January is GONE. Have you started your project?

I have four quick announcements for IPG members:

1. The FilmPod/DBO project remains on target for this spring. We are reaching out to independent films to join FilmPod as we speak. IPG general members will have discounts on all FilmPod services, Full Members will have their own FilmPod for free. We may be expanding the FilmPod platform to include a film fund. We are exploring this with investors and film promoters now. No promises yet, but I will confirm that IPG membership will be required to qualify.

2.  We Still Need Positions Filled - we need admin assistants, grant writers, and mentors/instructors for the rapidly expanding PUNC program. If you can volunteer to help - you push the 501(c)(3) SSI further towards proper funding. Your donations or your volunteer time are both very, very valuable. Uncharted Freedom is now in post production, and we need all the assistance we can get.

3. BRING ON NEW MEMBERS, UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP. If you bring on 2 general members, we will upgrade your general membership to FULL, and if you are already a FULL member, we will discount your next year’s dues by 66%. Contact me direct at [email protected] with new member inquiries!

4. ANNOUNCEMENT - I and my partner Diamond Monique Washington are now COO and CEO, respectively, of Aeirth Corp. Aerith Corp is producing Avé, the Aerith Visualization Engine. Avé is a new application which brings together a number of post production, and is breaking new ground in quantum computing of VFX. See more at https://aerithai.com. We are very happy to announce this initiative!

Become The Sovereign Filmmaker

For members of the Independent Producers Guild, the recent theatrical performance of Iron Lung echoing across industry trades is a signal fire. Mark Fischbach’s self-financed feature debuted to a staggering $21.5 million globally on a $3 million budget, proving that the traditional gatekeeping fortress can be bypassed entirely. Fischbach did this all without paying mainstream gatekeepers one cent; all without allowing them to use internal accounting to absorb every penny his film made.

See the short summary and full paper at https://independentproducersguild.org/paper-the-sovereign-filmmaker

 Deconstructing the "First-Time" Myth

Mainstream outlets are quick to label Fischbach a "first-time filmmaker" or a "YouTuber playing director," but the reality is far from that. Fischbach is a dedicated professional filmmaker who has spent over a decade mastering the technical, narrative, and logistical demands of the medium. From managing the complex, multi-path production of A Heist with Markiplier (2019) to the high-VFX demands of In Space with Markiplier (2022), he has gathered thousands of hours of professional directorial experience long before Iron Lung . He is a sovereign creator who understands that filmmaking is as much a business as it is an art. By treating his work with industrial rigor, he ensures he can repay investments, generate profit, and—most importantly—maintain the capital to make more films.

 The Dissolution of Distribution Barriers - Global By Default

We are entering a "global-by-default" era. As industry analyst Stephen Follows notes, a bigger market is emerging where audience habits are shifting toward unique, international content, and AI-assisted localization is making dubbing and subtitling transformatively easier. The traditional middlemen who once absorbed production revenues without increasing net profits are becoming obsolete. With global rights deals becoming the norm and digital discovery crossing borders, the path to the audience is shorter than ever.

 The IPG Roadmap to Success

The Independent Producers Guild provides the infrastructure to help you navigate this transition. Whether through SSI Fiscal Sponsorship to attract tax-deductible investment, the PUNC program to manage labor costs, or the FilmPod and Digital Box Office (launching Spring/Summer 2026) to reach fans directly, the tools for sovereignty are in your hands.

 To get your project to the screen, follow our 5-Step Professional Approach:

 1. Conceptualization: Shape ideas into high-concept "Qualifying Productions".

2. Packaging: Use IPG templates and fiscal sponsorship to secure funding.

3. Production: Leverage PUNC-vetted early-career producers, production managers and coordinators to maintain industrial quality.

4. Post-Production: Utilize AI localization to prepare for global discovery.

5. Distribution: Release via theatrical bookers or your own FilmPod channel, leveraged by the Digital Box Office process.

To reach your audience without gatekeepers, employ these 5 Strategic Pillars:

 1. Community Hubs: Use Discord and forums to build "ride-or-die" loyalty early .

2. Transmedia Lore: Expand your film's universe across multiple platforms.

3. Email Independence: Own your data and bypass social media algorithms.

4. Peer Collaboration: Partner with niche influencers for authentic reach.

5. Memetic Marketing: Create high-impact, viral "hooks" in your trailers.

Your Future Starts Now

Mark Fischbach’s method is just one template. It is a call to move forward with your projects NOW. By embracing the business of film and leveraging the IPG’s infrastructure, you can become your own creative force and an inspiration to the independent space.

 (https://independentproducersguild.org/join-the-independent-poducers-guild) to secure your seat in the next wave of cinema.