Challenges & Opportunities in 2025!

Disasters, Disruptive Tech & Regime Change!

To say the very least, it has been an eventful start to the new year. But despite natural disasters, several declared “state of emergency” events, disruptive tech advancements, and a regime change, the IPG has progressed already. We have experienced a surge in membership, and in recognition from both mainstream and independent filmmakers. Since the spring of 2024, when the IPG took over 501(c)(3) Stage And Screen Innovations and appointed IPG member Diamond Monique Washington as it’s first Artistic Director, t Guild has experienced a steadily rising profile. We are now reaching more independent filmmakers, and finally getting positive energy from the industry at large. This, in turn, has enabled us to solidify our structure for the Producing Unique New Creators and the Virtual Theatrical programs. It has helped us to lay the groundwork for the upcoming FilmPod platform, work on Guild pension & health programs, and much more.

Many of you know that I have been working on the Warner Brothers lot since mid-December, 2024. I can tell you that, despite the strange start to 2025, the mood among independent and mainstream filmmakers alike is that this year is the year that independent film producers begin taking their rightful place in the industry. I have been saying for years that the MPA studios and their affiliates and subsidiaries are on the edge of an unavoidable downturn that will see them decline, if not dissolve entirely. Since last fall and especially since December, for the first time, I have had this opinion echoed by major studio people, sometimes to me directly. Across the board, the opinion is that the mainstream industry must restructure and downsize if it is to survive at all.

This brings serious challenges to those filmmakers who have relied on the recent economic model where creators only sell their services to the studios. The practical ability to do that is becoming more limited every day.

But for those who insist on creating our own film expression, who will not wait for the lottery ticket of studio recognition, our time is NOW. NOW is your moment to step out and enter the entrepreneurial world of independent film producing. Now is the time to embrace the fact that professionals take charge and don’t seek validation from the rest of their industry before creating their product. If, for example, Elon Musk had taken his concept for Tesla and asked other vehicle manufacturer their opinion on whether it was good or not, marketable or not, he would still be revising proposals and ideas for other companies who had no skin in his game, and who viewed him as quaint at best, a potential competitor at worst. Yet, that is the specific process which independent filmmakers are encouraged to follow.

The IPG does not encourage that. We do encourage you stepping out and creating your film. We are here for those of you who don’t ask for permission to create your vision. Those who step out and do what they need to do to get their film to market and to own it outright are the future of the industry. In 2025, you and I are the industry.

The IPG has created the PUNC program to help you to do that. We have published the ONLY industry handbook for producers ever created, and will have a greatly expanded second edition out late this spring. We are creating the FilmPod platform to help you reach a global market and make more money without paying gatekeepers homage or money.

Join me NOW in making this industry work for you and for those coming up behind you.

JOIN US AT THE VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE IN MARCH

We have told you a lot about the upcoming Virtual Open House. Attend there to learn about the IPG, about Stage And Screen Innovations, get some free industry-specific seminars in, and network with your fellows.

Virtual Open House is every day at 11:30am Pacific March 17 through 21, 2025. Attendance is FREE but you must sign up for the links! See the calendar, who is speaking, and sign up for the link (it’s free!) at stagescreen.org

Stage And Screen Innovations Needs Your Support NOW.

You’ve been considering getting involved as a volunteer, or you have been holding off on a financial or in-kind donation. Ask yourself - If not now, when, If not you, who will? Never count on someone else doing what you have been called to do. Never delay to tomorrow what you might be able to do today. What you can do today always brings results earlier and greater than when you might intend to do tomorrow.

How to support the IPG and SSI for free:

• Attend the Virtual Open House!

• Subscribe to the SSI YouTube channel @stageandscreeninnovations

• Follow the SSI Instagram page @stageandscreeninnovation

• Follow the IPG Instagram page @independentproducers

• Like & share our social media posts (it DOES make a difference to the algorithm)

• Share our newsletters

• Tell everyone about the upcoming FREE Virtual Open House

• Volunteer your time to help out with research, posting, graphic design, mentoring or more - even a couple hours in a week is a great help. Contact Shadow Dragu-Mihai with anything you might be inspired to assist with!

• Donate your unused items (SSI can use certain items, and your donation might actually qualify for a tax receipt under IRS rules - contact us if you have something gathering dust to see if the organization can use it).

 And of course, if you are able to help out SSI with financial gifts of any level, find out how at https://stagescreen.org/donations

The SSI/IPG leadership will be available in our offices in Los Angeles again beginning February 7, 2025.

Keep well, keep safe and keep moving forward!