Joyce Mishaan

Joyce Mishaan Helping *HIGH-PERFORMING* creative professionals take the leap into the career they DREAM OF

Yup, trying to get your film funded can be a slog. Especially when you're taking shots in the dark. Skip the years of sp...
08/31/2026

Yup, trying to get your film funded can be a slog. Especially when you're taking shots in the dark. Skip the years of spinning your wheels trying to figure this out on your own. Learn the actual steps you need to take to get your indie film funded:

HOW TO FIND INVESTORS FOR YOUR INDIE FILM
Tomorrow, 9/1 - 2pm ET. Live on Zoom. Free.

We'll talk about who's funding indie films right now, how to find them with zero Hollywood contacts, and what to say so the conversation doesn't die after one email. Bring your project. Stay for the live Q&A. Registration link in comments below.

p.s. - this cutie is up for adoption in NYC! DM me if you're interested in more details

07/15/2026

One of the greatest joys of coaching filmmakers is seeing what happens when they start building momentum.

When I first met Celene Beth Olsen, she had spent nearly a decade developing her feature documentary, "Killing Theodore". She had the vision, the passion, and years of work invested in her film, but she wasn't sure how to navigate the business side of filmmaking or what came next.

Within just a few months, she:
✔️ Was invited to speak on a panel during the Sundance Film Festival
✔️ Built meaningful industry relationships
✔️ Secured an Executive Producer
✔️ Secured a Producer
✔️ Earned a fellowship for Killing Theodore

And her momentum continues.

Her latest wins include:
✨ Winning a special jury prize and mentorship during a highly competitive pitch competition.
✨ Being selected for Sundance documentary training with an industry advisor.
✨ Participating in a prestigious documentary fellowship.
✨ Being accepted into a selective pitch deck cohort, where she'll pitch Killing Theodore later this summer.
✨ Continuing to build relationships with potential Executive Producers and funding partners while preparing applications for additional grants and labs.

Film funding isn't about one pitch, one investor, or one lucky break. It's about building the foundation, confidence, and strategy that create lasting momentum.

I'm incredibly proud of Celene and can't wait to see where Killing Theodore goes next.

Watch her story below.

06/24/2026

"Great News! I have a development investor who is putting up $$ for travel, interview costs, and development expenses for [my project.] He is sending the money tomorrow! I feel better about this already!"

I got this message the other day from a filmmaker I've been working with for a little over a month.

Her first money is in. Five figures, committed, cashed, ready to put to work. For travel, interviews, development costs on her feature.

A little over a month. Not six. Not a year of cold outreach and ghosted intros.

Here's what actually happened. We didn't start by chasing every investor she could find. We looked at her package and got brutally clear on what was already compelling in it... the piece that made her project worth funding right now, not someday.

Once that was clear, she moved on it immediately. No second-guessing. No waiting to feel "ready."

And the ask itself changed. It stopped being a vague pitch and became specific. Her why this, why now wasn't a slide in a deck anymore. It was the whole conversation.

That's usually the real gap. Not connections. Not a perfect script. Clarity on what's compelling, and the nerve to move once you have it.

06/24/2026

Not every investor is motivated by making money.

Some are looking for access. Some want credibility. Some want to be part of something meaningful. Others are attracted to momentum and the opportunity to support a project they believe in.

That's why one of the most important skills in film finance is understanding what currency your investor values most.

When you stop leading with what you need and start understanding what they want, your fundraising conversations become far more effective.

05/21/2026

You’ve rewritten the script 12 times. You’ve gotten feedback. More coverage. Another workshop. But what if the thing holding your project back… isn’t the script anymore?

At a certain point, getting your film made stops being about the screenplay and starts being about everything around it.

And no, “packaging” doesn’t automatically mean landing an A-list actor or knowing the right people.

In this clip, I break down what packaging actually means and why filmmakers get stuck after a “finished” script.

👇 Have you ever felt stuck in the “my script is good… now what?” phase?

Most filmmakers think the hard part is writing the script. It’s not.The hard part is turning that script into something ...
05/14/2026

Most filmmakers think the hard part is writing the script. It’s not.

The hard part is turning that script into something investors actually believe can get made.

Because investors don’t fund scripts. They fund projects.

If you’ve been wondering how to move from “I wrote it” to “I’m getting this financed,” I’m breaking it down in my upcoming free webinar.

🎥 How to Get Investors for Your Indie Film
📅 Tues, May 19
⏰ 3:30 PM ET

Registration link in comments 🔗

05/13/2026

Indie Filmmakers: Investors don’t fund scripts. They fund projects.

A great script matters. But what actually gets attention is confidence:
- Can this get made?
- Is there an audience?
- Is there a path to recoupment and visibility?

If you’ve got a script and no idea how to get people to believe in it, this is for you.

Register for my free webinar:
How to Find Investors for Your Indie Film
📅 Weds, May 19
⏰ 3:30 PM ET

Comment WEBINAR or hit the link in bio to save your spot.

04/24/2026

Your script might not be the first thing that gets produced... but it could be the script that gets you signed, gets you in rooms, and gets you hired.

Too many writers stay stuck asking, “How do I get this made right now?” when the smarter question is: How can this script open doors for me?

If you’re sitting on a strong script but don’t know how to use it to get representation, meetings, momentum, or paid opportunities, this is the shift that changes everything.

Your script is not just a project. It can be your career lever.

DM me SCRIPT if you want help turning your screenplay into real industry opportunities.

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