You can have a great script, a strong cast, a beautiful pitch deck, and real momentum, but one bad contract, unclear rights issue, or handshake deal can put the entire project at risk. On this episode of The Indie Coach Podcast, I sit down with Jalene Mack Esq, Entertainment Attorney, to talk about why having an attorney on your team is not just for “big Hollywood.” https://jalenemack.com/ It’s for protecting your project. It’s for protecting your relationships. It’s for protecting your future. If you’re serious about getting your film made, funded, sold, or distributed, you need to understand where legal support fits into the process. Filmmaking is creative, but it is also business. Treat it that way. Watch/Listen to the full conversation and make sure your project is protected before the problems show up. https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-6nwxr-1af7039 https://youtu.be/3pX2R63BoFs?si=Hpi5ykH0ht1clinj

Filmmakers, this is one you should not miss. https://www.filmmakingstuffhq.com/fshq/distribution-funding/web-class/ This Saturday, June 20th at 1 PM Eastern, my friend Tom Malloy is teaching a free webinar on film funding. Tom has raised over $30 million and produced over 30 feature films. I also had the privilege of producing a movie with him, so I can say this firsthand: he knows what he’s talking about. In my opinion, Tom is one of the best coaches in the business when it comes to helping filmmakers understand how to raise money the right way. And the fact that he’s doing this for free? That’s a real opportunity. If you’re trying to get your film funded, stop guessing and learn from someone who has actually done it over and over again. Sign up for free and be there this Saturday. And while you’re at it, you can also sign up for my free event on the business side of filmmaking: the VIP Film & TV Sales Summit. We’ll have 10 industry professionals teaching over five days, plus a bonus day on Saturday, all focused on helping filmmakers better understand the business side of film and television. You can sign up free here: https://www.vipfilmandtvsummit.com/ #FilmFunding #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #FilmProducers #FilmBusiness

Too many filmmakers bring people onto their project before they have any real leverage. That is dangerous. Before you start asking for producers, investors, name talent, distributors, or strategic partners, you need to know what you are actually bringing to the table. A strong concept. A clear audience. Proof of momentum. A real plan. Some sense that this project is more than just a dream. Collaboration is powerful, but timing matters. Bring people in too early, and you may give away control before you have built value. Bring them in with leverage, and now you are not just asking for help. You are inviting them into an opportunity. #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #FilmProducing #FilmBusiness #TheIndieCoach

Hey everyone! Glad to be in here. I am Joao, a director. Since this room is about getting unstuck and actually finishing, I wanted to share how I plan a film. I think in pictures and a little out of order, so I plan on one visual canvas instead of scattered across a dozen tools. It is a free Mac app I built called Beat: you drop your beats or scenes as cards, pin references next to them, add characters and locations, branch alternate versions of a scene, and lay out an overhead Set Plan for camera and light to scale. 1.5 is almost out, and the big new thing is location scouting. You pin a real place on a map and pull up street view right next to your story, so the whole shoot lives in one place. A few shots below. It is free, no account, never for sale. beatforfree.com if you want to try it, and I would genuinely love your honest feedback. I am @____lutz on Instagram.

Most filmmakers don’t fail because they lack talent. They fail because no one taught them the business. That changes here. VIP Film & TV Summit | August 30 – September 5, 2026 For those in the Skool community - you get 50% off the VIP cost! DM me, and I will send you the discount code.