[10:00] From Potato Fields to Hollywood Disruptors

• Jeffrey Harmon shares his humble upbringing in Idaho and how a rural childhood with limited media exposure led to the unexpected founding of Angel Studios.
• Angel Studios, co-founded with his brothers, cracked the U.S. box office top 10—a surprising feat for a company born far outside the Hollywood system.
• Harmon introduces the guiding philosophy: "Culture is upstream from politics," borrowed from Andrew Breitbart, to explain why storytelling changes society.
• He underscores the importance of content and distribution, stating, "Content is king, but distribution is queen, and she wears the pants."
• 80% of independent films never find a home, a problem Angel Studios is determined to solve through better distribution.

[16:00] Hollywood Gatekeepers vs. the Angel Guild

• Harmon criticizes the concentration of decision-making power in Hollywood, where a few individuals decide what the world watches.
• Angel Studios is actively creating an alternative system by using audience-driven curation via the Angel Guild, avoiding centralized gatekeeping.
• Emphasizes that Angel Studios doesn’t want to become "the new gatekeepers" but to build a system where the audience decides what content gets greenlit.
• Draws parallels to the Disney brothers, highlighting how original visions can be corrupted over time.
• Points out how Angel Studios' unique structure democratizes content development and sustains long-term integrity.

[22:00] Inside the Angel Guild: A Global Movement

• Harmon explains how anyone can join the Angel Guild via the Angel app, vote on projects, and influence which movies get made.
• The guild, now with over 440,000 members worldwide, acts as a decentralized content approval board.
• Members give feedback on early film cuts, which has led to significant changes—like cutting four minutes from Sound of Freedom based on guild input.
• The app experience is fun and collaborative, not work; members participate because they enjoy shaping culture.
• Emphasizes the shift from being passive media consumers to active co-creators and culture shapers.

[30:00] Sound of Freedom and the Power of Real Stories

• Harmon discusses the massive impact of Sound of Freedom, which grossed over $250M and changed laws across the globe.
• Frames the film’s success as a symbol of how independent, truth-centered stories can outcompete mainstream narratives.
• Angel Studios uses "audience intelligence" instead of artificial intelligence to decide which content resonates—real people, real emotions.
• Highlights how Sound of Freedom lingered emotionally for months with viewers, including the host.
• Connects the film’s success to Angel’s larger goal: uplifting, truth-driven storytelling that has real-world impact.

[38:00] Bonhoeffer and Amplifying Light Through Film

• Jeffrey introduces Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin, a timely film tackling antisemitism, moral courage, and faith in action.
• He discusses the historical context of Bonhoeffer and the film’s challenge to viewers: "What would you have done?"
• Angel Studios is facing criticism for the film’s bold themes, but Harmon insists its timing is divine, not political.
• Emphasizes Angel's mission: only amplify light, defined as whatever is true, noble, lovely, and excellent.
• Upcoming projects like Homestead and animated David reflect global and moral relevance, chosen by the guild’s collective wisdom.

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