Your Audience Is the Studio Now

Hey, it’s Jerrica.

Every studio passed on Star Wars.

They didn’t get the vision. They couldn’t see the future.
And if it weren’t for one greenlight and a loyal fanbase, we might never have seen one of the most iconic franchises of all time.

Let that sink in.

No one knows what will hit. Not studios. Not execs. Not platforms.
But you? You have the power to bet on yourself, build with intention, and let your audience lead the way.

This week’s issue is all about fandom. What it really is. Why it matters. And how creators are using it to build empires that last.

If you’ve been wondering how to turn your content into culture, this one’s for you.

Here’s whats inside this issue:

• Why fandom, not just IP, is the foundation for long-term success

• A step-by-step guide to using the Fandom Flywheel to grow your own audience

• How The Legend of Vox Machina went from a livestream to a multi-season show on Amazon and what you can apply to your own work

THE MAIN ATTRACTION

Fandom isn’t hype.
Fandom is infrastructure.

It’s what keeps a series alive for years with no new episodes.
It’s what transforms creators into cultural architects.
It’s what brings projects back from the dead and breathes new life into IP.

If you are a creator, filmmaker, writer, or founder and you're not thinking about fandom, you are leaving attention, income, and impact on the table.

And here’s what most people get wrong:
Fandom is not a viral moment. It’s a system.

It starts with trust.
It grows through storytelling.
It multiplies when people feel seen inside the world you’re building.

THE FANDOM FLYWHEEL

How to build IP that people don’t just consume but believe in

Hollywood talks a lot about intellectual property.
They buy it. Option it. Spin it into franchises.

But most of the time, they miss the real engine behind it.
It’s not just IP that wins. It’s fandom.

Here’s my Fandom Flywheel: Create → Cultivate → Champion → Convert

Fandom is the reason people dress up, show up, and stick around.
And if you’re greenlighting yourself, you need a framework to create that kind of loyalty.

The Fandom Flywheel is how you do it.
It is not about one viral moment. It is about building long-term momentum through community, creativity, and clarity.

How indie creators build worlds people want to stay in

Step One: Create
Tell a story only you can tell. Give it a clear world, tone, and hook.

Action: Develop a lead character or concept that can anchor multiple episodes or scenes. Build with future storytelling in mind.

Step Two: Cultivate
Draw people in between the episodes.

Action: Post behind-the-scenes clips, character moodboards, script snippets, or audience polls. Let fans shape what comes next.

Step Three: Champion
Make your audience feel seen inside the story.

Action: Share fan reactions. Give early viewers a shoutout. Build shared language or callbacks only your audience will catch.

Step Four: Convert
Turn interest into support.

Action: Offer a paid premiere, exclusive scene breakdown, or behind-the-scenes lookbook. Give your fans a way to invest in the world they love.

This is how indie creators build lasting IP.
Not just attention. Ownership.

CASE STUDY: The Legend of Vox Machina

Fandom built it. Amazon just bought in.

Before it was a hit show, Vox Machina was a livestream of friends playing D&D. No studio. No budget. Just story. Here’s how it maps to the Fandom Flywheel:

Create:
Weekly story-driven content with real stakes.

Cultivate:
Engaged live. Made fans part of the process.

Champion:
Highlighted fan art and lore. Built emotional ownership.

Convert:
Raised $11M on Kickstarter. Fans greenlit it before Amazon did.

This is how you greenlight yourself.