PODCAST: ‘Tangerine’ Director Sean Baker Knows How to Turn $100K Into a Hit — and He Won’t Do It Again

“I thought after ‘Starlet,’ I was going to get at least some money to make a much bigger film.”

That didn’t happen; in fact, just the opposite. But Sean Baker’s fifth feature, “Tangerine,” is his most successful film yet.

On this week’s episode of Indiewire Influencers, Baker shows us how he made “Tangerine” his biggest success, a journey that includes running from angry bus drivers, shooting on smartphones and a producer who doubled as wardrobe and continuity.

He also tells us why he’s turned down offers for an encore — and how he plans to keep making movies his own way (even though he admits TV might be a smarter move.)

READ MORE: Sundance Review: ‘Tangerine’ is a charming buddy comedy about transgendered prostitutes in LA

Listen to the full episode above.



Share your feedback with Dana Harris on Twitter or sound off in the comments. Please let us know who you’d like to hear us interview in upcoming editions of Indiewire Influencers, and check out our other weekly podcasts here.

Make sure and subscribe to Indiewire Influencers on iTunes.

Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.