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We talk with filmmaker Dan Davis about the ethics of telling other people’s hardest stories and the business decisions that keep story-first work sustainable. Dan shares how Stiry grows from an entrepreneurial background into a documentary “story house” that protects trust, builds a film library, and finds distribution partners who honor the storyteller.

• Aligning on a shared agenda with storytellers
• Filming painful experiences without exploitation
• Moving from business and sports into film production
• Leaving commercial work that feels empty
• Building Stiry around gut-level inspiration and values
• Making story-first branded films people actually watch
• Creating a scalable library through licensing and distribution
• The long path to distributing Breaking Into Beautiful
• Why distributor marketing drives performance
• Choosing a brand-first model over director fame

Check out Stiry Studios.

Watch Breaking into Beautiful.

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Blair Treu shares his four-decade journey from student films to directing Disney Channel hits to documentary filmmaking, revealing the practical realities of building a career in the entertainment industry. His experiences demonstrate how persistence, adaptability, and starting small can lead to sustainable success in filmmaking.

• Beginning as Kevin Bacon's stand-in on "Footloose," giving him 58 days of practical film education
• Selling his car and motorcycle to fund his first short film that ultimately paid for his college education
• Starting at Disney on the executive track but transitioning to directing to follow his passion
• Building a portfolio through commercials, promotional videos, and training films before tackling features
• Directing Disney Channel movies like "Wish Upon a Star" with Katherine Heigl
• Finding success with theatrical releases including "Little Secrets"
• Creating documentary "Sharing Aloha" about students at the Polynesian Cultural Center
• Balancing filmmaking career with family life by involving children in projects
• Recently filming "World's Fastest Grandpa" documentary entirely on iPhone
• Emphasizing the value of making mistakes and learning through repeated practice

Whether you're just starting out or looking to pivot in your career, start small, tell stories within your reach, and build your portfolio incrementally to create opportunities for larger projects.

Check out Blair's most recent film, Sharing Aloha.

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What happens when a decades-long dream project suddenly gains unstoppable momentum? For married filmmakers Lee and Katherine, their baseball-themed feature "Rally Caps" represents both the unpredictable magic and sobering business realities of modern independent filmmaking.

After 15 years of development, what began as a passion project during the pandemic transformed when former MLB player Curtis Pride joined with his children as cast members, Major League Baseball provided support, and stars Judd Hirsch and Amy Smart signed on. As Katherine reveals, "The universe was our executive producer" – whenever the production seemed doomed, last-minute miracles kept it alive.

The duo generously shares hard-earned wisdom that could save fellow filmmakers thousands of dollars and countless headaches. Katherine's marketing background proves crucial, emphasizing that marketing considerations should influence creative decisions from day one. "Put some kind of marketing budget in there," she urges, highlighting the importance of professional photo shoots, behind-the-scenes documentation, and strategic product placement. Their partnership with Phonak, a hearing aid company, exemplifies how sponsorships can organically enhance storytelling while providing crucial financing.

Perhaps their most valuable insight challenges the romantic notion of filmmaking as primarily creative work. "99% of making a film is business and logistics," Lee explains, detailing their harrowing experience navigating SAG requirements that nearly derailed production. They emphasize starting SAG paperwork 6-8 weeks before production and setting aside significant funds for bonds.

For directors seeking representation, Lee offers balanced perspective on working with managers: "It's a partnership... their job is not to go out and get stuff for you." Instead, his manager provides script feedback, creative dialogue, and occasional meeting opportunities – a realistic relationship that contrasts with unrealistic expectations many filmmakers hold.

Whether you're starting your first film or scaling up your productions, this conversation illuminates the path forward in an industry where traditional routes to success have disappeared. Check out "Rally Caps" on Peacock to see the fruits of their labor, and visit http://www.crystalrockentertainment.com to connect with these generous filmmakers who truly understand what it takes to bring an independent vision to life.

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