Case Study: From Marketing Student to $400,000 TV Deal

How My Brother Became the First Test of This System—From Beginner to Show-Runner

The Journey: The Original Test Case

An Organic Beginning to What Became Netflix Documentary Mastery
My brother's journey began in the most organic way possible. He wasn’t a filmmaker; he was studying marketing in school when I saw his potential. He didn’t have any experience, but I needed someone, and I believed he could learn by doing. He became the first person to experience what would eventually become Netflix Documentary Mastery, although at the time, it was just me figuring things out with him by my side.

He was thrown into the deep end, learning hands-on as I produced The Pearl of Africa. This wasn’t a classroom; it was real, raw experience. He watched how I made decisions, solved problems, and navigated the complex world of documentary filmmaking. From setting up shoots to dealing with logistics, he was beside me every step of the way.

At first, the challenges were overwhelming. There were doubts, mistakes, and struggles. He had no formal training, and I didn’t spoon-feed him. But that was exactly the point. He had to learn by being involved, by doing everything right beside me. As time went on, he began to gain confidence. One of his big breakthroughs was when he pitched our film at IDFA, a major documentary festival. That pitch helped us secure a spot at the festival, which eventually led to a deal with Netflix. This success marked a significant turning point, proving that he was not only capable but thriving.

Independent Project: Creating a TV Show from Scratch

How the System Took Him From My Side to Standing on His Own
After the experience of working alongside me, my brother was ready for more. He decided to take on his own project. He had an idea to document a young Swedish Formula One driver—a teenager striving to make it to the top ranks of motorsport. It was an ambitious project, and he was initially unsure if he could pull it off alone. But I encouraged him to use everything he’d learned.

He used the same methods that we had developed together: he shot footage, developed the concept, crafted a pitch, and produced a professional pitch deck. He spent a year gathering material, shooting, and pitching—all independently. He was following the very blueprint that I teach in Netflix Documentary Mastery today.

Eventually, he pitched it to major Swedish broadcasters. And he did it. He secured a $400,000+ budget for a multi-year TV series—entirely on his own. He handled everything from shooting to assembling a team, bringing in a Director of Photography and editors when the time came. What had started as an experiment—throwing him in to learn by doing—had become a complete, self-sustaining success.

Key Milestones: The Path from Beginner to Show-Runner

The Evolution of a Guinea Pig—Key Transformations

• The Original Test Subject: He began as a marketing student with no filmmaking experience. I brought him on board, making him the first to experience my hands-on approach.
• Learning By Doing: He worked beside me during the production of The Pearl of Africa, taking on bigger roles as his confidence grew.
• First Big Break: He pitched The Pearl of Africa to major festivals, leading to a Netflix deal—his first experience of real, high-stakes success.
• Led His Own Project: He went from helping me to leading his own TV series—a documentary about a young Formula One driver—taking it from just an idea to a fully developed pitch.
• Secured Funding: He successfully pitched and secured a $400,000+ budget for the series, doing it all independently using the same steps taught in this course.

Proof of Versatility

The Course’s First Graduate: Proof It Works Across Platforms
My brother’s story is not just about Netflix. His success proves that the skills taught in Netflix Documentary Mastery are versatile and work for any platform—whether you're aiming for a streaming service, a traditional broadcaster, or an independent distributor. The same step-by-step process that helped us secure a Netflix deal also led him to secure a major Swedish TV deal. The journey that started organically with my brother has become the system that now helps aspiring filmmakers take their projects from an idea to something real and impactful.

Key Takeaways: Lessons for Aspiring Filmmakers

The Skills, the Mindset, and the Journey—What You’ll Learn

• Believe in Yourself and Your Vision: Just like my brother, the first and most important step is to believe in your own potential. The course helps you build the confidence you need by showing you how to take each crucial step.
• Learn from Experience—Without Years of Trial and Error: My brother gained his edge by learning beside me, seeing firsthand how to handle every step of production. Netflix Documentary Mastery provides you with that same kind of learning—lessons that come from real experience, not just theory.
• Commit and Push Through Challenges: Success doesn’t come without setbacks. My brother learned that the hard way, committing fully to his project even when the road wasn’t clear. This course helps you do the same—stay accountable, work through obstacles, and finish your film no matter what.
• A Versatile Blueprint for Any Platform: The same system that sold The Pearl of Africa to Netflix also helped my brother get funding for his TV series with a major Swedish broadcaster. This blueprint works across the industry, not just for Netflix, helping you tailor your pitch to the right platform for your project.