Season 3 of Truly Independent is here—supported by the Help Them See Foundation, a nonprofit backing feature films that inspire faith, hope, and connection. Learn more or get involved: https://helpthemseefoundation.org

In this episode, Garrett Batty and co-host Darren Smith catch up after a festival road trip (Newport Beach, AFI, Austin) and break down a practical strategy that’s outperforming cold pitches: salon-style investor lunches. Then we tackle a big topic every filmmaker feels—the supply & demand imbalance—and how to align passion projects with real marketplace demand without selling your soul. We also dig into rights/ownership and why finished projects with clean rights win.

If you’re writing, producing, or trying to raise money for your film, this one’s for you.

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