At Craftsman Films we're producing meaningful movies that spark conversation and change people for the better. Follow along to get updates on the process and the project we develop and produce.
Welcome to the weekly Craftsman Films Newsletter, for those who seek the creative independence to make a living producing meaningful work and to build Blockbuster businesses.
Thank you for those who attended last night's preview of Brotherhood - A Cinematic Musical! With over 100 of you in attendance, it's by far the largest group we've performed the preview for. We hope you left changed for the better.
If you'd like to help as we bring Brotherhood to theaters, hit reply and let us know!
Brotherhood Utah Preview November 2025
Now, it's time for a big announcement...
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Six Weeks from Idea to Funded Project: Craftsman Films Clears First Milestone, Greenlights Brotherhood
In late August, I met with filmmaker Ross Boothe to discuss a project idea.
Ross had just posted online. While a screenplay for the prospective work was literally nonexistent, there was an inevitability to the project. I felt deeply that this film was not only going to get made, it was going to be a powerful agent for change.
Five weeks later, Ross premiered the full screenplay for Brotherhood: A Cinematic Musical (including 15 new original songs!) to a group of selected friends and potential collaborators, including myself.
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The piece was so compelling, I was looking around the room to see what other producers I was going to have to fight off to get the project. It was exactly the kind of film Iโve been looking for.
Within one week, Ross and I not only reached an agreement to make Brotherhood the flagship film of Producer Fund 1, but we also secured the funding to make the movie.
Six weeks from idea to funded independent film.
With that, Craftsman Films is pleased to announce that Producer Fund I has cleared its first fundraising milestone and is officially greenlighting its debut feature: ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , a cinematic musical from writer-director Ross Boothe.
๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ tells the story of two neighborsโone a Mexican immigrant, the other a lifelong U.S. citizenโwho discover what it really means to love thy neighbor in a divided America.
โThe past couple of months have been a whirlwind,โ said Boothe, โbut from its very first moments, this film has had momentum. Going from the spark of an idea to a funded screenplay with 17 new songs in a few weeks is atypical, but the response of audiences who have attended our presentations indicates that weโve struck a nerve on a really relevant topic, and people are coming forward who want to help.โ
During the past six weeks, the script and music have been previewed many times at presentations in Utah, New York City, and Los Angeles, offering investors and early supporters a first look at this bold new project and the remarkable vision driving Producer Fund I.
This isnโt just another indie movie. Itโs proof that a new model for independent film is already in motion. One that is values-based, family-friendly, and built for both cultural impact and long-term profitability.
โI couldnโt be more pleased to lead the creative development of Producer Fund Iโs debut feature,โ Boothe remarked. โThe model Daren has built is the most responsible and exciting approach Iโve seen to ensuring that creatives, investors, and audiences all get what they want from independent films.โ
Producer Fund I was created to invest in the films Hollywood wonโt: handcrafted, conversation-sparking stories that change people for the better. Clearing this milestone shows what weโve said all along. When films are built on integrity and mastery, momentum is inevitable.
This is just the beginning.
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Liliana Bolaรฑos, Ross Boothe, and Daren Smith at the Utah Brotherhood Preview
Feeling stuck? Got questions? Then the Craftsman Films Live Call is what you need.
Every month we gather over Zoom for a live call with about a dozen filmmakers. The calls start with a principle from the MOVIE framework (that I wrote about in my last book, Blockbuster), that you can apply to your business and projects today. Then we take some questions, do a networking breakout session, then another round of live Q&A, then a second breakout session.
In 2 hours or less you'll come away with new connections, new insights, and new motivation to move your projects forward.
At Craftsman Films we're producing meaningful movies that spark conversation and change people for the better. Follow along to get updates on the process and the project we develop and produce.
