Hey Reader,
Man, the film industry has been jumping this week! Between bidding wars, takeovers and amazing new tools coming to the market, this week's newsletter is the most exciting one of the year for me!
Here is what we are covering:
- CEO Story: We Got Our First Hater, help me celebrate!
- Industry Pulse: Netflix, Paramount & WB is Grown Folk Business
- Sparq Wire: Get A First Look! CineSparq Demo
- Opportunities: Two Dope Tools To Elevate Your Filmmaking
When Haters Do What They Do. You do YOU!
Last week, somebody questioned my credibility when I posted a Thread saying filmmakers need to treat films like products.
He agreed with everything I said then asked:
“But how do you know?”
“Who have you actually helped?”
Classic.
Katt Williams said it best; A hater's job is to hate.
People might say you’re “turning Hollywood", question your ideas or challenge your right to take up space.
But that pushback is confirmation that you have expanded beyond their comfort zone.
When we do that, three things are guaranteed:
- People will test your authority.
- Somebody will project their uncertainty onto your clarity.
- Folk will commit to misunderstanding you
That’s not a problem. It's proof you’re rising.
Knowing that, I didn't argue back or write a dissertation about my credentials. Instead, I invited him to a discovery call.
He didn't respond 🤷🏽♀️
Netflix, Paramount & WB Is Grown Folk Business
Source: CBS NEWS
Netflix broke the internet when they offered something like 82 BILLION for Warner Brothers. Then, Paramount said bet! Big bank tak lil bank, slapped a spade down and offered 108.4 BILLION!
Now I don't know what's gonna happen when the big boys finish writing their names in the snow but I know this... they got way too much of our money!
Aside from that, this is more like when your parents lock the bedroom door and turn on Marvin Gaye — it ain't got NOTHING to do with us.
We will spin the block when there is something more to go on.
A Move Actually Worth Watching
Source: Wrapbook
This is the update that does matter.
Wrapbook acquired Cinapse, and that tells you where production workflows are heading.
Production tools are consolidating.
Workflow automation is speeding up.
Onboarding, call sheets, scheduling, and payroll all getting tighter.
I’ve always used StudioBinder for Flip the Script because it fit our system best but, if I starting new project today, I would look into this.
Let me know if you explore it.
A First-Look Deal!
CineSparq 1.0 development is moving beautifully, and for the first time ever, I’m inviting our community to see what we’ve built so far.
LIVE FIRST-LOOK FOCUS DEMO
📅 Saturday, January 3
🎟 Free — but limited seats
You’ll get a guided walkthrough of:
- the funder-alignment engine
- the creator dashboard
- early project discovery features
This is a true “inside the build” moment, and you get to weigh in on what you love, hate or want to see!
Two Dope Tools To Elevate Your Filmmaking
One of the perks of building CineSparq is that I get to meet other CEOs in the filmmaking space. They’re filmmakers just like us—designing tools that solve real creative barriers and strengthen the ecosystem we’re all part of.
Recently, I got live private demos of two platforms that I believe are genuine game-changers for filmmakers.
FilmPro: AI Powered Production Planning
The first is FilmPro, a pre-production planning tool created by filmmakers who understand where we lose the most time and clarity. They’ve mastered pre-production planning all in one intuitive workflow.
The standout feature: They’ve embedded AI strategically, but you choose where, when, or if you use it and you don't have to be an expert to jump in and explore.
FilmPro can shave hours off the typical project planning process and makes it simple to communicate your vision to your team, funders, or investors.
They’re launching their 1.0 version on December 10, which means you can get in on the ground floor.
For filmmakers preparing to pitch, fundraise, or step into investor conversations with confidence, FilmPro is absolutely worth exploring.
Olyn: A Global Marketplace for Your Film Projects
Olyn gives you the ability to sell your completed projects directly to global buyers with the simplicity of Shopify and the sophistication of a global distribution agent.
They’re in the waitlist phase, which means you have the chance to be early.
And after speaking with their team, I believe Olyn has the potential to redefine distribution for digital-first creators.
This is a positioning power move. Stay ahead of the curve.
TL;DR
- CEO Story: Pushback is confirmation. Keep going.
- Industry Pulse: Netflix vs Paramount is noise. Don’t waste time.
- Sparq Wire: First Look Demo is open — claim your seat.
- Creator Advantage: FilmPro launches this week; Get in on Olyn
You’re here because you move differently. So do we. 🫶🏾
Help a fellow creative find their Sparq by sharing this newsletter with your network.
And if you found your sparq accidentally, why not make it official by subscribing to The Sparq Newsletter. We grow stronger when we learn together.
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