IFH 844: How to Turn a YouTube Idea Into a Feature Film with Patrick Epino

Patrick Epino shares how a simple YouTube video about Hollywood tropes evolved into the crowdfunded feature film Awesome Asian Bad Guys. After building an audience through the National Film Society, Patrick and his team leveraged their online community to raise over $50,000 on Kickstarter. He explains why crowdfunding requires relentless outreach, consistent content creation, and a pre-existing audience rather than blind optimism. The conversation also explores casting through community relationships, co-directing dynamics, production challenges, and the realities of low-budget filmmaking. Patrick’s journey highlights the power of niche storytelling, audience engagement, and refusing to wait for industry gatekeepers. It’s an inspiring blueprint for filmmakers looking to turn a small idea into a tangible feature film. Become a supporter of this podcast: .

You can listen to IFH 844: How to Turn a YouTube Idea Into a Feature Film with Patrick Epino online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

IFH 844: How to Turn a YouTube Idea Into a Feature Film with Patrick Epino is an episode from Indie Film Hustle® - A Filmmaking Podcast with Alex Ferrari by IFH Industries, Inc..

This episode is 50:58 long.

This episode was published on Mar 3, 2026.

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