How I Sold My Film To Netflix

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by movies. But when I decided to make it into a career I was hit by the harsh reality of wasting money and five years in useless film schools that didn't teach me how to make a living.

I almost gave up, but then Robert Rodriguez's film El-Mariachi inspired me. It showed me that you can succeed despite limited resources. I won't sugarcoat it. It was tough. However, I set out to sell my film to Netflix without money or connections -- and I did it.

This is what I learned:

1. You must make a film to prove you can get PAID to make a film.
2. The process of making a film is your film school.
3. The only shortcut is to learn how to pitch a great story.

I wish I had known this when I started making films. It frustrates me that nobody tells you this. Back then, I would have killed to have the blueprint I used to transform my career from a nobody to pitching Hollywood and earning a six-figure income.

Instead, I was overwhelmed by too much filmmaking information. I was afraid to fail and felt lost and unsure of where to begin. I didn’t know what film I’d like to make. I didn’t believe I had what it takes to make a film. So, I became a cinematographer and editor for many years instead of making my films. I didn’t dare to call myself a director until my second feature documentary film. My perfectionism was standing in the way of my progress and I was terrified of wasting money and time.

It wasn’t my fault, though. The industry projected this reality onto me. I was insecure and even though I wanted to make films I found a million reasons not to do them.

Instead, I listened to the industry myth of success:

1. Apply to film school.
2. Secure film funding.
3. Make a great film that you’re passionate about.
4. Live happily ever after.

What nonsense!

Just making a film on a topic you are passionate about isn’t a strategy. With nearly 11,000 documentaries released in 2020, according to IMDB, more than 3x the number released in 2000, documentary filmmaking is becoming very competitive.

What’s going to make YOURS stand out?
And how do you know how to develop your film?
How do you know if people want to pay for it?
And WHO do you sell this film to in the first place?
And how does it all happen?

After rejection from the top film school, I didn’t know where to start. So I convinced myself that investing $8,000 in a shitty film school was the second-best option. When that didn't work, I turned to film funding. There, I faced even more rejection. I felt lost & unsure of where to go.

What film was I going to make?

I didn’t know if I had what it takes to be successful. But despite that, I didn’t give up. Inspired by Robert Rodriguez's film "El Mariachi." I took a leap of faith and put my savings into creating a short film. My aim was audacious - to get into the prestigious Festival de Cannes. It pushed me into bankruptcy and forced me to take a temporary telemarketing gig to recover. But I got accepted into Cannes.

This proved that I had done something right. Not a great film, but there was something to build on. With this newfound confidence, I created my first self-funded doc, "Zero Silence."

But I was worried I would waste my time and money again. Despite that, I took a leap of faith, and THIS became my real film school. It was perfect timing. I captured the revolution in the Middle East long before everyone else. Even though the film was still in progress, it opened doors and got me into Sheffield Doc/Fest.

This allowed me to pitch to the European Broadcasters Union—a pitch-meet where top European executives buy their films for the year. I was told that one of the commissioning editors from BBC was a bully. Everyone feared him. This got me excited!

People had told me he would crush people if they did a boring pitch. But having grown up as a misfit, I fear no man, big or small. He was big. Anyway, I set out to conquer this villain of a commissioning editor.

I killed it. The evil commissioning editor loved the film. He wanted to buy it. But I somehow messed that up drunk at a party trying to push the film on him. This taught me a valuable lesson: don't pitch at parties. But also that I was onto something. I felt like I was grasping this mysterious "industry."

I had a revelation. It was all about that freakin pitch!

But not at the parties.

This epiphany fuelled me. It pushed me to set a new ambitious goal: to sell a doc to Netflix.

But I had no funding, so everybody said it was impossible. Against all odds, it happened. I credit this partly to being young, poor, and dumb.

But also the refusal to conform. It allowed me to develop the no-budget blueprint that has become my trademark. It allowed me to create cinematic films that are self-funded in development. This made sure I could tell stories as I wanted. After that, I've done many projects with expensive budgets. Do you know what I've realized? I tell the best stories with the least resources.

YOU CAN TOO!

The truth is all filmmakers face failure & rejection. But it's through these setbacks we find our way. It sparks creativity and uniqueness. Limitations are a tool for telling great stories. We throw things & hope it will work—most of the time, it doesn't.

But you must keep trying.

The world needs to hear your stories! Because the zombies at networks don't know what will work. Plus, they are bad at partying. And since filmmakers are abundant. They can use our creativity & eventually make a successful film. Let’s not accept that.

When Robert Rodriguez opened my eyes to dare to be bold, my life changed. Seeing another filmmaker who had done it motivated me to do the same. I analyzed everything he did. Then I failed for many years before discovering my way of doing things.

Failing is essential, but refusing to give up is even more critical. 

It angers me that less than 1% of film school graduates direct a full-length movie. This is crazy! I've done this for over 20 years and know it's not complicated. Once you realize how to do it, that is.

I want you to know that YOU can make a living telling YOUR stories. All you need is a GREAT story and knowledge of how to present it. This is what I can help you with. To develop your story and to learn how to pitch it.

Crafting a pitch that stands out among countless submissions is challenging. But let me tell you about my successful formula. First, the pitch must be tailored to Netflix's interests & capture the essence of your documentary. Just like a great film, it should hook the reader. This is where we need to write a killer synopsis that sells.

Allow me to share a personal anecdote on the impact of a compelling pitch. I had been trying to pitch Netflix for months. However, several Zoom calls were canceled at the last minute. I had a great trailer ready but couldn't get the meeting.  Then, I decided to do something bold. I took my savings and booked a trip to Los Angeles. I emailed the executive at Netflix, explaining that I was only there for a few days and wanted to meet. It worked. The urgency was the tipping point.

But what opened the doors was my standout pitch. It is crucial to get any industry acceptance. Without it, you won't get their attention. Since then, I've successfully sold several projects using my exact blueprint. I have even sold a TV show as a written two-paragraph proposal because there is an industry formula to pitching.

To get started, ask yourself:

• What is it that makes your film unique?
• Why is it relevant at this moment? 
• Why is it so freakin essential to hear this now?
• Why should you be the person making it?

This is the foundation of discovering your unique selling point. Use it.

Now it's easy to keep doing what everybody else does. You know, go to film school, apply for funding etc. But I did all that. And it didn’t get me to where I wanted. What changed everything was committing to make my first film no matter what. I set out to make a film that was possible with the resources I had. I developed an idea that was tailored to Netflix. Then, it was just a matter of executing on that mission.

Is It Really That Simple?

It might sound simple, but that’s because it is. Anyone can do it as long as you commit to your project.

But this isn’t a magic trick. You need to do the work. All I can do is give you the tools and instructions. Then it’s up to you to roll up your sleeves and do the dirty work. It will be hard, are you ready to commit to that?

This will take strategic work - and when done correctly, it takes less work than you think.

“Is selling to Netflix possible then?”
The answer is a resounding YES! But selling to any platform demands that you are willing to adapt the film to their preference. Everybody isn’t ready to do that.

While there is no guarantee, Netflix buys what they want at the time. It is better to focus on making your story as GREAT as it can be, then as you discover what that is, tailor it to the platform it fits the best.

I sold my film to Netflix. But it created an even bigger impact outside of Netflix. It led to big opportunities to make money in other ways. I started making ads for big brands. Today I even run a YouTube channel for a brand, Craft Sportswear. I was invited to speak at big events. I got tons of press with CNN even calling my web series “The Top African Show To Ditch House Of Cards For”. I’m not saying this to brag. I want you to know that this film you are making is your calling card. It is what you build your career upon.

Whatever film you make will show what you are capable of. So make sure it is something that you want to do for a long time.

And the best part?
You can accomplish this without the hassle I went through for over 20 years to learn it, in ONLY 2 hours, I will show you how to do it.

While I can't guarantee your success, I will share all the tools and secrets I use daily. It will set you up for success if you do the work. You need to start and commit to consistent progress. That is how I built my success. By doing a small thing every day, eventually, they stack up to create your success.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve learned and developed my system that ACTUALLY can create a sustainable, life-giving filmmaking career.

If you’re skeptical - welcome to the club.

Suppose you asked me in 2003 if I was interested in self-funding my first film, then going bankrupt, working a telemarketing gig to recover, and then making some more films without funding just to set me up for making a living.

I would have laughed in your face and taken the common industry path because it is like a snake charm. But the thing is, that path rarely leads to happiness.

The big TV shows I've done have made me the most miserable because my ideas were used for their agenda. I was forced to tell my stories in a way I didn’t enjoy. I felt used but couldn’t walk away because I had signed a deal I couldn’t back out of.

This experience taught me to build a solid story foundation to avoid exploitation. This is not something you learn in schools. It’s only attainable through life experience. This course focuses on developing your story so you set yourself up for the best filmmaking experience once you tell your stories professionally.

The world of filmmaking is insecure, but if you are serious about making a living telling your stories. Then, having the guidance of someone who knows the intricate details of what a successful filmmaking career is will help you immensely. You will speed up this process and avoid the pitfalls of signing contracts that make your life miserable.

Can you relate?
I’ve always had a stable paycheck. I’ve always done the “right” and provided for my family.

But I was dying inside.

I needed to do something different. To tell stories that can change the world.

I wanted to help people, be creative, and enjoy what I did - and I wanted to taste what successful filmmakers had tasted.

And by persevering through a lot of trial and error I figured it out.

Telling my stories professionally is possible - very possible.

You just need a strategic plan and system; otherwise, you’ll waste your time and kill your chances of success.

And I’m not about to let that happen to you.

So, I took 20 years of knowledge, success, pain, frustration, and experience and distilled it into a repeatable system.

Introducing...
An end-to-end, turn-key, proven system that slowly but surely turns your ideas, skills, and passions into an award-winning filmmaking career that pays your bills.

FROM IDEA TO NETFLIX will help you learn:

Storytelling Mastery
Discover the secrets of compelling storytelling and master the art of narrative structure.

Turn a vague idea into a Netflix-worthy film
Learn how to build characters and stories that resonate deeply with viewers, leaving a lasting impression.

Craft irresistible ideas
Learn how to tell your story and appeal to large audiences without losing your soul. This is key if you want to capture the attention of streaming platforms.

Conduct Powerful Research
Uncover the methods to gather compelling and engaging information that elevates your storytelling. But which also makes your film relevant and convinces Netflix of its potential.

Pitch Like a Pro
Develop the skills to package and present your projects in a way that grabs decision-makers attention, at Netflix and beyond. This guide teaches you to create a strong pitch deck, killer trailer, and how to present it.

Strategic Partnering
Learn who to partner with to make Netflix, and others listen to your proposal.

Thrive in the Industry
Insights into contract deals, what to avoid not to be taken advantage of, and what you need to consider in the early stages of a project.

Practical Filmmaking Skills
Learn practical filmmaking skills to create cinematic films that enhance your storytelling to stand out and forge a path to success.

FROM IDEA TO NETFLIX is a course that gives you the tools and proven system you need to create an award-winning film from any idea you are passionate about.

Throughout 7 action-packed and easy-to-follow modules, I’ll lay out my exact method for creating an award-winning film that sells.

This program is focused on four core areas:

• How to discover & tell a tremendous, unique story
• Developing a narrative that attracts broad audiences & Netflix
• Creation of a sellable film presentation
• My secret pitching formula

With those four components in place and optimized, all you have to do is focus on making your film, and your film will be successful.

It becomes a matter of execution - even if you’ve never made a film!
If you put in the work - you’ll get the results!

Module 1 - An award-winning idea
- How to find the perfect idea in a saturated market
- The Importance of Big Screen-worthy Characters
- The one thing most people are (foolishly) scared to do when pitching but will double your chances
- My filmmaking blueprint explained
- Overcoming sneaky mental barriers that keep most filmmakers from success
- A simple (and overlooked) strategy for turning an idea into a film
- EXERCISE: Articulating your idea
 
Module 2 - Develop your award-winning narrative
- How to turn a vague idea into a Netflix-worthy film
- Developing a sellable story without losing your soul
- How to research like a pro
- Using Hypotheses for Story Development
- Using research to build a cinematic story
- Outlining a narrative structure
- EXERCISE: Writing your synopsis & logline

Module 3 - Crafting a Great Story
- How to optimize your story to win awards and build massive income growth (and the biggest mistake most people make on their film)
- Why being passionate about a topic isn’t enough (and why big filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, Steven Speilberg, and Werner Herzog agree)
- A simple step-by-step storytelling formula to build your story so it sells without losing your soul.
- The best free and low cost way to make a great film
- How to create a compelling narrative
- How to develop a character arc
- How to tell a engaging cinematic story
- EXERCISE: Character & Story Development

Module 4 - Practical Filmmaking Skills 101
- Unveiling my proven low-cost method for creating a great film (without film funding)
- Developing your cinematic style
- How to shoot a cinematic film
- Simplifying gear and situations
- How you shoot and record great audio
- EXERCISE: Contacting your protagonist and plan a shoot

Module 5 - Pitch Like a Pro
- Introduction to the Art of Pitching
- The Potential Impact of a Successful Pitch
- A proven strategy I’ve used to sell TV shows without filming anything
- The building blocks of the perfect pitch
- Shaping your pitch deck
- Strategic Partnering
- What is a great pitch trailer?
- Planning your pitch trailer
- EXERCISE: Shoot & edit your pitch trailer

Module 6 - Finalizing the pitch
- Editing the pitch trailer
- How to create a pitch deck that is virtually guaranteed to sell (and practically sell itself!)
- Word-for-word pitch scripts to create powerful pitches that do the selling for you
- A powerful psychological technique I use that virtually guarantees a sale
- The sales playbook that will teach you how to write to get inside the buyer’s head
- Pitching Practice and feedback
- EXERCISE: Research & Contact Strategic Partners

Module 7 - Avoiding Industry Evils
- How I make money from my filmmaking - A case study in film funding
- The only 4 core things that will drive your filmmaking career and my proven blueprint of what to do every single week to progress
- How to avoid being used by the zombies
- How to tell your story without losing your soul
- Legal pitfalls to avoid
- Planning your project to avoid the daemons
- Why a systematic approach to filmmaking is your power tool for long-term filmmaking growth
- EXERCISE: Creating a checklist to avoid pitfalls