Producer Fund I

Creating a truly independent, profitable film ecosystem

"We are convinced, finally, to change by hearing the stories of those who risked and triumphed."
~Shawn Coyne

"God's purpose for the artist is to inspire. To give us visions of ourselves that we might not otherwise see. To make us better than we would have been. The world is better for the arts and artists in it. Few earthly things bring joy more fully to the world than the arts."
~ Russell Ballard

Fund Overview

Producer Fund I is structured as a series limited liability company (Series LLC) under Craftsman Film Ventures LLC, with a minimum investment of $10,000. The fund targets a 33% IRR over a 4-year investment period overlapping a 9-year recoupment period (10-year total length), with quarterly reporting and annual audits.

Our risk mitigation approach includes:

Diversification across 10 film projects
Pre-secured distribution channels
Audience-first data analytics
Tax incentive optimization (typically 25-40% of production budgets)
Built-in marketing budget for every project

Here's me presenting the fund at my Utah Film Investor Summit in January 2025, to a room of 65 accredited investors:

(Apologies for the vertical video!)

Questions? Shoot me an email.

Summary

The Opportunity

The film industry is in flux. Major studios are pulling back, yet audience demand for meaningful, values-based, family-friendly content has never been higher. Producer Fund I is designed to seize this gap, developing and producing 10 theatrical, PG-13 or lower, values-driven films that change people for good while delivering consistent, above-market returns.

The Model

Fund Size: $10M deployed over 4 years across 10 films
Target Return: 8–10x gross (33.9% IRR), LPs get 100% recoupment + 20% preferred return
Capital is called as needed (2–3 films/year); LP distributions begin in Year 2
Greenlight process ensures pre-secured distribution, audience development, tax incentives, and production leverage
No sales at festivals. We retain ownership and maximize lifetime revenue

Why This Fund Wins

Ownership: Unlike most film investments, LPs maintain ongoing participation in all revenue, not just recoup
Leverage: Our films use proven strategies like international production incentives, built-in audience marketing, and story-driven casting to stretch $1–2.5M budgets to feel like $5-7M
Momentum: Four films already completed by the GP, Daren Smith, with strong lessons shaping this repeatable, scalable model
Distribution in Place: We have LOIs from theatrical and digital distributors, streamers, and international sales partners for all 10 films
Timing: Studios are pulling back; theaters need content; audiences are craving aligned stories

Who This Is For

We’re looking for 4–5 aligned founding investors to commit $500K–$2.5M each:

Builders, founders, and investors looking for cultural legacy + asymmetric returns
Values-driven leaders who want to shape what families watch, not just consume it
Investors who see media as one of the most powerful cultural forces and want ownership in it