We created The Poor Man’s Palace with one clear goal: to make a simple, universal comedy that feels timeless. We found ourselves growing tired of independent films that lean too heavily into feeling “indie”—stories often built around absurdism and aimed primarily at other artists. Those films absolutely have value (they inspire us deeply), but we wanted to challenge ourselves to tell a story that isn’t defined by its budget—one that can stand alongside any film around it, in the spirit of Swingers.

After nearly five months of shooting every weekend, the film evolved into something far more profound than we originally imagined. What began as a straightforward comedy deepened through collaboration. Our actors and crew brought trust and creativity that helped fully realize each character. The generosity of the Brooklyn community gave us authentic locations that grounded the film in a lived-in world. And with the support of our B-unit team in North Carolina, the scope expanded beyond our expectations—even stunting a real landing plane on camera.

While we raised $5,000 and covered additional costs out of pocket, this film isn’t defined by its limitations—it defies them. More than anything, this project is proof that independent filmmaking is changing. It’s more accessible than ever—if you’re willing to get scrappy.

—Jacob Boatsman (Writer/Director)