How to Finance & Package Films Without Studios: Kevin Nicklaus on IP, Indie Production & Hollywood’s Shift
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In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie Lepage interviews Kevin Nicholas, head of production and partner at Sandstone Artists, a Los Angeles-based entertainment management company focused on talent, literary management, and independent film and television production. Nicholas shares his journey from studio development executive to independent producer, highlighting how the collapse of traditional studio power has led to a fragmented but fertile landscape for independent creators. He discusses the shift away from studio-backed filmmaking toward self-sustained production models, emphasizing the importance of building IP from the ground up—through comics, video games, or social media—and leveraging pre-existing audiences via platforms like Manta Comics. Nicholas advocates for resizing projects to fit cost-effective financing, utilizing tax incentives across locations like upstate New York and Eastern Europe, and forming strategic partnerships with non-traditional investors, including influencers and toyetic brands. He also stresses the importance of genre-driven storytelling, romantic narratives, and authentic audience engagement over star power, especially for lower-budget projects. The conversation touches on the challenges of financing third-party IP in a post-studio world, the ethical and legal gray areas of generative AI in filmmaking, and the need for creators to develop their storytelling voice through relentless practice. Nicholas concludes with a vision of a future where independent creators build their own ecosystems, not reliant on legacy gatekeepers.
Independent filmmakers can bypass studios by building IP and audience from the ground up—using comics, games, or social media—before packaging for financing.
Resizing projects to fit lower budgets and leveraging tax incentives in locations like upstate New York or Eastern Europe can make indie films financially viable.
Financing is no longer just about studios; it now involves equity investors, influencer partnerships, and audience data to prove market demand.
The most compelling stories combine genre elements with strong romantic or character-driven narratives, offering a unique twist within a familiar framework.
Creators should treat their careers as holistic brands—publishing comics, building online followings, and experimenting across formats—rather than focusing solely on screenwriting.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction to Kevin Nicholas and Sandstone Artists
Leslie Lepage introduces Kevin Nicholas, head of production and partner at Sandstone Artists, a management company focused on talent, literary, and film production. Nicholas shares his background as a development executive for producers with studio deals.
The Rise of Independent Production Squads
Nicholas describes how the decline of studio dominance has led to a splintering of talent, with many creatives forming independent production companies. He reflects on his own transition from Warner Bros. to independent work.
The Studio Model Is Dead—Now What?
“If you can find financing and you can find an audience, you actually don't need the studio.”
Building IP and Audience from the Ground Up
“You can go into potential funders and talk about ways of working. With a pre-existing base.”
Why Features Over TV in the New Landscape
“I would rather take all of that time and all of that effort into getting a script, getting a budget, figuring out tax incentives and attaching the same level of people... and trying to get it actually made.”
“If you're using a tool that can only do what it learned how to do by virtue of theft, what do you do?”
“Write three pages, shoot three pages, write three pages, shoot three pages until you feel like you're getting good at it.”
“You don't have to worry about financing. You don't have to worry about stars. You don't have to worry about anything. You just have to worry about are you understanding the flow of drama?”
Host
Guest
Kevin Nicholas
person
Sandstone Artists
organization
AI
other
Manta Comics
organization
South Korea
place
Warner Bros.
organization
The Demon Hunters
media
Netflix
organization
Gemini
other
Mark Duplass
person
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