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Hey Reader,

Have you seen Moneyball?

There’s a moment in the film when Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) sits in a meeting with his scouts. The team is failing, and the scouts keep suggesting the same players with the same criteria: guys who look the part, play the game the way it’s always been played, and fit the mold of a “real” baseball star.

Beane stops them cold with this line:

“If we try to play like the Yankees in here, we will lose to the Yankees out there.”

Sound familiar?

That’s us—independent filmmakers. We’re out here trying to make movies the way Hollywood does, but with a fraction of their resources. We want our films to look big, feel big, and compete on their terms.

Here’s the hard truth: We’re the runts of the litter.

And you know what happens to the runts at the money trough? As Billy Beane puts it:

“They die.”

The Hollywood system isn’t built for us. It was never built for us. If we keep trying to sit at their table, playing by their rules, we will fail. But the good news? We don’t need their table.

The technology and distribution landscape have changed. Elegant, masterful films can be made with fewer resources. It’s been done. It can be done. And if you’re willing to embrace what makes independent filmmaking different, you can do it too.

Let’s break down the problem, the solution, and what it takes to save indie film—starting with your next project.

The Problem: We’re Playing the Wrong Game

Let me paint you a picture:

You’ve got a $1M budget. That’s not nothing, but it’s nowhere near Hollywood scale. Still, you’re trying to make a $10M movie on a $1M budget. You’ve got a massive crew, big equipment rentals, 20 locations, and a script that’s trying to outdo Spielberg.

By the time you’ve shot for three days, the cracks are already showing. You’re over budget, behind schedule, and stressed out. The production isn’t just hard—it’s unsustainable.

Here’s what’s going wrong:

• We’re trying to compete with $100M films.

Hollywood films have scale, resources, and infrastructure we simply don’t. By trying to look like them, we highlight what we lack.

• We’re relying on festival miracles.

You submit to Sundance, pray for an acceptance, and assume the rest will fall into place. But the odds are stacked against you. Even if you get in, there’s no guarantee of distribution or success.

• We’re bloating our productions.

Big crews, big gear, big logistics. All that “big” eats your budget alive. Worse, it siphons resources away from where they matter most: story and talent.

• We’re ignoring our audience.

Most indie filmmakers treat marketing like an afterthought. You make the film, then figure out how to get people to see it. But by then, it’s too late.

If this sounds familiar, don’t worry—you’re not alone. But let’s be clear: If we keep playing the Hollywood game, indie filmmaking will die.

The Bigger Problem: We’re Ignoring Our Strengths

We can’t compete with Hollywood budgets. But here’s the secret: We don’t have to.

Hollywood doesn’t need to look for the next great DP—they’ve got Roger Deakins on speed dial. Hollywood doesn’t need to find breakthrough actors—they’ll just pay George Clooney’s rate.

But you? You can look where Hollywood isn’t looking. You can scout undiscovered talent. You can take risks. You can tell stories that Hollywood won’t touch because they’re too niche, too risky, or too personal.

This isn’t a weakness. It’s your biggest strength.

• Elegant films can be made with fewer resources.

Think of Clerks or The Blair Witch Project, or Thunder Road or 18 1/2. These films weren’t about big budgets—they were about creativity, ingenuity, and storytelling.

• Technology has leveled the playing field.

You don’t need a $100K camera. You need skill, vision, and the right team.

• Breakthroughs come from risk.

Who’s going to deliver the next career-making performance? Probably not an A-list star, but a relative unknown—someone who just needs the right opportunity and the right role might be in your film.

Ignore the naysayers who say "how can you make a movie at that budget?" or "you can't without this". Says who?

As Billy Beane says:

“Adapt or die.”

Rather than bend over backwards trying to justify or explain it, go out and prove it. There are lots of examples. Some well done. Some not, admittedly. Even the low budget movies that aren't great still have something to teach.

But there are equal numbers of bad "big budget movies" out there too. I'm sure we can all name 10 from the last year alone (they sit there on streaming services who try to push them out to you so you'll give them a chance).
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Budget is not a measure of a "good movie". It's just a number.

The Solution: Play the Game Only Indie Filmmakers Can Win

Here’s how we change the game:

Step 1: Audience First, Film Second

If you’re making your film in secret and hoping the audience finds you later, you’re already losing.

When we made 13 Miles, we didn’t wait for the film to be done to build our audience. We went to triathlons, wore 13 Miles running shirts, and talked to athletes. By the time the film was ready, we already had a community rooting for it.

Here’s how you can do the same:

• Define your audience. Who are they? Spy movie fans? Runners? History buffs? Find them.

• Engage early. Share your journey. Post behind-the-scenes content. Build relationships.

• Motivate them. Get them excited about your project before you shoot a single frame.

“You can’t win if you don’t get on base.”

Build your base first.

Step 2: Scout Talent Relentlessly

Let’s talk about talent. You don’t need George Clooney or Roger Deakins to make your film great. What you need is the right mix of people.

• Breakthrough actors: Find the relative unknowns who can deliver career-defining performances. These are the actors who will surprise your audience and elevate your story.

• Undiscovered DPs: There are cinematographers out there who have studied, practiced, and honed their craft but haven’t had their big break. Find them. Give them an opportunity.

• Other Key Crew: Editors, Production Designers, Composers: These are the key creatives who will elevate your movie. Find them. Build relationships with them. Be one of the filmmakers who helps make their career.

• Collaborators with vision: The best team members aren’t just skilled—they’re passionate about your project.

• If they win, you win: If anyone on your team is rewarded for their work on your film, that's a win. You don't have to win Best Picture, Best Director or Best Screenwriter to have a successful and great movie. Celebrate the success of your team as if it was your own... Even more actually.

Scouting talent costs nothing. It just takes time, effort, and a willingness to look beyond the obvious choices.

Step 3: Simplify Your Production

What if you had to make your movie with a crew of five people?

• A camera operator.

• A sound person.

• Two assistants.

• You.

What’s possible with just that? What locations could you simplify? What parts of your script could you streamline?

Start small. Plan it out. Then, and only then, scale up strategically. Need a stunt coordinator for a fight scene? Add them. But don’t start with bloat.

Blumhouse built its empire on this principle: lean teams, focused stories, and smart use of resources.

Step 4: Market Like a Madman

Jim Cummings (Thunder Road) and Dan Mirvish (Between Us) didn’t wait for audiences to find them. They went to the audience.

• Show up where your audience is. If you’re making a spy movie, find forums, clubs, or podcasts for spy fans. If it’s a sports drama, go to events.

• Be creative. Forget billboards and Super Bowl ads. Think grassroots campaigns, niche influencers, and direct engagement.

• Be consistent. Marketing isn’t a one-time blast. It’s a daily habit.

“It’s a process. It’s a process. It’s a process.”

Final Thought: Be the Runt That Wins

Independent film isn’t about competing with Hollywood. It’s about doing what Hollywood can’t.

Play small to go big. Scout relentlessly. Build your audience. Tell stories that matter.

Because the cavalry isn’t coming. But we don’t need them.

We’ve got everything we need. We’ve got you.

Now go make something extraordinary.

Have a great Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

Anthony (He/Him)

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Ways to Work With Me

1. ​Monthly Coaching: To help you get unstuck in a script, your marketing plan or movie launch, etc.
2. ​Consultation Calls: Great for Pitch Deck reviews, script discussions, pep talks.
3. ​"Scratch to Screen": A guided 52 week email and live coaching course.
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Watch and Support My Previous Work

"13 Miles" a Telefilm grant recipient, is now available to watch!

Upcoming Projects

"The Quiet Canadians", a feature movie about skilled Canadian operatives who are trained in the elimination of local and foreign targets, is in development. Click here for more information​

"Xing'er: Origins", a feature film about a family's fight for survival against a deadly sect of assassins, is in development. Click here to find out more.​

See more of our projects in development by checking out our website.​
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