In this episode, Chris and Jason talk about whether or not every Independent Film can be profitable and what opportunities exist along the way to increase the probability of profitability.
About the MAKE IT Podcast The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry. Our Filmmaker Conversations with industry professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey. Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive. Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content. The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better. The Film Investment series is a conversational series of 52 episodes geared towards the would-be film investor. Each episode, facilitated via a friendly conversation between hosts and friends Christopher Barkley and Jason McConnell, highlights a unique aspect of the film investment process. In addition to being a great resource for film investors, it serves as a reference for filmmakers regarding the many considerations that must be made when seeking film investment.
Updated: Aug 24, 2021
"If somebody says to me today, "Brandon, specifically what is it that you want?", I have the confidence to answer that without being afraid of not achieving it."
- Brandon Hirsch, Actor/Producer/Writer
Brandon is a handsome, talented, successful, working actor. His filmography boasts 29 past films, three in production, and three in development. We had the pleasure of working with him on our film Adult Interference where he mastered his role and performed as a consummate professional. Imagine our surprise when he revealed to us that one of his biggest challenges as a filmmaker was confidence. Confidence? Really? Brandon?
By his own admission, Brandon says that he is still making up for lost time in his career because of a lack of confidence in pursuing his goals. Now, it's not that a lack of confidence kept him from working or that it resulted in stage fright when he got in front of a camera. Brandon simply lacked the belief that he could pursue a successful life while pursuing a successful career as an actor.
So many filmmakers believe, as Brandon did, in the idea of the starving artist. It's the belief that creative success is born out of considerable physical and emotional struggle brought about by an intense devotion to one's craft. This mindset affected Brandon's confidence because he did not believe that he could have what he needed and what he wanted at the same time. If starving was the way, then how could he possibly consider a different path?
A limiting belief is a state of mind or conviction that you believe to be true but holds you back in some way. It could be about yourself, your interactions with others, or how the world works around you. These beliefs cause you to create artificial boundaries for yourself based on preconceived notions that you've blindly adopted as your own. It's only when you confront or are confronted by the fallacy in your conviction that you are able to overcome it.
In Brandon's case, he witnessed the trajectory of others who didn't succumb to this limiting belief about the starving artist. He saw them rise beyond the struggle because they refused to subscribe to it. It was then that Brandon realized that his lack of confidence was self-inflicted and that, though he needed to work hard, he didn't need to struggle to find success. Brandon is a family man, a home owner, and a successful actor. He finds success in his life because he has the confidence to achieve it and he knows that no one else can define his path for him.
This is a wonderful lesson for the entire filmmaking community. Limiting beliefs about what we cannot or should not be while in pursuit of our dreams do nothing but hold us back and take years away from the lives we could have had. It's time to confront these beliefs, seek evidence to the contrary, take our power back, and step into our greatest potential. It's time to put the idea of the starving artist behind us.
I have to thank Brandon for his insightful words and for sharing his experiences with us on the MAKE IT podcast. If you'd like to see Brandon at work, you can check him out as Officer Wilson in Adult Interference.
As always,
Be Better. Be Creative. Be Engaged.
In this episode, Chris and Jason talk about the leverage your project needs to be "in the black" and the variety of ways that Indie Films can be successful.
About the MAKE IT Podcast The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry. Our Filmmaker Conversations with industry professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey. Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive. Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content. The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better. The Film Investment series is a conversational series of 52 episodes geared towards the would-be film investor. Each episode, facilitated via a friendly conversation between hosts and friends Christopher Barkley and Jason McConnell, highlights a unique aspect of the film investment process. In addition to being a great resource for film investors, it serves as a reference for filmmakers regarding the many considerations that must be made when seeking film investment.