As the year comes to a close, Garrett Batty and Daren Smith take a step back to reflect—and then look forward.

In this episode of Truly Independent, they break down five practical, non-fluffy goals that independent filmmakers can set to stop spinning their wheels and start building momentum that compounds year after year.

This isn’t about “making one movie.” It’s about building systems that consistently produce films, audiences, income, and opportunity.

They cover:
• Why building a direct audience you control is no longer optional
• How to develop projects with distribution in mind from day one
• The overlooked importance of diversifying income to protect creativity
• How to intentionally strengthen strategic relationships that move careers forward
• Why you must keep shipping creative work, even when it’s small

Whether you’re a director, producer, writer, or filmmaker trying to turn passion into a sustainable path, this episode offers a clear framework for setting up 2026—and beyond—for real progress.

No hype. No wishful thinking. Just honest strategy for truly independent filmmaking.

In this episode of Truly Independent, Garrett Batty and Darren Smith unpack a mindset shift that separates struggling indie films from profitable ones: starting with the end in mind.

They dive into why distribution conversations should happen before production, how early funding decisions shape a film’s future, and where initial investment dollars actually create leverage. From choosing between script rewrites and sizzles, to casting for the audience instead of the market, this episode breaks down real-world strategies filmmakers are using right now.

The conversation covers early distributor outreach, platform release strategy, marketing before the first frame is shot, and how producers can avoid making a million-dollar movie that turns into a $300,000 asset.

If you’re serious about building sustainable, profitable independent films—not just finishing projects—this episode is required listening.

This season of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more at helpthemseefoundation.org.

This week on Truly Independent, Garrett Batty and Daren Smith get real about one of the most important (and messy) parts of an independent film career: knowing when to say yes—and when to say no.

Garrett shares how a surprise opportunity pulled him out of the country to Antigua for a location + logistics scout, and what it revealed about infrastructure, budget reality, and whether a “beautiful location” is actually worth the production pain.

Then the conversation shifts to Daren’s current decisions on Brotherhood—how to structure production to stay high-level, protect investor priorities, and evaluate partnerships (including distribution relationships) without losing momentum.

If you’re juggling multiple projects, dealing with sudden opportunities, or trying to build a sustainable career (not just gig-to-gig work), this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• How the Antigua scout came together (and what was learned on the ground)
• Momentum vs. distraction: how to tell the difference
• Director vs. producer “bandwidth” (and why it changes everything)
• Budget “sweet spots” and why some movies stall
• Brotherhood producing strategy + distribution conversations
• The reality of making movies truly independent

Supported by the Help Them See Foundation

Help Them See is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection—partnering with filmmakers to bring meaningful stories to life and share them worldwide.

Learn more and get involved: HelpThemSeeFoundation.org

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If you’re enjoying Truly Independent, please subscribe and share so you don’t miss the rest of the journey.

Edited by Michael Bradford

Produced by Three Coin Productions

#IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #Producing #Screenwriting #FilmFinance #LocationScouting #IndieFilmmaker

This season of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation.
Help Them See is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn how to get involved at helpthemseefoundation.org.

Welcome to Season 3 of Truly Independent — I’m Garrett Batty, alongside my co-host Daren Smith. This season, it’s all about the script: from the first spark of an idea to a polished final draft, breaking it down for scheduling, budgeting, and ultimately shooting.

In this episode, we zoom out from the page and look at the bigger business picture:

Your film is not just a movie — it’s a product ecosystem.

We talk about:

How to stop thinking of your film as a single product

Using spark events/script readthroughs as investor & partner magnets

Building an email list and early audience before you ever hit “export trailer”

Why profit = permission for your next project

How studios think about IP, spin-offs, and long-tail exploitation

The three pillars every film needs: Production, Brand, and Distribution

We also share real-time behind-the-scenes from current projects like Brotherhood (a new musical feature), readthroughs for one of my heist comedies, and how those “invite-only” preview events are leading to real investor conversations.

If you’re an indie filmmaker trying to build a sustainable career (not just survive one movie at a time), this episode is for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Your movie is a storefront, not the only product.

Think in terms of product ecosystems, not single SKUs.

Spark events/script previews can generate feedback, fans, and funding.

Your email list may be more valuable than your opening weekend.

Every project needs strong Production, Brand, and Distribution to really be a product.

The release is the beginning of exploitation, not the end.

This season of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation – a nonprofit dedicated to supporting feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more at helpthemseefoundation.org.

In this episode, Garrett Batty and Darren Smith talk with cinematographer Jeremy Prusso (*The Saratov Approach, Aliens Abducted My Parents*, Hallmark movies, Benson Boon videos).

They cover:
• How Jeremy went from unhappy carpenter to full-time DP
• Whether film school is worth it today
• How to actually use your DP in pre-production
• Scheduling with light, location, and crew sanity in mind

If you’re an indie filmmaker or aspiring DP, this one will change how you prep your next shoot.

👍 Like, 🔔 subscribe, and share with a filmmaker friend.

In this episode of Truly Independent, Garrett Batty and Darren Smith sit down with Andrew and J. Huff — the filmmaking duo behind Doc Connor. They break down how they transformed a small, bootstrapped web series into a full-length feature film, secured theatrical release, and navigated the indie distribution maze without waiting for studio approval.

We cover:
• How they launched their production company
• Turning a kids’ web series into a feature film
• Funding the project and finding partners
• The realities of independent distribution
• Working with streamers, brokers, and platforms
• Building a brand, not just a movie
• Why 2025 is a strategic year for indie theatrical releases
• Tips for filmmakers creating content for kids and families
• How to think like a producer and push past “no”

This conversation is packed with real strategies, honest insights, and practical stories for anyone making their own path in film — whether you’re starting your first project or already grinding through distribution.

This season of Truly Independent is supported by the Help Them See Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to championing films that inspire faith, hope, and human connection. Learn more or get involved at HelpThemSeeFoundation.org.

In this episode, Garrett and Darren welcome filmmaker Ross Booth to officially announce Brotherhood — a new cinematic musical now greenlit for production through Producer Fund One. We walk through how this project came together from a single idea to active development, the power of outlining and early audience read-throughs, and the principle of enrollment—why the right people show up when a story resonates deeply.

If independent filmmaking, meaningful storytelling, or following a project from script to screen interests you, this episode is an important one.

Follow along / Get involved:
Brotherhood updates → BrotherhoodMov.com
Darren’s producing & resources → CraftsmanFilms.com
Garrett & Darren on LinkedIn → Search their names

Support the podcast:
Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more independent filmmakers find this community.

Season 3 of Truly Independent is here—supported by the Help Them See Foundation, a nonprofit backing feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more or get involved: https://helpthemseefoundation.org

In this episode, Garrett Batty and co-host Darren Smith catch up after a festival road trip (Newport Beach, AFI, Austin) and break down a practical strategy that’s outperforming cold pitches: salon-style investor lunches. Then we tackle a big topic every filmmaker feels—the supply & demand imbalance—and how to align passion projects with real marketplace demand without selling your soul. We also dig into rights/ownership and why finished projects with clean rights win.

If you’re writing, producing, or trying to raise money for your film, this one’s for you.

👍 If you find value here, please like, subscribe, and share—it really helps.