The most dangerous myth in entertainment is the lone genius. We sit down with LA creators Byron Manuel and Rich Morrow to show how community, discipline, and smarter money beat that myth—and how filmmakers can keep far more of their work.

Byron and Rich trace their path from athletics to the arts, sharing how structure, coaching, and resilience translated to sets where permits fall through, lights die, and life happens mid‑shoot. Then we lift the hood on traditional film financing: investor capital, recoupment, and the 50-50 profit split that often leaves artists dividing a thin slice. We compare that to a small‑business approach—clean books, recurring revenue, bank lending—and walk through why paying single‑digit interest can be wildly better than giving away lifelong equity.

This conversation is equal parts playbook and pep talk. We cover practical steps to set up a production company, document profits, and become lendable; how to stack funding with debt, incentives, and pre‑sales; and why day rates, while tempting, trade away ownership. We also get real about mental health, the power of a trusted partner, and the belief that art can save lives. Community isn’t a buzzword here; it’s the engine that makes films possible and keeps creators in the fight when the nos pile up.

Looking ahead, Byron and Rich are building an ecosystem: a new podcast to teach the business of creativity, films that reflect millennial stories and amplify underheard voices, and a collaborative studio model that says we don’t wait, we create. If you’re a filmmaker, actor, or storyteller who wants control, this is your blueprint for financing, ownership, and impact.

Watch Swoon on YouTube, The Black Network, Samsung TV, and Roku. Follow Visionary Vue on YouTube and Instagram, and connect with Keith on LinkedIn at KeithKohler1. Loved the episode? Subscribe, share it with a creative friend, and leave a review to help more artists find the path to ownership.

Connect with Keith on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithkohler1/