On this episode we dive deep into the making The Invisible Raptor with writer and star Mike Capes and producer Nic Neary. The film is a hilarious, Amblin-inspired horror-comedy that delivers big creature-feature thrills (without ever showing the creature itself).

Mike and Nic share how the movie originated as a 3 AM idea, the journey from script to screen, and how they secured funding and distribution in a competitive indie film market. They also get into guerrilla filmmaking tactics, crafting a compelling pitch package, boosting production value with amazing locations and handling on-set crises. Please enjoy this conversation with Nic Neary and Mike Capes.

Show Notes

Movies Mentioned:

• Jurassic Park (1993)
• Ghostbusters (1984)
• The Goonies (1985)
• Indiana Jones franchise
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
• Jaws (1975)
• Airplane! (1980)
• The Naked Gun (1988)
• Gremlins (1984)
• Super Troopers (2001)
• Speed (1994)
• Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
• Ghostbusters II (1989)
• Terrifier (2016)
• It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
• Teen Wolf

Here are some key takeaways from this conversation with Mike & Nic.

You Have Got to Stand Out.

The film industry is oversaturated with scripts, projects, and ideas—pitching something uniquely is essential. The Invisible Raptor team understood that a script alone wouldn't grab attention, so they built a compelling pitch package with costumes, action figures, a movie poster, and a humorous pitch video. These tangible assets made the project feel real to investors, giving it momentum before it was even funded. A script isn’t always enough—filmmakers should create visual, physical, or digital materials to showcase their vision, commitment and enthusiasm.

Write the Movie You Want—Then Find a Way to Make It Happen

Conventional wisdom tells indie filmmakers to write “contained, low-budget” scripts—but the Invisible Raptor team ignored that advice. They wrote a film with a dinosaur theme park, elaborate effects, and car chases, then figured out how to make it work through resourcefulness, networking, and persistence. Finding an affordable dinosaur amusement park seemed impossible—until a chance conversation with John Stamos led them to the perfect location. Discovery Cube Science Center in Anaheim, where Stamos’ sister worked, had everything they needed—including a giant animatronic dinosaur that pooped, which fit the script perfectly.

By piecing together multiple assets through favors the team gave the movie a much bigger scope than its budget should have allowed. Don’t let financial limitations stifle your creativity—write the best version of your story, then problem-solve to bring it to life.

Hire for Energy

Filmmaking is grueling, especially on an indie production where long hours and tight budgets push everyone to their limits. The Invisible Raptor team knew that keeping morale high was just as important as hitting their shots. A positive, energized set prevented burnout and kept the production moving forward, even when challenges arose. They understood that even one toxic crew member can derail everything. That’s why they were selective in hiring—not just bringing on trusted friends, but choosing people who truly supported the vision. Negativity spreads faster than positivity, so keeping the right energy on set meant keeping the right people around.

Follow Mike Capes at:

• IMBd: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2142138/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lordmikecapes/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/themikecapes
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.capes/

Follow Nic Neary at:

• IMBd: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6543591/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nachoneary/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/TheNickNeary/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickneary/