About a year ago I came across Wes, a young writer-director whose journey proves there is always a way to get a movie made.
He wrote his script while still in college, flew to Los Angeles to raise money through cold outreach, and two days after graduating was already on set filming the movie in his hometown. The entire film was shot in 13 days.
Wes edited the movie himself and designed the full sound landscape. The film became a semi-finalist at the Seattle Film Festival, which brought in seven serious distribution offers.
He turned them all down.
No meaningful minimum guarantees. 40% requested for doing almost nothing.
So he chose the harder, smarter path: self-distribution.
He built his own website, partnered with major Instagram accounts, worked with YouTubers and podcasters for reviews, created merchandise, secured sponsorships, and turned his audience into active supporters instead of passive viewers.
This is what modern independent filmmaking looks like.
Respect to Wes Clark for proving that ownership, creativity, and persistence still matter. Be like Wes.
Things that can actually help filmmakers do this
You can fund a movie through cold outreach by sending clear, honest, direct emails to people who are aligned with your vision, even if you have no prior relationship
Speed and decisiveness matter more than size of budget because momentum creates leverage and progress beats perfection
Creative control matters more than traditional deals because when you own it, you decide, and when you do not, someone else does
Many distribution offers are structurally one-sided, so do not believe distributor promises and always use your own calculator before signing anything
Traditional distribution works best for star-driven films, not for low-budget films that rely on concept and execution
Self-distribution gives filmmakers leverage because when you control your audience, data, and revenue flow, you negotiate from strength and can walk away from bad deals
Merchandise and partnerships expand revenue and create passive income, turning your film into a long-term asset instead of a one-time release
Community beats gatekeepers because gatekeepers used to control access, but filmmakers can now reach audiences directly without asking for permission
Direct relationships with audiences are a real asset and may be the future for filmmakers
Go check out his movie here: https://lnkd.in/eVctm4qT
