Independent film has always been an oasis to which dedicated film aficionados can escape when they need to have their thirst for mental stimulation quenched after being bombarded by the typical Hollywood fare. No stranger to the indie film scene, Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty) knows the challenges filmmakers face when trying to battle vampires and superheroes for moviegoers’ attention. His latest film, Price Check, has been called the definition of an indie film, having been shot in just 18 days on a budget of less than $1 million.

“That’s the state of independent film,” Mabius points out. “Ther...