Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Become an Independent Filmmaker: Position Yourself For Success
- Eunice Shelley
- Feb 12
- 6 min read
Hollywood was built by artists—writers, directors, cinematographers, and crews who dedicated their lives to storytelling. But today, those same creatives are being pushed out. AI is replacing writers, production work is being outsourced, diversity initiatives are being dismantled, and major studios are cutting back on productions.
At the same time, audiences are craving fresh, diverse stories, and streaming platforms still need high-quality content. The industry is shifting in real time, and those who adapt will thrive. Those who wait for Hollywood to fix itself? They’ll be left behind.
Unfotunately, the problem is the problem. The industry has created its own bottleneck, but that bottleneck is an opportunity for independent filmmakers who are willing to take control of their careers. Here’s why now is the moment to go from script to screen and how you can position yourself for success.
1. AI and Offshoring Are Replacing Jobs
Independent Creators Must Take Control
The rise of artificial intelligence in filmmaking is impossible to ignore. Studios are using AI to generate scripts, replace visual effects teams, and even create synthetic actors. While these tools promise efficiency, they’re also eliminating thousands of jobs across the industry. At the same time, Hollywood has been offshoring production for decades, shifting work to countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK. That means fewer opportunities for filmmakers, crew members, and actors here at home.
AI is expected to disrupt over 200,000 entertainment jobs by 2026, particularly in post-production and screenwriting.
Offshoring has allowed studios to cut costs by moving production overseas, reducing job opportunities for U.S.-based film professionals.
Independent filmmakers who understand how to integrate technology without sacrificing artistry will be the ones who stand out.
Hollywood is shifting fast, and the game is changing whether we like it or not. AI and offshoring are reshaping the industry, making it harder for new filmmakers to break in the traditional way. But every shake-up creates an opening. The ones who learn to work smarter, use new tools, build solid production models, and tap into strong creative networks are the ones who will lead the next era of filmmaking.
Because let's be real... The future doesn’t belong to those who wait. It belongs to those who step up and take it.
2. Hollywood’s DEI Pullback Means We Have to Build Our Own Tables
After years of promising progress, Hollywood is quietly dismantling its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Many of the executives hired to drive meaningful change have been laid off, and studios are cutting DEI budgets. The result? The same barriers that kept strategically underrepresented voices out of the industry for decades are being reinforced.
Below is data for Directors in Hollywood based on a UCLA study. The question is, with the intentional dismanteling of DEI efforts, what will be the fate of diverse voices moving forward?
With DEI positions being eliminated, traditional paths for underrepresented filmmakers are disappearing.
Hollywood’s retreat from diversity initiatives means independent filmmakers must take ownership of telling diverse and authentic stories.
Those who build their own platforms now will be ahead of the curve as the industry scrambles to catch up.
The industry may be backtracking, but independent creators like us have the power to move forward, set new standards, and reshape what Hollywood refuses to uphold. If you're ready to take back your power, join me!
3. Studio Productions Are Shrinking
But Demand for Content Is Bigger Than Ever
Major studios are cutting back on productions, which means fewer greenlights, fewer jobs, and fewer opportunities. But here’s the twist: audiences are consuming more content than ever before. Streaming platforms still need high-quality films, and they’re looking outside the studio system to find them.
Every major studio has reduced production output in the last year, leading to fewer job opportunities.
Streaming platforms and digital distributors are still desperate for fresh, high-quality content.
Independent filmmakers who can produce professional work efficiently will be in high demand.
The film industry is shifting fast, but with change comes opportunity. As studios pull back, independent filmmakers, I mean you, have a chance to step in, innovate, and help reshape the landscape. If you're ready to adapt by streamlining production, tapping into available talent, and building smart distribution strategies will lead the next era of cinema, we should talk!
4. Hollywood Was Built by Artists
It’s Time to Reclaim the Industry
Hollywood’s most iconic films were made by artists, craftspeople, and visionaries, not budget focused executives. But now skilled artists are being pushed to the margins. The good news? There has never been a better time to take control of your own production. Thousands of skilled filmmakers, crew members, and actors are ready to work, and independent filmmakers have the chance to mobilize the very talent that made Hollywood great in the first place.
With fewer studio jobs available, highly skilled professionals are looking for new opportunities.
Independent productions now have access to a deeper talent pool than ever before.
The next generation of iconic films won’t come from major studios, most likely, they will come from filmmakers who take action.
The industry is shifting, and independent filmmakers have the power to shape what’s next. By tapping into available talent, embracing new production models, and prioritizing collaboration over competition, we can build a future where creativity thrives beyond corporate control.
5. Page to Production Is A Shortcut to Success
Created by a Filmmaker Who Understands Art & Business
There’s no shortage of filmmaking programs, but most of them either teach outdated film school theory or focus on getting shuffled through Hollywood’s gatekeeping system and you don't have time for that. Page to Production is different.
From inception, WordSmith Studios was built to create a thriving film production ecosystem that bridges the gap between art and business. This model exists to ensure that talented storytellers make films and series that get finished, seen, and monetized.
With decades of corporate leadership experience navigating the same issues that now plague the film industry; restructuring, labor offshoring, and technological disruption, our founder knows what it takes to adapt, pivot, and thrive in times of industry change. Since the pandemic, we’ve been working to create opportunities not just for individual filmmakers but for the entire film ecosystem. That dedication has led to proven frameworks, and award-winning films that have changed the lives of many creatives.
Page to Production gives emerging filmmakers a clear, structured path from idea to execution.
The program is designed for those who want to take control of their careers, not wait for permission.
With expert guidance from someone who has navigated industry shifts before, you’ll get the tools to build a sustainable career in filmmaking.
At WordSmith Studios, we are committd to your success because the truth is, every time a independent filmmaker succeeds, the entire industry wins. To learn more about our founder, click here.
6. The Film Industry Is Changing
You Can Either Lead or Get Left Behind
The future of film isn’t about waiting for someone to give you a shot—it’s about creating your own opportunities. The filmmakers who understand how to write, produce, and distribute their own work will be the ones shaping the industry’s next era.
Page to Production is film school on the fast track, complete with a roadmap to the big screen. The industry is shifting. Are you ready to step up?
Click to learn more and apply for the March 2025 Cohort today!
References
Angst Studio. (2024). Filmmaking trends 2025: A look into the future of cinema. Angst Studio. https://www.angstudiolv.com/post/filmmaking-trends-2025-a-look-into-the-future-of-cinema
Bloomberg. (2024, December 20). Hollywood is getting left behind in recovering film and TV industry. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/company-news/2024/12/20/hollywood-is-getting-left-behind-in-recovering-film-and-tv-industry/
Forbes. (2022, September 30). How Hollywood embraced offshoring to produce its biggest blockbusters. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2022/09/30/how-hollywood-embraced-offshoring-to-produce-its-biggest-blockbusters/
Sahota, N. (2024, March 8). The AI takeover in cinema: How movie studios use artificial intelligence. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilsahota/2024/03/08/the-ai-takeover-in-cinema-how-movie-studios-use-artificial-intelligence/
The White House. (2025, January 20). Ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/
Vanity Fair. (2024). Hollywood’s DEI programs have begun to die. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/hollywoods-dei-programs-have-begun-to-die
Hayden, E. (2024, February 6). Another sobering snapshot of Hollywood’s production decline. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-production-decline-1236114887/
ProdPro. (2025, January 30). 2025 TV & film outlook report. ProdPro. https://prodpro.com/blog/2025-tv-film-outlook-report/
UCLA Newsroom. (2024, February 27). Audiences want diversity, but Hollywood isn’t keeping up, UCLA report finds. UCLA Newsroom. Retrieved from https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/diversity-people-of-color-women-audience-ucla-hollywood-report
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