The Indie Coach

Your Film Does Not Have a Funding Problem. It Has a Risk Problem.

Your film may not have a funding problem. It may have a risk problem.
In this episode, Ron breaks down a practical roadmap for moving a film from its highest-risk starting point toward full financing. You’ll learn how to raise development capital, build meaningful leverage, cross the 30% funding tipping point, secure the right attachments, and approach strategic partners when your project is ready.
Stop chasing the entire budget at once. Start reducing risk and building momentum.Get your FREE 15-minute Discovery call, and lets get your film made!
Head over to Ron Newcomb — The Indie Coach | Film Business Coach for Indie Filmmakers

Stop Pitching Your Film Too Early

Talking to investors too early could actually make your film harder to fund.
The industry tells filmmakers to start networking immediately. But conversations without leverage often lead to silence, rejection, and burned opportunities.
So, when should you approach potential partners? The answer may be later than you think.
Listen to learn what you need in place before making that call.
Listen before you make your next call to an investor, producer, or potential partner.
What leverage does your film currently have? Let me know by posting on my social media.

You do not have to live in Hollywood to build a serious screenwriting career, but you do need to create leverage.

In this episode of the Indie Coach Podcast, filmmaker and screenwriter Clint Ross shares how he built momentum from outside the traditional Hollywood system and secured both management and agency representation.
Clint breaks down the real work behind getting noticed, from screenplay competitions and platforms like Roadmap Writers and The Black List to developing relationships with companies such as Zero Gravity and Citizen Skull. He also explains why getting representation is not the finish line and why writers must continue creating opportunities for themselves.producingroom.com
In this episode, you will learn:
• How screenplay competitions and industry platforms can help create “heat” around your work• The difference between an agent and a manager, and what each can bring to your career• Why living outside Los Angeles does not automatically prevent you from finding representation• What Clint tried that did not work and what finally began opening doors• Why writing on spec and producing your own projects may still be necessary after signing with representation• How to redefine what a “win” looks like as a screenwriter• Why the hustle does not stop once someone agrees to represent you
Clint’s story offers an honest look at the screenwriting business and a reminder that representation is not a rescue plan. It is one more tool that can help you move forward when you have already built something worth supporting.

What Filmmakers Need to Understand About Television with Kristen Ruhlin

In this episode, I sat down with Kristen Ruhlin, a film and television executive, for a great conversation about the world of TV and the broader entertainment industry.
Kristen has been doing an excellent job on TikTok, offering an insider’s perspective on film and television, and I really appreciated the insight, honesty, and experience she brought to this conversation.Kristen Ruhlin | Film/TV Exec (@kristenruhlib) | TikTok
Give the episode a listen, and let me know in the comments what stood out to you. Also, if you have any questions for Kristen or me, drop them below.

Independent filmmakers, stop treating legal like an afterthought.

You can have a great script, a strong cast, a beautiful pitch deck, and real momentum, but one bad contract, unclear rights issue, or handshake deal can put the entire project at risk.
On this episode of The Indie Coach Podcast, I sit down with Jalene Mack, Esq, Entertainment Attorney, to talk about why having an attorney on your team is not just for “big Hollywood.”
Jalene Mack | Attorney , Actress, Author, Speaker – JaleneMack.com
It’s for protecting your project.It’s for protecting your relationships.It’s for protecting your future.
If you’re serious about getting your film made, funded, sold, or distributed, you need to understand where legal support fits into the process.
Filmmaking is creative, but it is also business. Treat it that way.
Listen to the full conversation and make sure your project is protected before the problems show up.
#IndieFilm #Filmmaking #FilmBusiness #EntertainmentLaw #IndieCoach
 

Your Film Isn't For Everyone

Film Marketing and Understanding Your Audience
Most indie filmmakers don’t have a marketing problem - they have an audience clarity problem.
In this episode of The Indie Coach Podcast, we talk about why filmmakers need to know who their film is for before they shoot, raise money, or build a distribution plan.
Because “my film is for everyone” is not a strategy.
We cover why audience clarity affects your title, poster, logline, trailer, investor pitch, and overall marketing plan.
Check out Jordon's site here: FlmLnk
Bottom line:A great film is not enough. You need to know who it’s for, why they care, and how you’re going to reach them.

How can indie filmmakers use AI ethically and still get wins?

AI is not the enemy.
But lazy, careless, unethical use of AI absolutely can be.
In this new episode of The Indie Coach, I talk with Damion Taylor about how filmmakers can use AI ethically for real wins - not shortcuts, not gimmicks, but practical support for the pain points indie filmmakers face every day.
This is also part of a new format for the show.
Instead of broad conversations, we are going to hyper-focus on one specific industry pain point and bring a clear perspective to it.
This episode’s pain point:
How do filmmakers use AI without losing the human element?
We talk about where AI can help, where it can hurt, and why the filmmaker still has to lead the process.
Curious where you land on this:
Is AI a threat to filmmakers, or a tool we need to learn how to use wisely?

Do you have a list of investor?? 'Cause you need one!

You don’t need “one investor.”
You need an investor pool.
 
If you only have a few people to ask, you don’t have a funding strategy - you have hope.
 
In my free webinar, I’ll show you how to start finding and organizing potential investor candidates the right way.
 
Email me: INVESTORS and I’ll send you the details.
ron@theconceptcompass.com 

Most filmmakers are asking the wrong question - my interview with Brad Silverman of Kappa Studios

Most filmmakers are asking the wrong question.It’s not just, “How do I make my movie?”It’s also, “Will this sell... and what happens after it’s finished?”
In my latest podcast episode, I sat down with Brad Silverman to talk about the side of filmmaking too many creatives overlook:
what filmmakers often get wrong
how companies like Kappa can help projects that don’t quite land
whether post, distribution help, insurance, and deliverables are actually within reach
the importance of distribution transparency
how sales reporting and “fancy bookkeeping” really work
and the big question every filmmaker needs to ask:Will this actually sell?
We also touched on the realities of budget, percentages, and what it takes to position a project for the marketplace.
If you’re serious about filmmaking as a business, not just an art form, this conversation is worth your time.
https://kappastudios.com/ 

The Indie Coach Podcast: Lindsey Hughes of PitchMaster.com

Most creators are not thinking big enough about their story.
On the latest episode of The Indie Coach Podcast, I interview Lindsey Hughes of PitchMaster.com about how to pitch your project better and how to take your script and turn it into a book.
We talk pitching, elevator pitches, lookbooks, comps, financials, IP development, and why your story may have more value than just one format.
If you are a filmmaker or writer trying to build something real, this episode is for you.