The Indie Playbook

Everyone says the film industry is dying — so why are the people who’ve already made it choosing to start over and make movies?

This week, Daniel sits down with two guests who left proven careers to bet on independent film. Salma Qarnain — a rocket scientist by training, HBS MBA, Stanford and MIT grad, and Broadway performer in Life of Pi — is the co-founder of Black Man Films and producer of Silent Partner, a legal thriller that qualified for the Oscars as a short and makes its world premiere October 15 at Urbanworld in New York. Kareem Alston-Rosales spent 15 years in philanthropy before founding Film 4 Good Fund to close a gap he kept seeing at festivals like Sundance: the money was in the room, but the filmmakers who needed it couldn’t afford to be. Silent Partner is the fund’s flagship investment — which is why they’re here together.

The conversation gets into why a $5K finishing grant can be the difference between a film that gets finished and one that dies on a hard drive, why Salma’s team took Silent Partner independent instead of spending five years in “pitch hell,” how they de-risked the film at every level to win over equity investors during the strikes, and Kareem’s warning that if independent filmmakers don’t build their own infrastructure, the AI conglomerates will rebuild the gatekeeping model instead. Plus a rapid-fire round on the one skill from their old lives that made them better filmmakers — and whether they’d tell their own niece or nephew to quit a law career to go make movies.

“It always feels impossible until it’s done. But it can’t be done until you start.” — Kareem

The Bay Area has long been overshadowed by Hollywood, yet its rich history in filmmaking and innovation is beginning to resurface. In this issue, we dive into the conversation around Oakland's significance in American film history and the exciting future ahead for independent filmmakers.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Bay Area's Role in Film History
• 06:04 Challenges of Filmmaking in the Bay Area
• 33:18 The Future of the Coliseum
• 34:49 Tech Companies and Local Manufacturing
• 40:26 Revitalization of Downtown Oakland
• 45:30 The Ghost Ship Fire and Its Impact

Daniel Cotroneo points out that while cities like Atlanta and Los Angeles often come to mind when discussing film hubs, Oakland has quietly been a powerhouse in cinematic storytelling for over 50 years. "The Bay Area has been a film hub for 50 years. It just never got the credit," he asserts.

This recognition is long overdue, especially considering the cultural movements and institutions that Oakland established, which aimed to uplift filmmakers that Hollywood overlooked.

Grace Porras highlights the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, an organization dedicated to celebrating and educating black filmmakers in an era when mainstream Hollywood largely ignored them. It was spearheaded by Mary Perry Smith and aimed to provide tools and resources to independent filmmakers.

"We were recognizing artists way before Hollywood was like, 'Oh, these are actually folks doing really good work.'" — Grace Porras

Notable figures like Spike Lee received their first awards in Oakland, showcasing the city’s role as a nurturing ground for talent.

Fast forward to 2018, and Oakland filmmakers like Ryan Coogler and Boots Riley produced critically acclaimed films such as Black Panther and Sorry to Bother You, putting the Bay back on the map.

Daniel notes, "There's a generation of filmmakers that were shaped by the same streets, the same stories, the same history." The Bay Area’s diverse settings and consistent weather make it an attractive location for filmmakers looking for unique backdrops.

While challenges like infrastructure and competition from out-of-state tax incentives remain, the Bay Area is poised for a resurgence in film production. As Daniel explains, "The Bay Area has one of the most lucrative tax credits in the country at the moment." This could attract more filmmakers back to the region.

Grace emphasizes that the Bay has something many locations lack: a vibrant, creative community eager to support indie film. "Let us champion why the SF Bay area should be the next indie film hub," she urges.

As technology evolves, so too does the definition of filmmaking. The Bay Area is at the forefront of innovation, developing tools that will shape the future of content creation.

"We are the innovation capital, but we're not retaining our talent here." — Grace Porras

The conversation reveals a passionate commitment to not only recognizing Oakland's cinematic past but also building its future.

As we look to the future, Oakland's filmmakers are eager to harness the region's unique strengths and history. This is just the beginning of a renewed movement to put the Bay Area back on the film industry's map. To dive deeper into this discussion, check out the full episode of the Indie Playbook.

What exactly are vertical microdramas—and why is everyone suddenly talking about them? 📱🎬

In this episode of The Indie Playbook, the Flashback Pictures team dives into the rapidly growing world of serialized, phone-first storytelling: short episodes, constant cliffhangers, and an evolving business model that’s already generating serious revenue.

Drawing from our experience making Pizza Guys vs. Vampires, we break down what it actually takes to write, produce, finance, and distribute a vertical series—and why creating great content is only half the battle. From paywalls and TikTok distribution to brand partnerships and reaching the right audience, we explore where the opportunities are for independent filmmakers.

We also look ahead at where vertical storytelling could go next. Will platforms like TikTok help microdramas break into the mainstream? Can indie filmmakers compete with major vertical studios? And as AI makes it easier to adapt content for different formats, could the future of filmmaking be less about what screen you create for and more about how quickly you can adapt?

Plus, Daniel takes us behind the scenes of Kong: Skull Island for this week's set story, sharing what he learned while working with the second unit on massive practical stunts, helicopters, explosions, and more.

Are vertical microdramas the next major evolution of entertainment—or just another format waiting for its moment?

Tune in to The Indie Playbook and decide for yourself. 🎥

How do independent films actually get financed—and where does the money come from?

In this episode of The Indie Playbook, Daniel Cotroneo, Grace Porras, and Dominic Russo break down the realities of independent film financing. From tax credits and private investors to pre-sales, gap financing, brand partnerships, and building a financeable package, they unpack the strategies filmmakers use to get movies made outside the traditional studio system. Along the way, they share lessons from Flashback Pictures' own journey producing Time Windows, discuss why timing is just as important as a great script, and explain why no good idea is ever truly dead.

Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, producer, or entrepreneur, this episode offers a practical roadmap for turning a great idea into a funded feature.

AI is transforming filmmaking faster than ever—but is it replacing creativity or unlocking new possibilities?

In this episode of The Indie Playbook, Daniel Cotroneo and Dominic Russo are joined by filmmaker Blane Dydasco to unpack one of the biggest debates in Hollywood today: the rise of artificial intelligence. Inspired by George Lucas' recent comments on AI, they explore how these new tools are changing film production, the future of creative jobs, why story still comes first, and what independent filmmakers should embrace—and be cautious of—as the industry evolves.

Whether you're a filmmaker, writer, content creator, or simply curious about the future of storytelling, this episode offers a thoughtful look at where AI fits in the next chapter of cinema.

Everybody's talking about Hollywood's future—but history shows we've been here before.

In episode 3 of The Indie Playbook, Daniel Cotroneo, Grace Porras, and Dominic Russo explore how filmmakers like George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese built new paths outside the traditional studio system—and what independent filmmakers can learn from them today. They discuss creating opportunities instead of waiting for them, why ownership matters, the fight for audience attention, and how reviving the Bay Area film community could shape the next generation of storytellers.

Whether you're a filmmaker, writer, content creator, or entrepreneur, this episode is a reminder that disruption often creates the biggest opportunities.

Hollywood is looking for its next great filmmaker—and increasingly, they're finding them on YouTube.

In Episode 2 of The Indie Playbook, Daniel Cotroneo, Grace Porras, and Dominic Russo explore the surprising rise of YouTube creators becoming Hollywood's newest directors.

The conversation dives into why studios are scouting creators instead of film school graduates, the skills YouTube teaches that traditional education often doesn't, the realities behind low-budget productions, and whether independent filmmakers should focus less on waiting for opportunities—and more on creating their own.

Whether you're a filmmaker, content creator, writer, or simply curious about where the entertainment industry is headed, this episode offers an honest look at how the path into Hollywood is changing—and why building an audience may be just as valuable as building a résumé.

Hollywood is changing fast. Traditional production models are shrinking, jobs are disappearing, and creators everywhere are asking the same question: What comes next?

In this premiere episode of The Indie Playbook, Daniel Cotroneo, Grace Porras and Dominic Russo from Flashback Pictures pull back the curtain on how they're building an independent film studio in the middle of one of the film industry's biggest disruptions. They discuss developing films, the rise of vertical filmmaking, and AI-assisted animation.

Whether you're a filmmaker, writer, content creator, or someone just trying to break into the entertainment industry, this episode offers a candid look at what it takes to build a creative career when the rules are being rewritten.