courses🧡 Our Brilliant Patreon Supporters🎬 Credits Alex Noyer, Love is the Monster movie, Madeline Zima, Leonardo Nam, Folk horror movies, Indie film financing, Film tax incentives, How to produce an indie film, Directing two cameras, Giles Alderson, The Filmmakers Podcast, Independent filmmaking podcast, Canadian film tax credits, Sound of Violence, Horror film director Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices