Tactical Q&A Recap - Friday Sept 12th

This week was about getting unstuck: turning a stage show into a feature, locking the legal/LLC steps without spinning out, and packaging projects so you can actually raise money (without waiting two years for a “maybe”).

🎬 PROOF BEATS PROMISES

If you’ve got a live show, book, or reel, you already have a voice. Convert that into leverage with a feature you control. Keep the stage show alive—let the film and show feed each other. You’re not “cannibalizing” until you’re a household name; you’re multiplying touchpoints that sell the same core story and your merch.

⏱️ WHAT COUNTS AS A PROOF FEATURE

Aim for 75–90 minutes. Character-forward, location-light. The goal is to prove you can hold audience attention over feature length. Competence plus completion beats spectacle you can’t afford.

📍 HOW MANY LOCATIONS

Target three core locations and keep the total under six. Cluster them close to reduce company moves. Cars and nature are free production value and keep frames visually alive.

🧭 TURNING A PERSONAL STORY INTO A FEATURE

Compress the world to what you already have: apartments, cars, phones, laptops. Keep the real spine, lose the expensive edges. You are the showcase, so build scenes that let performance carry the weight.

✍️ WRITING VS REWRITING

Get the script to 90% functional, then move into packaging. You’ll keep rewriting in prep and on set anyway. Endless polish is a stall tactic—advance the ball once the concept is clear and producible.

🌫️ ABSTRACT VS CLARITY

Style is great, but give enough context that we know how the characters got here. With addiction stories, show what the drug is covering. Deliver the feeling and answer the core “why.”

🎞️ RESHOOTS, OLD FOOTAGE, AND CREDITS

If a sequence works, don’t reshoot just because a past collaborator is messy. Unless you lack a work-for-hire and risk a real legal challenge, keep the good scene and move on. A credit card at the end won’t sink your film.

🎭 CASTING DIRECTORS AS FORCE MULTIPLIERS

When you need names or strong up-and-comers, a casting director’s relationships can open doors an agent won’t. Share a tight deck with archetypes and age ranges; let them bring you realistic, gettable targets.

🏟️ PACKAGING + FUNDRAISING FOR NICHE PROJECTS

Lean into built-in audiences (wrestling, veterans, mental health). Attach two recognizable wrestlers, do a targeted podcast tour, and drive everyone to one link (crowdfunding or crowd-equity). Shoot action during real shows to piggyback production value. Keep the budget low so you can actually hit it; use overage for post and marketing.

💸 “INVESTORLESS” VS PAY-TO-PITCH

Be cautious paying hourly for “packaging.” If someone truly believes, deferments and success fees align incentives. Meanwhile, self-package: deck, schedule, budget, lookbook, casting targets, fundraising plan.

📑 THE MICRO-BUDGET LEGAL CHECKLIST (ORDER OF OPS)

Form the LLC.
Get the EIN (free, instant on the IRS site).
Apply for SAG Micro-Budget (you’ll need company info).
Register the screenplay (Copyright).
Get insurance (Thimble is quick).
Send contracts for e-sign before Day 1 (cast, crew, locations).
Create the IMDb page.
Later, execute the Assignment of Screenplay to transfer rights from you to the LLC; include a real dollar amount and keep proof of payment. Distributors require this.

🖊️ DAY-ONE PAPERWORK

Email deal memos and agreements in advance with a clear return-by date. If you hold a rehearsal or meeting, collect signatures there. Do not roll camera without signed paperwork.

🧩 MULTIPLE PROJECTS AT ONCE

If one project is waiting on cast or windows, keep one or two small tracks alive (writing, outreach, prep). Be ready when a window opens, but don’t split focus so wide that nothing ships.

🎙️ SPEED WRITING HACK

Dictate scenes into your phone’s Notes app (speech-to-text). Paste into your script tool and shape later. Capture voice fast; refine on the page.

CALL TO ACTION

If you want the high-touch, step-by-step path from blank page to wrapped feature, Group 4 of the Proof Project Challenge starts Thursday (13 weeks, two calls/week). Message me and I’ll get you details.

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