"So many people have good ideas but they're afraid to execute them."
- Lee Abrams, Co-Founder of XM Radio
Lee Abrams has done it. Time and time again he's done it. He co-founded XM Radio, he transformed the album-oriented rock music format, and he has consulted over a thousand radio stations across the country. Of all of the advice he could offer the creative community, he keeps it simple by imploring creatives to do one thing: AFDI: Actually Fucking Do It.
But isn't that easier said than done? Isn't it hard to do it? Aren't there just too many obstacles to making it in this industry?
Well, Lee doesn't seem to believe that at all. He tells us that, as a creative, "you need to let your creative batting average climb." He wants us to understand that we're not going to hit every ball, but the few that we do hit will more than make up for the many that we don't. The first step is to just swing.
Far too many filmmakers create obstacles to their own success by not creating and taking enough chances. We see this most often with filmmakers who put life on hold while chasing their next big feature film. This singular magnum opus consumes all of their time and energy while leaving them batting .000. The opportunity cost to chasing but not creating is that filmmakers become invisible to the industry as well as to their would-be supporters.
We stand behind Lee and implore the filmmaking community to AFDI. Actually Fucking Do IT by making short films to express your creativity and show off your filmmaking talents. Short films may not feel as glamorous as features, but they are the gateway to financing, partnerships, endorsements, and sponsors because they showcase what you're capable of creating, the audiences you're capable of mobilizing, and the quality you're capable of delivering. The support you need comes with the proof that you provide. The more you can show, the more business you'll get.
A perfect example of this is Ben Proudfoot of Breakwater Studios. Ben has made a career out of Actually Fucking Doing It. His batting average improves year after year as his masterfully hand-crafted short documentaries and narrative films impress and engage audiences around the globe. Ever since his directorial debut, Dinner with Fred, Ben has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to AFDI. He has directed 35 films, been nominated for an Academy Award, won an Emmy, and has partnered with some of the most iconic brands in the world. He is the perfect example of what happens when a filmmaker decides to do what they love and not simply aspire to it. He also proves that success as a creative may take many different forms but it all starts with the desire and drive to make great art.
It's an honor to share the virtual room with the entertainment legend and visionary Lee Abrams. We can't wait to see how he re-envisions Video News and reimagines the live music experience. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for his work in the coming months and will look forward to speaking with him again.
As always,
Be Better. Be Creative. Be Engaged. (And AFDI.)
Updated: Jun 30, 2022
In this final episode of the Film Investment Series, Chris and Jason talk about when to use your gut and when to use the investment playbook, and why investing in your brand is a win-win, even if you're not profitable.
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 Conversations with filmmaking 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.
Chris and Nick talk about the stacked deck experience for Indie Filmmakers at most Festivals, Addison Rae's Netflix deal and how Indie actors can best respond, and why stronger unions might prevent IATSE members from getting their protest demands.
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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 Conversations with filmmaking 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.