Creator Collab Metaphor Philosophy:
I believe in creators having full access to their own movie theaters. In collaboration with my scene partners and producers of the films, we work together to share the film in our theatre groups. Collaboration is not the issue. In fact, I welcome it. If another director helps me film my vision, I would gladly return the favor. I would never attach conditions like, “I only help if I can sell the movie in my theater.” Helping film does not entitle someone to ownership. I consider this volunteer work, unless otherwise discussed in advance.
Where I draw the line is leasing my films to foreign markets at competitive prices, markets that my company doesn't have a working relationship with. When that happens, those markets become my competition, selling my work while undercutting the very theater I built. What if they release the movie before I do and everyone has seen it before the actual premiere? I gain no advantage from that arrangement, and worse, it actively works against me.
I am also not interested in being filmed by other actors or companies who intend to sell my movie through their private theater chains. If I earn no benefit from that distribution, then I am effectively funding someone else’s success with my own work.
My ultimate goal is to grow my movie franchise. To do that, I need to retain 100% of the revenue generated from the films I produce and star in. That revenue is not excess—it goes directly back into improving production value, expanding the vision, and making the next installment better than the last. That is how a single film becomes a trilogy hit.
This isn’t about control for control’s sake. It’s about sustainability, growth, and honoring the creator’s investment. When creators retain ownership and revenue, everyone benefits—especially the work itself.
*This pertains specifically to content creator collabs and not pro studio work.