[Archive - Thriving Filmmaker 1.0]
Build a financially sustainable career in independent documentary film
This course is closed for enrollment.
Your success doesn't only depend on learning how to craft a film -- getting the shot, learning to edit, having the right lenses.
You need to learn and practice the business side of filmmaking too.
This class is designed to give you an inside look at how different filmmakers pay themselves, set up their operations, fund their films, and build careers over decades -- including examples of *both* new models (like crowdfunding, niche-distribution, and building a personal audience) and traditional models that are still very relevant today (like grant funding, the festival route, and through distribution).
If you have a 9-to-5 and are side hustling, are a student, are an aspiring filmmaker, or are a freelancer working on a passion project while taking side gigs on other people's projects, then this class will help you. You'll learn how to go from struggling filmmaker jumping from project to project, to a focused and visionary filmmaker working on projects you love. (100% of my income -- including retirement, healthcare, and benefits -- comes from doing what I love most in doc films.)
By the end of this course you'll have a plan (and specific tools) to help you confidently build your career so you're able to tell stories that matter most to you, while also confidently pitching your work, negotiating, and earning a living that lets you go on a real vacation once in awhile.
If you're ready to start now, you can binge the whole thing in one weekend (the entire syllabus is below). You'll learn what it took me 6 years to learn, but in less than a weekend. This is a self-paced course so you can put it down and pick it up on your own time and it will be a reference for you forever. So you can always refer back to the sample emails, templates, and tools whenever you need them.
All for less than the cost of a weekend lens rental or dinner for two. #win!
"This course has helped me determine and understand what my financial needs are, what the services I offer are worth and how to confidently negotiate to reach my financial goals with each project."
- Michelle, Documentary Filmmaker/Editor
You'll learn:
- How most successful documentary filmmakers pay themselves and how to apply that to your work
- How to negotiate confidently and pitch effectively
- How to proactively build a thriving body of work and lay the foundation for your career
- How to make money with *both* new models (like crowdfunding, niche-distribution, and building a personal audience) and traditional models that are still very relevant today (like grant funding, the festival route, and through distribution)
- For freelancers: how to set & earn a thriving rate
- and more!
- Create a funding & distribution strategy (with a template as a starting point)
- Ask for help from people who are more experienced — like mentors and advisors
- Determine and understand what your financial needs are
- Set-up a stress-free personal & business budget
- For freelancers: define your services so you attract more clients and reach your financial goals with each project
- and more!
"Thank you for bringing fun, hope and positivity to such a heavy subject.
I entered your class feeling defeated and left feeling abundant and empowered."
-Barbara
This course is closed for enrollment.
You'll GET
Course:
- 5 Modules + 1 Bonus Module
- 15 Lessons -- each lesson contains a video lesson
- Over 5 hours of video lessons
- Over 30 resources
- A convenient status bar, so you can track your progress
- Business structure case studies of how different filmmakers pay themselves and set up their operations
- A list of simple admin tools (for project management, tracking time, invoicing, bookkeeping, etc.)
- Email scripts for reaching out to partners, mentors, advisors, and others
- Templates for creating your budget and distribution strategy (linked as Google Docs that you can download as a PDF or Word file, or copy to your own Google Drive to edit)
- and more!
This is what it looks like after you enroll:
“I have no savings, at all! I have a mountain of debt too!
This course was just what I needed. I have more financial clarity to draw up goals than I have ever had before.
Excellent information and resources!”
— Jackie
This course is closed for enrollment.
Your Instructor
Hi! I’m Ani Mercedes (she/her), Founder, C.E.O., and Impact Producer at Looky Looky Pictures, as well as a "gate-opener" and educator.
I’m obsessed with empowering independent filmmakers in reaching their most passionate audience! We’ve worked with hundreds of filmmakers around the world to implement, advise, and guide them on their impact production efforts for their film.
We work with stories that go beyond empathy; that aim to participate in the transformational work of building solidarity with (rather than for) the communities they hope to serve.
I hope this knowledge is super helpful to you! Enjoy!
"Ani, I wish you were an app on my phone!"
-Eric
This course is closed for enrollment.
Syllabus
All modules, lessons, and objectives
Module 1: Lay the Foundation for Your Thriving Career
1.1) How to Proactively Build a Thriving Body of Work
- Identify your top 3 career goals
- Identify 3 ways to generate income that align with your goals
- Reflect on whether your current projects lead to sustainably thriving
1.2) The 7 Stages of Effective Pitching
- Identify 7 Stages of Effective Pitching
1.3) Write Your Personal & Project Pitch
- Write a short personal pitch
- Write a short project pitch
- Write 1 specific ask
1.4) 4 Funding & Distribution Models
- Identify 4 Funding & Distribution Models
- Reflect on which model may fit your work best so you can intentionally build relationships
Resource: 8 Funding & Distribution Case Studies
Resource: Create your Funding & Distribution Strategy, with Template
Resource: Budget Templates and Examples
Module 2: Building a Thriving Team
- Identify how to build connections with mentors and peers
- Identify where and when to build connections with mentors and peers
- Take actions that build connections
- Identify 3 new mentors or peers and write to them
- Thank 1 mentor from your past with an update
- Join a community (local, national, international, or virtual)
2.2) How to Talk about Money with the People in Your film
- Reflect on varied approaches and examples from notable directors
- Be proactive: Reflect on what to say
Module 3: Building Thriving Relationships
- Identify Win-Wins when building Partnerships
- Where to find Partners
- How to connect with Partners
- Examples and Case Studies
3.2) Your Audience & Crowdfunding
- Identify Win-Wins when building an audience & crowdfunding
- Where to find a film's audience
- How to connect with audiences
- Examples and Case Studies
- Identify Win-Wins when building funder relationships
- Where to find funders
- How to connect with funders
- Examples and Case Studies
Module 4: Nuts & Bolts: Set up Thriving Operations
4.1) Where the Magic (can!) Happen: Simple Admin Tools
- Identify your core administrative activities
- Select tools for each activity
Resource: 15+ Magically Simple Admin Tools
4.2) Organizational Structures: Nonprofits, LLC's, and Taxes, Oh my!
- Be able to describe why organizational structures are used
- Recognized two common organizational structures
- Have resources to help you set up yours
Module 5: Real Talk: Freelance for Freedom (not for free)
5.1) Define Your Services: What do you do?
- Outline your Services
- Identify the Features
- Identify the Benefits
- Reflect on how to package your services
5.2) Attract More Clients: Who do you want to work with?
- Identify 2 key characteristics
- Outline where to find them
- Select a way to track clients
- Challenge: Sell to 3 clients
5.3) Your Rate Part 1: How to Set & Earn a Thriving Rate
- Set financial goals -- Set a 3-scenario money goal and set a time goal
- Choose your rate
5.4) Your Rate Part 2: How to Raise Your Rate & Stop Working for Free
- Negotiate confidently
- Stop working for free -- create your Free(dom) Rubric
[BONUS] Stress-Free Budgeting for Filmmakers
6.1) Set up an Automated Stress-Free Personal & Business Budget
- Review why Automation > Motivation
- Have the knowledge and tools to set up an automated personal (and business) budget
Survey results:
Would you recommend the class to a friend?
100% said Yes :)
How satisfied were you on a scale from 1 to 10 -- 10 being the highest?
9.8 out of 10 :)