Ready to Make Your Movie?
You have stories that deserve to be told.
Learn how to fund, write, direct, and produce them.
Ready to Make Your Movie?
You have stories that deserve to be told.
Learn how to fund, write, direct, and produce them.
Our Original Movies Have been Featured in:
Create cinema.
When most filmmakers start out, they focus on how to make their films look like a movie — and that’s a great place to start. You’ll learn exactly how to achieve that cinematic quality: the lighting, framing, and storytelling techniques that make your work stand out.
And then we step beyond. True cinema is about more than the image — it’s getting your film to feel like a movie: intentional, powerful, and uniquely yours.
Indie Film School was built to help you do both. From your first idea to your finished film, we’ll guide you step-by-step through the process — helping you fund your project, build your team, and bring your vision to life.
Everything You Need to Make It
Live Mentorship
Learn directly from working filmmakers in regular live-stream sessions. Hear what’s happening in the industry right now, get your questions answered in real time, and collaborate with award-winning directors who have actually done what you’re trying to do.
You’re not just watching pre-recorded lessons — you’re joining real conversations about filmmaking as it happens.
Labs + Courses
With over 100 video lessons, you’ll learn every stage of filmmaking — from funding and writing to directing and producing. We take you on set to see how it all comes together, breaking down real scenes and real decisions as they happen.
You’ll master the core principles of cinema — storytelling, lighting, composition, performance — and see how they translate from classroom to camera. By the end, you’ll understand not just how movies are made, but how to make your own.
Resources
We give you the tools, templates, and plug-and-play assets that walk you through every step of the filmmaking process. Shot list templates, pitch decks, script breakdowns, budget guides — all designed to help you move faster and stay focused on the creative work.
These aren’t just helpful extras — they’re professional tools and solutions for professional films.
Community
Filmmaking is a team sport. Inside Indie Film School, you’ll connect with fellow filmmakers, share your work, find collaborators, and get feedback from people who actually understand your journey.
This is where your crew begins — a community built for filmmakers who are serious about making movies.
Courses
Fund your film. Shoot your short. Make your movie.
Film Fundraising
$97
Think you need Hollywood money to make your film? Think again. This class breaks down a step-by-step approach to raising real money from real sources — even if you’ve never fundraised before. You’ll walk away with a custom funding strategy, pitch tools, templates, and the skills to confidently secure crowdfunding, grants, sponsorships, and private investment to bring your film to life without going into debt.
Directing
$197
If directing is the vision, producing is the engine. This masterclass equips you with the tools to actually get your film made from building budgets and schedules to managing crew, paperwork, and post-production workflows. But it doesn’t stop there — you’ll also master the art of pitching: how to talk about your project with clarity, confidence, and charisma, whether you’re speaking to investors, collaborators, or a festival panel. By the end, you’ll be ready to lead a production and sell it like a pro.
Producing and Pitching
$197
Ready to finally write the movie that’s been living in your head? This masterclass takes you from blank page to completed screenplay, guiding you through the entire writing process using proven story structure, professional formatting, and cinematic principles. By the end, you’ll not only have a script ready to shoot — you’ll understand how to write with purpose, power, and polish.
Screenwriting and Story Development
$197
This is more than just learning where to put the camera — it’s about learning how to lead. In this class, you’ll build a real directing plan for your next film, including shot lists, casting prep, location strategies, and visual references. But more than that, you’ll develop the confidence to run a set, communicate your vision, and direct like a pro under real-world conditions.
Short FilmMaking Track
Ready to make your first movie? Start here.
If you've never made a film before, this track is built for you. We'll walk you step-by-step through getting your first short film funded, written, directed, shot, finished, and promoted. Learn how to build a real crew, work with actors, and submit your film to festivals around the world — without going broke or getting stuck. By the end, you'll have a complete short film you’re proud of and the skills to do it again (but better) next time.
Feature Filmmaking Track
Taking the leap into your first full-length feature? This is your roadmap.
You’ll learn how to design, fund, and finish your feature film with a proven framework for today’s market. From developing a concept that sells to raising real money and reaching real audiences, we’ll show you exactly how to turn your dream project into a real, watchable movie.
These two tracks meet you wherever you are — whether you’re brand new or ready to scale up — and guide you through the process of actually making your movie.
Indie Film Instructors
Renny Grames and Boston McConnaughey are a husband-and-wife filmmaking duo behind Alien Country—a hilarious, award-winning, genre-bending feature now streaming on all platforms.
Since joining forces in 2011, their original content has amassed over 250 million views and led to collaborations with brands like Reebok, Sony Pictures, Google, Gatorade, and Coca-Cola. Through their company Story Mode, they create stories that take a “step beyond everyday.”
Their debut feature Alien Country—crafted through four years of grit, a global pandemic, and first-time parenthood—won Best Comedy Feature at Flickers International Film Festival and screened at Trieste Science + Fiction and FrightFest UK. They hope their journey inspires other storytellers to chase their cinematic dreams.
You won’t just get theory or outdated film-school lectures — you’ll get real instruction from working creatives. Each lesson is built from hard-earned experience, showing you exactly how to move your project from idea to finished film.
We don’t just tell you what to do — we show you how we’ve done it, WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW on our current projects, and walk you through yours, step-by-step. Why? Because we wish someone had showed us the way.
Our Clients Include:
Learn. Create. Collaborate.
Attend Upcoming LiveStreams:
Built for Filmmakers Like You
Indie Film School was built for any storyteller ready to turn their ideas into films.
Whether you’re making your very first short or stepping up to your first feature, this is your roadmap. We meet you wherever you are and give you the tools, training, and community to move from dream to finished movie. The school was built for:
First-time filmmakers who need a clear step-by-step path.
Writers and creators who want to see their stories on screen.
YouTubers and content creators ready to level up into cinema.
Indie directors and producers determined to fund, shoot, and finish their own films.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to make your movie — this is it.
Where do you want to be One Year From Today?
Walk away with more than just a movie:
In one year, you could have a short film written, funded, and finished — something real, something you can share with the world. You’ll know how to get into festivals, connect with your audience, and market your work so it actually gets seen.
For those ready to produce their first feature, we’ll give you the fundraising and marketing plan you need to create work that stands out and secures the financial backing you deserve.
That’s the purpose of Indie Film School: to give you the tools, knowledge, and community to make your movie — and build a sustainable path as an independent filmmaker with friendships and meaningful connection.
Let’s get your Movie made:
🔥 Early Bird Black Friday Deal – Limited to the First 100 Students!
From now until the end of Black Friday, the first 100 students to join Indie Film School can lock in their membership for OVER 60% OFF the annual plan.
Prefer monthly? You still save 50% every month!
And here’s the big one —
New students who pay upfront will also get a private, 30-minute one-on-one Filmmaker Consultation to plan your goals, projects, and next steps with your instructors.
This offer disappears after the first 100 seats are filled — don’t wait.
Most Popular
Yearly
$27/Month
Annual, Pay in Full - Billed upfront at $327
Total Savings of 60% OFF!
MONTHLY
$35/month
Annual, 12 Installments - Billed Monthly at $35
Total savings of nearly 50% OFF!
12 PAYMENTS
Join now and get instant access to:
Career Roadmap Consultation — Learn how to design films that get made, get seen, and make money. (***YEARLY PLAN MEMBERS ONLY***)
Full Filmmaking Curriculum —Step-by-step courses on writing, directing, producing, and funding your own movies.
Film Funding Masterclass — Learn how to raise real money for your projects (the same system we used to fund over $1M in indie films).
On-Set Training — Go behind the scenes of a real feature film and see how professional sets run.
Regular Live Classes & Q&As — Get direct feedback, personalized guidance, and new lessons multiple times per month.
Professional Templates & Downloads — Budgets, pitch decks, contracts, shot lists, schedules, and more.
Private Filmmaker Community — Connect, collaborate, and get feedback from other creators and instructors.
Annual ALL ACCESS — New courses, updates, and bonuses added regularly.
FAQ:
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Indie Film School is for anyone who wants to make original, story-driven movies — not just create content. Whether you’ve never picked up a camera or you’re ready to direct your first feature, our step-by-step labs and courses will help you fund, write, direct, and produce your own films from start to finish.
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Each course is taught through cinematic, on-demand video lessons, templates, and real-world examples from our own award-winning film Alien Country. You can study at your own pace or join our optional weekly live sessions for hands-on guidance and community Q&A.
Once enrolled, you’ll have instant access to your chosen course and can move through it at your own speed — no deadlines, no pressure. -
Each course focuses on one essential stage of the filmmaking process:
Funding Lab: Learn how to finance your film without debt — from grants and sponsorships to crowdfunding and private investors.
Writing Lab: Master screenplay structure, character arcs, and dialogue using modern screenwriting methods.
Directing Lab: Learn how to work with actors, design your shots, and create emotionally powerful performances on any budget.
Producing Lab: Understand scheduling, budgeting, contracts, and distribution so you can actually finish and sell your movie.
You can take any course individually or follow our complete Filmmaker Path to fund, shoot, and finish your first short or feature.
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Each full course contains 5–10 modules (roughly 2–4 hours of content) designed to be completed over 4–6 weeks. But you can move faster or slower — you’ll have lifetime access to all lessons once you enroll.
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Every module includes:
A cinematic video masterclass (10–20 minutes each)
Downloadable templates, checklists, and examples
Optional creative exercises to apply what you’ve learned
Real case studies from Alien Country and other indie films
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If you plan to follow along at the recommended pace, set aside 3–5 hours per week for watching lessons, completing exercises, and working on your project. If you join live sessions, add another hour per week.
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Our Indie Film Crew Membership includes access to weekly live workshops and Q&A sessions with Boston and Renny. These sessions rotate between filmmaker-focused topics (funding, directing, producing) and film-lover hangouts (watch-parties, behind-the-scenes breakdowns).
All sessions are recorded, so if you can’t attend live, you can watch the replay anytime. -
You’ll have lifetime access to all video lessons, templates, and updates. If you join the membership, you’ll also gain access to the live sessions, recordings, and community forum for 12 months — with the option to renew.
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Inside the community, you can share your work, get peer feedback, and find creative collaborators. For higher-tier members, occasional project feedback and office hours are included in the live sessions.
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No problem. You can start with our labs and learn the fundamental concepts to build confidence and get your plan in place before diving into production. There’s no deadline — your access never expires.
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That’s completely fine. Our goal is to give you the tools and roadmap — your film moves forward at your own pace. You can revisit any lesson, template, or recording whenever you’re ready.
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If you’re not satisfied, you can request a full refund within 14 days of purchase, as long as you haven’t accessed more than 25% of the course material.
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Absolutely! You can gift a course or membership to another filmmaker. You’ll receive a digital gift card you can print or send via email, and the recipient can redeem it anytime.
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We specialize in narrative cinema — stories with characters, emotion, and visual storytelling. Whether you’re making a short film, a feature, or an experimental hybrid project, you’ll learn the same tools we used to create a movie that toured festivals around the world and sold internationally.
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Not at all. We’ll show you how to create cinematic results with whatever resources you have — from DSLRs and smartphones to full cinema rigs. The focus is on story, vision, and execution, not budget.