We’re seeking stories and concepts that push the boundaries of what’s possible in modern storytelling. Projects that may have felt impossible to do by yourself or too extensive to justify the time or funds required. Our focus is on helping you all develop films that not only stand on their own but also have the capacity to be developed into feature-films shown on the big screen one day.

• Short-Flms: Why short films? They strike the perfect balance. We aim to challenge creators to move beyond the content they’ve mastered online while providing a manageable step toward feature-length filmmaking. Short films allow creators to explore storytelling on a deeper level, develop professional skills, and lay the groundwork for even bigger projects in the future.

• Length: We’re seeking short films between 15–20 minutes in length.

• Genre Freedom: Your film can be in any genre, as long as it tells a story. (Note: Documentaries won’t be accepted and we’d like to stray away from Horror as much as possible for this program.)

• Collaboration: The goal of this program is to take creators from the internet to producing a short film, and eventually, a feature film that could be shown in theaters worldwide.
  

  • Feature-length films and even short-films require collaboration with larger teams, and we know that many of you have primarily worked independently, this program is designed to guide you through the process of working alongside others. To ensure this growth, you’ll be required to work with at least two crew members—whether that’s a cinematographer, producer, or sound designer.

  • We want to make this transition feel like a fun challenge as opposed to a daunting task. We’re here to help every step away.

We’ve designed this program to provide both the financial resources to elevate your project and additional financial opportunities tied to the project to free up your time and focus on creating your best work (Ex: Festival Participation Bonus + Sponsorships).

I) Funding

• Film Production Budget

• We want creators to carefully consider how each dollar is spent and how it contributes to the final vision. As part of the application, you’ll be required to craft a budget proposal/breakdown of costs within the ‘treatment’ you submit.

• This funding is meant to empower you to elevate your production quality, collaborate with crew members, and bring your vision to life with the resources you need.

• Whether it’s hiring talent, securing equipment, or enhancing post-production, these funds are exclusively for crafting your film.

• Festival Participation Bonus

• In addition to the production budget, creators will receive a $5,000 appearance bonus for their role in the festival and promoting their film and screening*.

• This bonus acknowledges the time and energy you’ll dedicate to participating in the festival, engaging with the audience, and representing your work.

• It’s also a way for us to ensure you’re supported personally, giving you the freedom and time to focus fully on the creative process.

• Digital Distribution Promotion Bonus

• After the festival your film will have a digital release on Patreon’s new screening platform. In addition to the festival participation bonus you’ll receive another bonus for promoting the virtual release to the world.

The appearance bonus & distribution bonus as well as posting terms outlined are subject to change at the sole discretion of the Company. Any modifications will be communicated as promptly as possible and are not guaranteed until confirmed in writing. (we have to do this for legal reasons).

• Additional Revenue Opportunities

• World-Building Support: The Camp team alongside a group of designers will work in partnership with you to create and design merchandise to build a world around your short film. Think posters, clothing, stickers, pins, and anything else you can dream up (think: miniature figures, etc.. ) These elements are aimed at giving the audience a way to engage with the world & narrative you’ve created.
  
  As part of this program, we’ll collaborate to develop at least one product inspired by your film. This ensures every project leaves a lasting impression and opens up additional opportunities for audience connection and engagement.

• Brand Sponsorship Opportunities: Throughout the program you may have the opportunity to collaborate with our event sponsors, such as Epidemic Sound, Shopify, and others. These partnerships are designed to be easy and manageable for creators, so you can stay focused on your main project. The goal is to create sponsorships that support and highlight your film, building momentum leading up to its release.

  Examples of potential collaborations include:

  • Epidemic Sound sponsoring a behind-the-scenes video of your film, highlighting your creative process and how music elevates storytelling.

  • Shopify working with you on a campaign to showcase the launch of your film’s merchandise.

  • Collaborative posts on social media with sponsors, providing additional visibility and credibility to your project.
    

II) Dedicated Producer

• You’ll have access to a dedicated producer who will be your go-to resource throughout the entire process and will help guide you through the process of working with two crew members. This person is here to ease your anxiety and make this fun, not stressful (as much as possible), especially if it’s your first time working with a crew or managing a production of this scale.

  From logistics and casting to securing crew and navigating the production process, they’ll help you stay on track and ensure everything runs smoothly. They’ll also check in with you on weekly or bi-weekly calls to provide guidance, answer questions, and troubleshoot any challenges you encounter.

  Think of your producer as your partner in bringing your vision to life—someone who will help you focus on the creative process while handling the behind-the-scenes details with care and expertise.
  
  

III) Creative Retreats (Travel, Lodging, Food, etc. All expenses paid)

Our approach to these retreats builds on the spirit of our Base Camp events but takes it even further, with an intimate space where everyone lives and works together under one roof—Brockhampton-style.

Both of the following retreats are designed to foster a sense of community—one that carries beyond the program. Making a film is a team effort, and these retreats replicate that experience in a meaningful way. As much as these retreats are about helping you develop your film, they’re equally about creating a collaborative community and a shared journey.

• Retreat 1 (Writing): (Tentatively January 4-8)

  • This retreat sets the stage for your project, bringing the cohort together for an inspiring week of workshops, writing sessions, and creative exploration.

  • You’ll work alongside peers and seasoned mentors, including experienced screenwriters, who will provide feedback and resources to help you refine your vision.

  • The focus is on collaboration and pushing boundaries. Whether it’s brainstorming twists, fine-tuning dialogue, or finding the heart of your story, this retreat is where ideas transform into a clear blueprint for your film.

• Retreat 2 (Editing & 1st Screening): (Tentatively March 11-16)

  • Fine-Tune and Finalize: Work on key post-production elements like editing, color grading, and sound design, with support from peers and mentors to perfect your project for its premiere.

  • Share your film’s current version with the cohort, gather constructive feedback, and test your audio and visuals in a real movie theater setting to ensure everything is festival-ready.

We want to be upfront and transparent about where and how we landed on our deal terms for the short films. When discussing what felt right, we eventually landed on Creator Camp holding a 60% ownership stake and the filmmaker having a 40% stake. We still believe this is a split that helps both us and the creator grow and succeed, however, we wanted to find even more ways to develop these contracts further with the creator in mind. This next section dives into our thought process behind why and how we want to make that possible.

This structure is the result of many months of careful consideration, conversations with industry experts, and reflecting on what would truly set creators up for success while keeping the business sustainable. We’ve worked hard to find the right balance—ensuring that artists maintain creative control and meaningful ownership over their work while enabling Creator Camp to provide the resources, funding, and long-term support needed to make these films a reality.

The contract for the project’s IP ownership will operate under something modeled off a SAFE agreement. For a bit of context: this style of contract was first developed for start-ups in 2013 as an easier and more transparent way to structure deals (read more here). We believe that for the same reasons SAFEs became the industry standard for early-stage businesses, a similar style of agreement could become the new standard for funding the next generation of filmmakers. 

In this scenario, the way this agreement would work is that you will maintain a 100% stake in the IP of the project until there is a “conversion event.” This conversion event would only happen if there is further development of the project after the festival (this could include scenarios where the IP of the project is adapted into a feature-length film, expanded into another medium, or even sold). 

This shared ownership model gives autonomy during the initial stages of development and allows for you to maintain 100% of the project if it’s never developed further. However, the best case scenario for everyone is If after the festival, there is potential and desire to take this project further. Then, the conversion of our 60% allows us to have a meaningful stake in the project, ensuring the program is economically sustainable for our team. This allows us to grow and help support other short films while creating opportunities for your film to grow into something bigger—whether that’s sequels, spin-offs, or feature-length adaptations.

At the core of this model is partnership. We only win if you win, and we’ve designed this structure to be collaborative, fair, and focused on shared success.

Shedding Light On The Traditional Studio Models:

Producing high-quality films requires significant funding, professional support, and resources requires substantial investment & risk.

Traditional Studio Model:

• Ownership: Studios typically retain 100% ownership of the film and its associated intellectual property rights. Directors are usually compensated with upfront fees and may receive bonuses for exceptional performance, but they seldom share in ongoing revenue.

• Creative Control: While directors are central to a film’s vision, ultimate creative control often resides with the studio. This can lead to alterations in scripts, casting, or final edits that may differ from the director’s original intent.

• Revenue Sharing: Traditionally, directors in the film industry typically receive 5–7% of a film’s net profits, with high-profile directors occasionally earning up to 20% in exceptional cases.

• Merchandise & Licensing: Studios control all revenue from merchandise, streaming deals, and licensing agreements.

What Makes Our Model Different?

In traditional film production, creators often give up their ownership and see minimal returns on their projects. Our model aims to flip the script (pun-intended):

• Ownership: With 40% ownership, you’re gaining a much higher stake in your project—far more than traditional models offer. This ensures you’ll benefit directly from the film’s success, whether through sequels, licensing, or merchandise sales.

• Creative Autonomy: Once we’ve aligned on an agreed-upon concept or rough story, you’ll have full creative control over your film. This ensures that your vision remains at the forefront while also providing a clear foundation for collaboration at the start of the process.

• Support and Expertise: Beyond funding, we provide you with resources, mentorship, and a dedicated producer to guide you through every stage of the process. Additionally, we’ll handle marketing and distribution to ensure your film reaches the widest possible audience.
  
  

What The Deal Entails:

• Revenue Sharing

  • Licensing: Should the film secure a licensing deal (e.g., with a streaming platform or distributor), Creator Camp will take 60% of the revenue, and you’ll receive 40%.

  • Merchandise: Revenue from merchandise sales will also follow the 60/40 split, ensuring you benefit from the success of any products inspired by your film.
    
    

• Marketing Support:

  • Creator Camp will invest in marketing and promotion for the film festival, ensuring your project gains visibility and reaches a wide audience.

  • While Creator Camp will oversee the creative direction of the marketing strategy to ensure consistency and maximum impact, we value your input as a partner in the process. We’ll consult with you to align on key elements, ensuring the marketing reflects your vision.
    
    

• First-Look Rights

  • Similar to early stage start-ups, the assumption is that 99% of projects won’t make the investors money. While we do believe there are ways to re-coup funds via merchandise, etc, it’s projected to cover our investments, not to make any significant money that would fund our team. This is why we wanted to include the next two clauses, which allow us to find other opportunities to have up-side and hopefully keep this business growing.

  • To continue supporting your creative journey, Creator Camp will have a non-exclusive first-look rights for any new short or feature projects you develop within 18 months of signing this agreement. What this means: If you decide to pursue a different project from your short film after the fest, we’ll be the first folks you come to and we’ll have a 30-day window to discuss potential collaboration. If we (or you) decide we aren’t the best partners for this project, you have the freedom to partner with anyone else to fund and help develop your project.

  • While we may not be the lead developers or financiers, we also retain passive co-financing rights during this period. This means, we would have the opportunity to finance any future projects within the 18-month period after signing, even if we aren’t the main production or distribution partner.

  • These terms are important for us in ensuring we can have upside down the road (especially given all of the odds are stacked against us from a traditional financial or investment perspective). 

  
  

• After The Festival
  Your film will have a dual digital release:

  • Patreon: A premiere screening for dedicated audiences with exclusive content.

  • YouTube: A wider release on the Creator Camp YouTube channel.

  Just as an independent film studio like A24 would distribute and release a film under their banner, these films represent a new wave of storytelling under the Creator Camp umbrella. The Creator Camp YouTube channel serves as the dedicated platform for these films because this project is a collaborative effort funded and supported by Creator Camp.
  
  By hosting the films on a centralized channel, we’re not only giving them the prestige of being part of a larger collection but also distinguishing these projects as unique, standalone pieces separate from the creators’ typical content.
  
  Final Note
  

  These sections are incredibly important, and again, something that we wanted to be as transparent as possible with. We would hate for someone to spend days/weeks on an application only to find out that the terms were something they weren't comfortable with. We want you all to know how this program works before deciding to apply! 

  
  I imagine many of you will have follow up questions, or potentially even push back (which is something we are very open to hearing out). This is our first time sharing this, so If you have any major questions or concerns about this section, please reach out to max@creatorcamp.co – I would love to get on a call to walk through any of this and provide any clarity or additional context as to why we arrived on any of these clauses or terms!

• November 25th: Applications open. You’ll have a 2-week window to submit your application, including your treatment.

• December 9th: Final submission deadline.

• December 9th – 15th: Application review and selection process.

• Mid-December: Selected participants will start flushing out their concepts, engaging in initial writing and pre-production.

• Early January: The program officially kicks off with a 4-5 day writing retreat in Austin, TX.

• End of January: Finalize writing and pre-production.

• February 1st – 21st: Shooting window (3 weeks to film your project).

• February 24th – March 7th: First draft editing.

• March 7th – 15th: Create and finalize your trailer.

• March 11th – 16th: Second creative retreat in Austin, TX, focusing on editing, trailer screenings, and peer feedback.

• March 16th: Watch the first version of your film with the cohort at Violet Crown Theater.

• March 17th: Trailers go live for public viewing.

• March 17th – April 1st: Bonus period for reshooting, scoring, and refining.

• April 1st: Final drafts of films are due.