Embrace Disruption: The Changing Dynamics of Filmmaking are Unstoppable.

As a keen observer of the film and television industry, I have witnessed how technology, combined with the rise of the indie creator economy, has radically transformed the traditional paradigms of filmmaking. The monolithic presence of filmmakers' unions and talent representatives, once viewed as essential industry pillars, are increasingly at odds with the shifting creative landscape.

Entertainment unions were born out of a necessity to protect talent's rights under contract, paving the way for numerous improvements to a profession that was out of reach for most people and highly coveted. Not anymore. Now fame is cheap and unions feel incompatible with today's fast-paced, flexible, digital era.

The rigidity of union rules hinders the independent creator who thrives on freedom and versatility. Indie creators are often their own writers, directors, editors, and producers, composers, shattering traditional role definitions and driving groundbreaking content. Unions, in their present form, pose significant restrictions to this dynamic approach and an underlying hostility to the raw creativity it unleashes among people not under anyone’s control.

We have entered the era of the auteur who innovates and finds a way.

The financial cost of union membership is useless for indie creators. In an environment where financial stability is never a guarantee, compulsory fees and deductions from earnings, the hallmarks of union membership, are substantial turn offs. Such costs are impossible to justify in a rapidly evolving industry that offers greater freedom to create and fewer barriers to entry for those who simply make what they want and put the finished product into the world and are satisfied with a small return.

Talent representatives, once gatekeepers to show business itself, will find their value under scrutiny soon. Yes, they offer networking opportunities and assistance in contract negotiations, but their fees, deducted from creators' earnings before tax, raise serious questions about their cost-effectiveness when the creators of tomorrow didn't need the agent to launch and monetize their own show biz brand in the first place.

Given the power of social media and digital platforms that democratize and localize filmed entertainment creation and distribution, the benefits talent representatives provide are shrinking every day.

In an industry built around and now entrapped by big-budget, high-production-value movies, these traditional structures, unions, and talent representatives suddenly appear antiquated. They struggle to meet the basic needs of a new generation of audience that is better served by creators who prioritize creative control and financial independence over industry conventions.

Entertainment professionals will soon be dwarfed in number by a nation of well known indie creators who can compete with studio entertainment — and win.

The reality is that the industry is undergoing a profound transformation, fueled by independent artists who leverage technology to manage their careers autonomously. These artists are navigating contracts, distributing their work, and networking without any intermediaries, all while maintaining control over their creative output.

The result? A filmmaking landscape that is truly more diverse, innovative, and authentic than ever before. We’re accelerating into a future defined by independent artists and storytellers, therefore we must reassess the relevance of all traditional industry structures.

The future is going to run on creative independence and versatility, values that may not align with the traditional structures of the corporate show business industry. The disruption we are witnessing isn't just a shift; it's an evolution towards a more democratized, innovative, and exciting future of filmmaking.

That thing they have always pretended to want in the first place…