Howdy Storytellers 🤠,
When creating stories becomes all about the money, it loses so much of its meaning.
We all know this, but because it costs Hollywood millions (and often tens of millions of dollars) to produce movies and shows – we’ve been stuck in a culture where creativity has become synonymous with the capital it accrues (largely, because we have needed so much capital to make films). Think of it as a necessary evil of creation.
“I’m not sure this book will be a bestseller, so I’m not sure I should write it.”
“I must suck at making videos. They get no views online.”
As storytellers, we can tell ourselves a million lines similar to the ones above.
I know it because I did it.
I had spent 2 years writing and self-publishing my first 3 books.
I still didn’t feel like a real author.
I had overpaid by thousands of dollars on publishing services for my first book and was too scared to make any friends in the creative community.
I told myself, “when my books really start to sell, I’ll then participate in the author community and make author friends.”
The idea of being a “real” author, filmmaker, storyteller… anything in the world of creation… is so tied to one’s success in the market that it often drives us to create in pursuit of being a “real” creator instead of following our heart.
With AI, a new paradigm is here.
We don’t need millions of dollars or massive film crews to make movies.
With constraint of capital decreasing in importance in production, we now must adjust our mindset and culture to do the same.
Enter the Frontier of Filmmaking…
You’ve probably seen me in cowboy hats by now.
If you haven’t, just check out our YouTube channel 🤠.
The reason for the cowboy attire is simple… we are at a new frontier of filmmaking, and at Creatorwood, we’re here to welcome you into it with a home to turn your stories into films with the Movie Machine and share them with fans on our streaming platform (our first full length features launch on the platform THIS month).
We’ve talked a lot about the technological frontier of filmmaking.
How AI video technology is beginning to mature (for now we still are having self-serve for the Movie Machine on a waitlist, but our VIP Production Service, where trained directors make your movie for you, is open for business).
What excites me even more is the creative frontier of filmmaking.
What new stories, styles, genres, and formats for film can be created that never have been tried before?
The possibilities are limitless.
We are beginning to enter a golden age of experimentation in storytelling.
We can make movies for the fun of it, not because of the pressure to make back a multi-million dollar production budget.
What does that do to the movies we make? Does it mean we get more weird, experimental, quirky stories? Does it mean we get niches and genres that no one can even imagine right now?
And most of all, whether your film has just 1 viewer (yourself) or 1 million, does that mean that viewers will also have more fun watching movies too?
At Creatorwood, we think so. And that’s the future of film we are creating.
One where storytellers are in control.
One where you have the freedom to experiment, explore your imaginations, and create experiences that are groundbreaking.
If that sounds fun… then Howdy Storyteller! 🤠 You’re in just the right place.
Mia Salsi just directed the first full-length feature film made with the Movie Machine.
We have a worldwide premiere in Austin on July 17th (if you’d like to come, reply to this email and we will send you the details ✉️).
It’s an epistolary horror film (the first of its kind) based on the bestselling epistolary horror experience ScareMail.
Now that we are seeing the first full-length films produced from the Movie Machine, it will be the beginning of an explosion of filmmaking from storytellers like you.
My hot take: Whether a film is made with AI or with a film crew and human actors – it requires immense human creativity and ingenuity to pull off.
Just like I struggled to view myself as a real author when my books were self-published and not selling many copies, I imagine many of you will struggle with the same feelings as you begin to make AI films.
I understand the feeling.
But just remember, culture is changing.
It was and always will be about the storytellers.
Your story deserves to be seen. No matter how it was made. No matter how you choose to bring it to life.
That’s the beauty of it all.
You all are at the frontier.
It’s going to be a wild ride.
And things are just getting started.
As always don’t forget…
Storytellers Rule the World,
Michael and the Creatorwood Team
P.S. Want to learn more about how our VIP Production Team can turn your story into a movie or show for you? You can click to schedule a call with us HERE.