How A Filmmaker Puts Financial Freedom In Their Own Hands - Joston Ramon Theney

[@filmcourage]

Here is our full interview with Joston - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqG2hIWgiMdrY80

[@beyondcinema]

This is what I’ve been doing. Making movies under $100k and build your own following and community to support. Great advice for indie filmmakers

[@SkreetVisionMedia]

I wad thinking the same thing

[@justmy5984]

What do you do if you just write scripts? Is it more profitable to shoot the script or sell the script?

[@alvingray2004]

Speaking from experience , I saw this video 2 years ago, and it meant nothing, came across it again in 2023 summer. And he spoke on EVERYTHING I experienced. This video is 1000 percent on point !

[@filmcourage]

Great to see this video find you again Alvin! Our best to you and your work!

[@demonizer133]

This guy is a well of knowledge and sheds light on a too-often ignored aspect of filmmaking: the marketing! The distribution! As if making a film isn't hard enough on its own...once it's finished, it's almost like, the REAL work begins: finding an audience 😅 This is really eye-opening for us who have dreams of entering the industry.

[@GlennRRB]

Today I work full time as an indie game developer and my experience with Google Play for example is exactly what he says. Having your game at GP is not enough. You need traction, you need to create a community little by little and paid marketing is a great way to start this. With a bit of investment, and a good product, you will get your money back and you can keep reinvesting until you have a solid audience for future releases. Unless youre lucky and have a great hit that drives thousands of organic players (which I had the luck to have at some point), its a rough and slow run. You need to keep working on it! Dont let this slow start get to you. IMHO almost nobody get to success on their first film/game!

[@theherrdark4834]

If you remove all the legacy/franchise games from the consoles would they have anything left to play? To me it seems that there is rarely anything new. It seems the more original or new games are found through platforms like google play.

[@power50001562]

@@theherrdark4834 the new stuff is all on PC

[@stickynorth]

One of the most enlightening interviews on the subject I've seen in a while especially in the context of Tubi and why indie filmmakers love it and why so much of the content on there is new, art films... It's personally my favorite platform because it's free and the ad breaks are really short especially when compared to Amazon Prime which decided to insert ads into its lowest tiers anyway whether you like it or not yet you're still playing to subscribe at ever higher rates...

[@infinitymediaproductions4350]

I MORE than appreciate Film Courage & Joston for their time and information. I have gained a TON of knowledge. I bow to you guys...thank you.

[@filmcourage]

Great to hear! Love that you are finding value in these videos!

[@101Exit]

I feel like watching this just saved my future feature film. Thank you so much for all this great information! Times are a changing.

[@FranHarrisU]

This is Tyler Perry’s earlier model. - less than 100k for those plays. Cut to: a billon dollars.🎉 Great stuff. This is EXACTLY what I’m doing - some budgets a little higher but mostly 100K-250K. Let’s go, filmmakers! Unlimited! Shooting a - one location film - tomorrow! 😎🙌🏽

[@mikekillagreen9432]

Amen!

[@moelynch]

This is THEEEE channel that breaks a lot of myths in the industry and helps bring perspective to those still looking for their big break. That would be dope if we got a few interviews from Oscar nominated or Oscar winning filmmakers. I always wanted to know what happens the following week after the Oscars. Does your phone ring off the hook or crickets?

[@VangelisFilms]

@FilmCourage I can get you connected to Barney Burman - won an Oscar for SFX makeup on Chris Pine’s Star Trek 👍. We rep his directorial debut “Barney Burman’s Wild Boar”

[@WordsPictures997]

Thank you so much Joston for being soooo generous in this interview. Film Courage you've really gone over and above with the most recent interviews giving insight on profitable distribution options for independent filmmakers. My mind is absolutely blown 🤯. I'm learning soooo much.

[@filmcourage]

We are doing our best. It's ever evolving. We love to see different filmmakers figuring it out and sharing their insights to help others.

[@WordsPictures997]

@@filmcourage could you please share the spelling for the platform "tubie" that he mentioned? Trying to Google it.

[@filmcourage]

tubitv.com/home

[@WordsPictures997]

@@filmcourage THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@treasuretroves5497]

So very realistic for those whose heads are in the clouds, like me. Thank u so much. So much truthfulness. Disillusionment.

[@ChrisLeRose]

I love this man. His interviews have so much juice.

[@phoenixr6811]

Love the variety of topics on this channel 👍🏾👌🏾

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for watching!

[@lifeenvironments]

Wonderful insight. Joston's insights are applicable across many business models including music. Success today is about leveraging viewer relationships and not hope. This reality changes the rules profoundly. Streaming and free has killed many things, and continues to do so. Music, newspapers, and film are largely worthless before they are created now. Creators today must focus on new thinking about the value propositions they provide viewers. I personally see film as becoming more about community than the extinct benefits of the deprecated studio system. The truth is communities are harder to develop but are less transient than traditional audiences and can be leveraged again and again when engaged and treated well. With this in mind, there are opportunities to be had for those willing to develop innovative brand and personal relationships with their audiences, but it's hard. Rest assured the business model has changed, the model is liquid and we know far too little about increasingly factionalized viewers these days.

[@TristanBarrocks]

Thanks!

[@filmcourage]

Thank you so much Tristan! It's great to have Joston share this information with us and our viewers. We hope this one serves you well. We appreciate you supporting our channel.

[@rodrickwimberly3245]

Grateful for your insight and transparency to the independent film community. Thank you so much! I'm now looking up all of your movies :)

[@ndabenhlemhlongo7231]

One of the most insightful interview. It talks to the very heart and atom of being sustainable and surviving in this industry. A learned a lot

[@NoctLightCloud]

this is what youtube is for!

[@TeacherRaf]

This gentleman's experience is golden for rookies.

[@dario-digiovanni]

Unfortunately tubi TV is not available in Italy, the tubi website says is about EU laws. I guess that with a VPN is possible to bypass that, but it's probably against their policy lol. Which platforms would be available for films from Europe? I think tubi won't available in the UK too.. I am not making films yet, however I am doing some studies on the whole process start to finish and this channel is by far the best place for information on the topic.

[@bubbadogproductions7403]

This sounds pretty much what we do as far budget marketing so on, where we find it gets hard is seeing 600K to 700K views on a single platform and getting anywhere from .003 per view to .18 per view. it takes a hell of a lot of energy and time to recover 120K . I have 3 features out they all seem to be doing ok but its a up hill battle and the platforms are the ones making the money not to mention distributors who I would try to avoid unless you have a "good one"

[@filmcourage]

Which parts of this conversation are most valuable to you?

[@zenmasterwannabe]

The distribution/marketing info, I was one of those who believed what he used to believe, until now. 😶

[@kevinbillington9773]

Too many pearls of wisdom, to pick one out. I am saving this one.

[@filmcourage]

@@kevinbillington9773 Great to hear Kevin!

[@davywilliams8048]

AWESOME INFO. Remember: Stay under 100k budget if you don't have big names. If you have a big name, could go to 250k, but should use a good portion of that for marketing. The distributor rarely helps with marketing.

[@mikekillagreen9432]

Great interview. This guy really knows his stuff. Great questions and follow-up questions.

[@pootmcphoot]

Really like these longer videos

[@parler8698]

I like this guy and the useful information he's sharing.

[@gckreplayzjr.1871]

Great content! ❤❤❤❤ Thank you!

[@filmcourage]

Which streaming platforms are your movies performing best on right now?

[@hunsakermedia]

KZbin and Amazon Prime seem to do the best so far for mine but I haven't dabbled too much in others

[@zionleach3001]

@Film Courage can you do a video on how to write action-horror like Dog Soldiers and Aliens?

[@filmcourage]

Hi Zion, we appreciate your feedback and support. We are releasing a video on the first 10 pages of a horror screenplay this Sunday at 5pm. We are not sure if your question may be too specific for us to do a video on but we will certainly keep it in mind for a future video.

[@zionleach3001]

@@filmcourage Thanks. I was just wondering if you could balance horror and action like aliens and Dog Soldiers.

[@BobbyAshleyProductions]

Our series The Ave is currently streaming on Prime Video and Tubi

[@DonovanJamesOfficial]

Huge gem dropped on this one. Thank you.

[@filmcourage]

We're glad this one found you!

[@adamethancrow]

Great chat thanks you Film Courage and of course Joston.

[@TomGist]

I learn from every video you post, truly appreciate your channel and ALL your guest. As an independent film maker this is EVERYTHING 🎬 #BetterDaysTheMovie

[@filmcourage]

Thanks Tom! There are so many great resources available to all of us. Love that you are finding value here. Best of luck with 'Better Days.'

[@MichaelGyori]

I'd really like to see his budget breakdown for films he's making for $100k and less.

[@UsurpersAndAssassins]

Wow. This was incredibly informative and helpful.

[@marilyncolon8696]

Another great interview!

[@filmcourage]

Agreed Marilyn! We had a great interview with Joston. Probably one of our favorites.

[@VangelisFilms]

Great video, great insights! All SO true!

[@ELLERHAUSRE]

Where can you research movies or for example: I want to do a 2-3 episodes of a mini series. I’d love to be able to compile data to see potential profit and then know how to market to an audience.

[@RealTalkWithSochi-qv7gy]

Someone is finally thinking my direction

[@Matt_Mosley1983]

*Thanks. I'd not heard of TUBI*

[@marcosmenescal2962]

Thank you for the great content! From what I understand, it seems that producers earn less from films than distribution companies do. Is that correct?

[@jennifermarieakajmarie8992]

This channel is the best

[@TheMutatedChannel]

This interview was very insightful, thank you

[@zarianh]

So Awesome and informative. Thanks a ton!

[@rayfordgibson6257]

Great information 👍🏾😉🎥

[@jvhfilms]

I really appreciate this knowledge!

[@davemakesmagic]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@LifewithShamanda]

Great points! So true.

[@nyjets238]

Great video. Really informative. Thanks!

[@Roman-ji3fe]

Exactly people be waiting around for studios when they should film there’s own movies and put them online

[@BenJaminn90]

I feel his passion

[@sincereiam]

Great advice. Thank you.

[@SuBeKuTah]

So distributor is like publishing house: no big use for marketing, so you can as well do it all yourself and cash in more?

[@bramzwingli]

Tubi is where all films I've produced are on

[@leandra5248]

Thank you for posting because I want to know. Do you make decent money? My next question is it better to put your film on Tubi or KZbin?

[@marctetreault306]

What is the 2B platform they are talking about?

[@filmcourage]

Tubi - tubitv.com/category/most_popular (free movies with commercials)

[@ergopooka]

Great info

[@joshuachigumira4064]

People talking about thousand or million. My boi says a hundred, $100 is what I'm hearing😁

[@nonenone9338]

🤣

[@LostOnesCinema]

😂😂

[@zenmasterwannabe]

I have a question. Can you make a video (or direct me to one you've made) where it is discussed how to write a screenplay in a way where the final product (produced film) will remain as close to the script I hand them as possible? Basically making a studio/director/producer/actor/etc-friendly script for the least amount of re-writes as possible to maintain the integrity of the story and scenes while leaving room open on purpose in areas of MY choice for their interpretation? It's based on a true story. Sorry I had to post this here because I dont have Facebook, Insta or Twitter and your website blocked me for some reason when I tried contacting you there.

[@Matt_Mosley1983]

Sadly, you'll have to establish yourself as a director so that you can attach yourself to your own scripts in order to have final say as every director will want certain ideas changed to their ideas. (This is why I'm not looking to sell my comedies but make them myself)

[@purrgundy]

@@Matt_Mosley1983 Or an executive producer. In the end, producers always have the upper hand on the director's vision of the script.

[@Matt_Mosley1983]

@@purrgundy Too true ☹️

[@Veypurr1]

This a good video, very informative.

[@filmcourage]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@frontrowins]

Good interview

[@rolfskytte]

Hi folks, how do you spell tube? Tubee? 2b?

[@Impwright553]

Tubi

[@rolfskytte]

@@Impwright553 thanks!

[@connorcolebrook9800]

My guy

[@andreparadise]

😮great stuff

[@282investmentgroup3]

I'm seeking next project to direct

[@khaliljibran999]

Great content

[@filmcourage]

Thanks Khalil!

[@Hyporama]

when he says 100, I'm assuming thousand. Right?

[@filmcourage]

Indeed

[@avtpro]

100 what? 100M or K? I don't have any relative reference. Thx.

[@bognajordan4977]

I’d say 100k, you can make a pretty good movie on that. 100m? I don’t think any indie could even gather as much.

[@filmcourage]

100K

[@ahart228]

100 k or 100 million?

[@evanward3964]

100k

[@leuestudios]

If filmmakers need to drive their own traffic they why would filmmakers even bother putting up their films for TVOD on any platform other then their own websites? AVOD is a different story but TVOD, forget iTunes, prime etc for TVOD!

[@MLFilmss]

Is he saying $100 or $100k?

[@themightyflog]

How do I make back 100k?

[@tinstargames]

A hundred cents right? Right?

[@Healthy_Stuff279]

This guy uses terms like 100 and 250. I'm assuming that is 100,000 and 250,000, and those are the costs of his movies... especially since nobody makes a movie for 250 million dollars... 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@filmcourage]

Yes, $100,000 and $250,000.

[@Healthy_Stuff279]

@@filmcourage cool. Thanks. Good content, by the way... 👍

[@elizabethchevrie2494]

What is this mans name?

[@filmcourage]

Joston Ramon Theney

[@tinstargames]

What film is he talking about putting on Toobi?

[@tonyrobinson8050]

Under a hundred what? What amount of money is he talking about?

[@filmcourage]

$100,000

[@markguitarlfk]

Tough way to make a living, if anyone involved in a $100K film is actually making a living.

[@KEP1983]

Okay. And where do you get $100,000 to spend on a film? Lol

[@filmcourage]

Here are some ways - bit.ly/3Mq0H2v

[@darviniusb]

You seriously bring these people to give us advices ? Wanton Want : 4/10 imdb Axeman : 3/10 Jurassic Hunt : 2/10 No thank you. Is already to much garbage out there.

[@anisraho8928]

this is not art critic video, it's about the money stuff

[@nonenone9338]

🤣

[@michaelcalles6824]

You seriously can't use the language/spell. LOL SMH

[@HakimFilmmaker]

How do you even get a curator, where do we find them? is there a curator hub or database? This is very helpful info from this gentleman. Thx @filmcourage

[@mackross3911]

Thanks!

[@filmcourage]

Great to see you finding such value here Mack! Thank you so much for giving back and supporting this channel!