Hollywood's on Fire. Let's Roast Marshmallows and Make a Plan
I don't want to repeat myself because (I think) our newsletter copy below does a good job of explaining what we're up to with Future of Filmmaking. And if it doesn't, or you've got other thoughts you'd like to share, I'm available on email (dana@indiewire.com). You can also call/text me at 323-435-7690.
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And! . Tales from the frontlines of what it means to create a career in Hollywood, once a week. I think you'll like it.
We introduce IndieWire's Future of Filmmaking
Why everyone must invent their own entertainment careers
You don't have to do it alone
Hollywood has always been a neurotic industry, but the current anxiety, uncertainty, and job losses are acute. (After President Trump's bizarroworld pronouncement of 100% tariffs on movies produced outside America, what's next? Don't answer that.) Employment in Hollywood has never been easy, but finding and keeping an entertainment job has become a Jenga-like enterprise.
If I were a publicist, my kindest spin might be, 'Challenging.' Or, 'There's never been a better time for creative solutions.' Or, 'No comment.'
However, I'm not a publicist. I'm a journalist who's covered the film and TV business, and independent film in particular, for a long time.
Our take is there is no secret to success in Hollywood. There are thousands of secrets, all of which refuse to conform to anything like a path. IndieWire believes that if we talk to people, hear their secrets and stories, and share their insights, everyone knows a little more and starts to feel a little less alone.
IndieWire created the Future of Filmmaking because while Hollywood (and the U.S.) may be under siege, storytelling matters as much as ever. Entertainment is stories, and stories let us relate, feel, and create change. And while IndieWire believes that the entertainment industry matters, the people who create it matter even more.
Much about Hollywood is unfair, but the great equalizer is even if you went to a top film school, or were lucky enough to have a mentor, you still must figure it out yourself.
That's the truth for agents, actors, production designers, riggers, directors, publicists, and first ADs. Even for the elite few who were born into it. Everyone.
We want Future of Filmmaking to be the resource that can support anyone who wants to write, direct, design, edit, crew, develop, act, produce, and represent.We think it will be particularly useful for:
Students and recent graduates
Early-career professionals
Curious outsiders
Anyone trying to find their way in movies, TV, and content creation
In addition to weekly newsletter In Development (please subscribe!), this is what you can expect from Future of Filmmaking.
Check out our landing page, where you'll find daily posts featuring real-world stories and practical advice from across the industry.
We're very proud to debut our new video franchise, 'What No One Tells You,' in which seasoned pros share lessons and insights direct to camera — starting with 'Dear White People' creator Justin Simien.
The success of our inaugural summit in November 2024 helped us confirm the year-round appetite for Future of Filmmaking. It featured a keynote chat with Sean Baker, a conversation with Pixar creator Mike Jones, and panels on indie distribution, AI, pitching, and more. It was awesome.
Our next Future of Filmmaking summit will be at Cannes Film Festival's The American Pavilion! We'll also bring back our Future of Filmmaking Summit in Los Angeles this fall. (More details soon.)
Hollywood will always be an uncertain industry, but we believe Future of Filmmaking can help people build sustainable careers with honest insights, practical tools, reality checks, and community building.
And we want to hear from you. Yes, you. Your ideas matter more than anything. Email me at dana@indiewire.com. (All correspondence confidential.)
IndieWire began in 1996, back when Hollywood acknowledged independent film as its sexy, shiny second cousin. Today, anyone who wants to be in the weird world of entertainment could do a lot worse than to think like a wily, creative, slightly delusional independent filmmaker.
Welcome to IndieWire's Future of Filmmaking.
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