Question 1

Why should I stop listening to people who haven’t built what I’m trying to build?

Accepted Answer

Because they’re often speaking from theory, not real-world reps. I literally had a professor tell me my work “sucks” while I was already getting paid to shoot and getting traction on YouTube. If someone hasn’t walked the path, their “rules” can just box you in.

Question 2

What happened with your film school professor at ASU?

Accepted Answer

In my final year (2012), my directing professor pulled me into office hours and told me he could fail me. It wasn’t about quality—it was because I wasn’t following the course curriculum. I was skipping class to go to LA and shoot music videos.

Question 3

Did film school help you become a filmmaker?

Accepted Answer

Film school wasn’t the thing that opened the door—the work did. I found my path through shooting music videos, posting them on YouTube, and working with independent artists. The industry doesn’t have one curriculum, so you’ve got to build what works for you.

Question 4

How did you break into the film industry through music videos?

Accepted Answer

I treated music videos like my film school—shoot, edit, publish, repeat. I was directing and editing videos, putting them on YouTube, and building momentum with real audiences. That body of work became my proof, not a permission slip.

Question 5

How did YouTube views translate into a filmmaking career?

Accepted Answer

When I told my professor I had a couple hundred thousand views, it changed the conversation because it was real validation. I later built a channel with hundreds of thousands of subscribers and hundreds of millions of views on the music videos I was putting out. That audience became leverage for bigger opportunities.

Question 6

How did you leverage your audience into businesses?

Accepted Answer

Once you have attention and trust, you can build on top of it. I leveraged my audience into building other companies like my film studios, Prism Lens Effects, and Tropic of Color. It’s all connected: make work, build an audience, then create assets and businesses around it.

Question 7

What’s the main takeaway for indie filmmakers and creators?

Accepted Answer

Don’t be scared of what you’re pursuing, and don’t let someone else’s narrow path become your ceiling. There isn’t one “right” way to make it in this industry. Carve your own lane, believe in your ideas, and keep moving.

Stop listening to people who’ve never built what your trying to build ✋🏼

About This Video

Frequently Asked Questions

🎬 More from Jakob Owens