A tale of two filmmakers

On a bright summer morning, five years ago, two young filmmakers embarked on a journey.

Both were equally skilled, smart, and resourceful.

Both had developed the chops to tell engaging, worthwhile stories.

And both shared a dream.

To earn a living with thoughtful independent films.

To sustain themselves telling the stories they most cared about.

On paper, both had a solid shot at “making it.”

But one of them had something the other didn’t.

A different strategy.

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Cut to the present day.

Our first filmmaker made a feature right out of the gate.

It took the usual route, going to a few festivals, then a film market. It even got a distribution deal.

Sadly, that deal turned out to be a dud.

No money materialized, and after the first quarter, the distributor stopped returning calls.

Now our filmmaker works a day job in corporate communications.

Of course, they’re planning a new film, bigger and better than the first. But the financing won’t come through.

They’re stuck, frustrated, angry.

Despite five years of work, they’re no closer to making a living with this than the day they started.

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Our second filmmaker is a different story.

Instead of making a feature right away, they spent a year laying a strong foundation—learning a few key skills and testing the market.

From there, they made their first feature.

It was profitable within weeks of release.

Since then, they’ve made two more. Each more ambitious than the last. And each more profitable.

Five years on, they’re making a comfortable living doing work they love.

Not only that, they’re earning more year over year. They've got momentum.

Instead of simply making enough to survive, they’re on track to build long-term wealth.

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Those two filmmakers are named Phil and Andre. You’ll be meeting them in the pages that follow.

Now, Phil and Andre are not real people.

They’re composites, pieced together from the many indie filmmakers I’ve met over the years.

Though they’re not flesh and blood, you’ll soon see their characteristics and decisions are very real.

Maybe even uncomfortably real.

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Through these two characters, you’ll see clearly the two ways to approach the business of indie film.

The path of the traditionalist, and the path of the filmpreneur.

In the coming decade, one of these strategies will increasingly result in disillusionment.

The other will lead to flourishing, and a lifetime spent making meaningful films for people who care.

On the next page, you’ll meet Phil.

Let’s see how far the rabbit hole goes, shall we?

-Rob Hardy