Indie Filmmaking: Truth & Reality
Why the Indie Film Business Has Never Worked
August 20, 2025 · 28 min
Why listen
The indie film business was never working, and this episode explains exactly why that is.
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In this episode
- Why treating filmmaking as pure art leads to an unsustainable career
- How marketing, distribution, and finance fit into a filmmaker's job
- What big studios do differently to balance creativity and business
- How to find collaborators who cover the business skills you lack
About this episode
In this solo episode, Jeff Deverett unpacks a bold but honest take: the indie film business isn’t broken—because it’s never truly worked in the first place. Jeff dives deep into why indie filmmakers often fail to build sustainable careers, focusing on one crucial oversight: ignoring the business side of filmmaking.Key takeaways:● The difference between indie filmmaking and the indie film business● Why treating filmmaking purely as art is unsustainable● The essential role of marketing, distribution, and finance● How big studios succeed by balancing creativity and business strategy● Why indie filmmakers need to build teams with complementary skill sets● Practical advice for aligning with business-minded collaborators
Whether you're a student, first-time filmmaker, or seasoned creative, this episode is packed with valuable insights on how to survive.—and thrive—as a career indie filmmaker.
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About Indie Filmmaking: Truth & Reality
Film school taught you how to make a movie—this show teaches you how to get it financed and distributed. In bite-sized 30-minute episodes, filmmaker and distribution expert Jeff Deverett gives you the real-world advice film schools leave out.
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