Ep 274 – Behind Pandorum & Infinity Chamber with Travis Malloy
This is one of my lost episodes—an incredible deep-dive with writer-director Travis Malloy, known for the cult sci-fi hits Pandorum and Infinity Chamber. We explore how he went from indie shoots in Minneapolis to selling a film in Hollywood, building sets in his garage, and writing stories that studios actually wanted. Travis shares the gritty truth behind low-budget filmmaking, working without a script, and learning to trust his artistic gut. This one’s packed with hard-earned lessons every screenwriter and indie filmmaker should hear.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How Travis sold his first indie film and broke into the studio system
- The origin and evolution of Pandorum from a shelved idea
- How Infinity Chamber was made with no crew, no money—and a ton of grit
- The danger of chasing trends vs. writing what lights you up
- Why limitations can unlock creativity on a contained sci-fi film
Key Moments:
- (01:01) From Minneapolis to Hollywood: Travis’s breakout moment
- (04:08) Turning a failed script into Pandorum
- (09:04) Building Infinity Chamber before writing it
- (20:26) Cutting a twist to strengthen emotional impact
- (35:34) Advice to indie filmmakers: stop waiting, start shooting
About the Guest:
Travis Malloy is the writer-director of Pandorum (starring Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid) and the mind behind the cult hit Infinity Chamber. With deep experience in both studio writing and garage-level indie filmmaking, Travis brings a rare and inspiring perspective to the craft.
About the Host:
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level. Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
- Pandorum (2009)
- Infinity Chamber (2016)
Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun:
- https://www.thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com
- https://www.instagram.com/screenwriterpod
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