Last week’s call was all about staying scrappy, protecting your voice, and building a body of work that attracts champions — not waiting for permission. Here are the highlights 👇 Watch the Whole Thing Here. 🎥 Proof Projects Aren’t Just for One Genre Jennifer asked if her “medicinal writing” process could be a Proof Project. Absolutely. Proof Projects don’t have to be crime dramas or docs — they’re any 75-90 min story that proves you can finish and showcase your unique voice . 💡 Turn Real-Life Expertise into Narrative Fuel Your day job or lived experience is gold. Change names, tweak details, and build a fictional spine around it. Like Fargo (“all true… except the names”), you can protect privacy and still lean on real insight — especially if your topic is timely or social-impact-driven . 📏 Feature Length = Legitimacy Festivals technically count 40 min as a “feature,” but the real target is 75-90 min. That’s the length reps, buyers, and programmers take seriously . 🎯 Budget Where It Matters Augustin’s second feature sparked a big convo: don’t over-fundraise early. Keep hard costs to gear, insurance, food, and short shoot days. Use gear that records clean audio (like affordable 32-bit float lavs) instead of paying full crews you can’t afford yet . 🤝 Find Hungry Collaborators For first or second films, partner with people at the same career stage. Build a “tribe” that grows across multiple projects. Later, as budgets rise, everyone levels up together . 🚦 Festival Wins Aren’t Overnight Tarantino scrapped a whole first film before Reservoir Dogs. Spielberg shot Amblin after smaller shorts. Baker went from a $50K flop to a $3K microfeature (Take Out), which opened the door to Tangerine and beyond. Proof builds trust — then budgets climb . 📢 Marketing = Part of the Job Even indies need saturation. Keep budgets ultra-low so one champion — a Sid Sheinberg for you — can turn a small success into a career move. Read Kevin Kelly’s 1,000 True Fans if you haven’t .

Hey One Grand Filmmakers, We’re thrilled to have you here! This community is all about empowering filmmakers to take control of their careers, collaborate, and create amazing films together. Here’s how to get started and make the most of your time here: Step 1: Introduce Yourself 🌟 We want to get to know you! Click on the Introductions tab and create a post. Tell us: - Who you are and where you're from - Your current role in filmmaking (actor, director, writer, etc.) - What project you’re working on or excited to start Step 2: Book Your Onboarding Call 📞 We offer a 1-on-1 onboarding call to help you navigate the community and get started on the right foot. https://link.roasmail.com/widget/bookings/fft-onboarding Step 3: Start Learning! In the CLASSROOM tab, there are Free Courses (Proof Project is my favorite). Step 4: Dive Into the Community 🏊‍♂️ Explore the various sections: - General Discussion: Share and discuss anything filmmaking-related. - Q&A: Ask questions and get answers from fellow filmmakers. - Wins: Celebrate your successes, no matter how big or small. - Resources: Find valuable tools and information to aid your filmmaking journey. Step 5: Join Our Upcoming Events 🎉 Check the Calendar tab for upcoming events, workshops, and live Q&A sessions. Mark your calendar and join us to learn and connect in real-time. Step 6: Engage and Connect 🤝 The more you participate, the more you’ll gain from this community. Comment on posts, like others' content, and share your experiences. The connections you make here can lead to lifelong collaborations. Important Links: - Onboarding Call: Book Here - Support: If you have any questions or need assistance, reach out to our team at [email protected]