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Ground-Up Film Network
Connect. Collaborate. Create.
Help Shape the Future of Independent Filmmaking
Hello everyone,
I'm excited to share a new platform currently in development that is designed specifically for aspiring and early-career filmmakers. The goal is simple: connect talented people, help them build meaningful experience, and turn great ideas into completed films.
Whether you're an actor, director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, makeup artist, composer, or work in any other area of film production, this platform is built with you in mind.
If you have a screenplay that's ready to be produced but need a cast and crew, you'll be able to connect with collaborators. If you're an aspiring actor looking to earn your first on-screen credits, or a filmmaker looking to gain hands-on experience, you'll have opportunities to find projects that match your goals.
Why This Platform?
While there are many casting websites available today, most are designed for large, highly competitive productions with thousands of applicants. There isn't a dedicated space focused on independent creators, short films, low-budget productions, and people building their careers from the ground up.
This platform is designed specifically for:
First-time and emerging directors
Independent producers
Writers looking to bring their scripts to life
Actors building their resumes
Film professionals seeking experience and local collaborators
Built Around Local Creative Communities
To encourage real collaboration, the platform will launch in regional markets so members can easily network and work with people nearby.
Our inaugural markets are:
Minneapolis–St. Paul and surrounding communities
Kansas City and surrounding communities
Members will be able to create professional profiles based on their role in the industry, showcase experience, post casting calls or production opportunities, and discover projects they're interested in joining.
More Than Networking
This platform isn't just about making connections—it's about helping projects get made.
As each regional community grows, funding opportunities will be unlocked:
EVERY 2,000 subscribers in a market will trigger a $20,000 production award to help fund an independent project. This award will continue ANNUALLY if the subscriber number is maintained.
When a market reaches 10,000 subscribers, a $50,000 award will be provided to support the production of a low-budget feature film.This award will continue ANNUALLY if the subscriber number is maintained.
These awards aren't just investments in a single production—they create opportunities for dozens of actors, filmmakers, crew members, and other creatives to gain valuable experience and build their portfolios.
Early Supporter Opportunity
Because we're currently building the platform, we're offering special founding-member pricing.
First 1,000 subscribers: 1 year free
Next 1,000 subscribers: 50% off the first year (no payment until the platform launches)
After launch, annual membership will be $50 per year.
Join Us
If you're interested in becoming one of our founding members, complete this form: You will be added to a group community page with the ability to network early, until we hit the thresholds needed for site launch.
https://forms.gle/4sCQdEwfM4chZggc7
Questions? Feel free to reach out at:
Our first milestone is reaching 2,000 founding subscribers, allowing us to launch the platform and begin funding the first projects.
I'm incredibly excited about the creative community we're building and can't wait to see the collaborations, careers, and films that come from it. I hope you'll join us from the very beginning.
I really like the concept. I think there's definitely room for a platform focused on helping independent filmmakers and early-career creatives find collaborators and get projects made. My biggest curiosity is how you'll tackle the "chicken-and-egg" challenge of attracting enough active projects and members at the same time, since that's something many networking platforms struggle with. I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops. Wishing you the best of luck!
Building a community is one challenge keeping members active and helping real collaborations happen is the bigger one. Wishing you success with the launch and looking forward to seeing the first projects that come out of the platform.
Good luck.
Thank you. I think investing and maintaining a genuineness feel to the platform is what may keep people around. Attaching speakers, events, and including all of that in the subscription fee increases the value. I think it is a strength if maintained a lower member amount in each community. If there are 5 projects made and I can keep 2000 members involved, those $20k awards are not so unlikely for your project to win, it may help keep those creators on the platform for their projects. It will be interesting to see where it goes. I think for directors and project creators , the value is there for them, the struggle may be to provide and maintain value for actors, composers, who are looking for parts and don't have their own project they need the award for..
I am not going to act like I know it all and it will be a perfect kickstart but I will maintain a pure genuineness for the platform. I want to see projects get made. I want to see artists paint. That will be the overall strength to the idea.