Life as an Independent Movie Producer in 2025: The Good, Bad, and Unknown According to Scott Hamm Duenas

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According to leading independent movie producer and renowned actor Scott Hamm Duenas (“Final Wager,” “ReBroken”), most people think movie producers just provide the financing for films, but the truth is quite different.

“Independent film producers are usually wearing many different hats from start to finish, from pre-production to distribution and everything in-between,” Hamm Duenas says.

For an inside look into life as an independent movie producer, Geek Insider turned to Hamm Duenas, who told us about the good, the bad, and the many unknowns the industry faces in 2025.

The challenges of independent movie production

As someone with more than 15 years of experience as an active member in the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG/AFTRA), Hamm Duenas knows the biggest challenge independent movie producers confront in 2025 is one that has long plagued the industry.

“As always, raising money is a constant challenge,” he says. “Obviously, indies are not studio-backed films, so these movies are extremely risky. There’s no guarantee of a return on investment.”

According to Hamm Duenas, the means by which producers get compensated have also changed. Traditionally, filmmakers received a minimum guarantee (MG), an initial payment from distributors for the right to release the work, much like an advance on a novel or nonfiction book.

“The days of the MG are gone,” he says. “It’s rare for anyone to buy films outright anymore, both foreign or domestically. Now that streaming services provide the major markets for films, the compensation model has shifted to revenue sharing.”

To keep investors happy, Hamm Duenas recommends maximizing the chances of profit by  keeping budgets as low as possible. “That means thinking of creative ways to save money without changing the vision of your film so much it’s unrecognizable,” he explains. “After all, you’re in this business of indie filmmaking to be creative and tell your story. But you can’t waste money or play fast and loose with the budget on an indie film. To scale down, consider using fewer cast members and locations. In addition, don’t be afraid to ask for favors.”

Sometimes new technology can be used to reduce costs as well. “In this day and age, you need to stay informed about technological advancements or have someone on your team who is savvy in this department,” Hamm Duenas says.

Another secret to his success has been finding a like-minded team.

The importance of the right team

“Being an independent movie producer is very challenging and requires just the right mix of creativity, business sense, and a thick skin,” Hamm Duenas says. “My approach really focuses on relationships. It truly takes a village.”

Hamm Duenas vets his actors and other team members carefully. “I want to use cast and crew members I know and trust,” he says. “I need them to be prepared and to be team players — that’s a must.”

In particular, he looks for people who embrace independent filmmaking as a labor of love.

“It can’t be just about the money they’re going to earn or having a trailer or having exorbitant amounts of gear or multiple people in departments like wardrobe, hair, and make-up, etc.,” Hamm Duenas says. “All this is wonderful, but it’s not indie filmmaking. Indie films are for people trying to make their way in this business. It’s for people who want to tell stories, bring unique voices to the screen, and make life-long relationships.”

For that reason, he recommends finding like-minded team members for both in front of and behind the camera. “They need to share your goals and understand the no-frills indie filmmaking process,” he says. “These projects are for people who want the chance at the big job on a small project. Major motion pictures from the studios are usually the exact opposite — you get a small job on a big project.”

Despite challenges like these, there is a bright side to today’s independent movie scene.

The good and the unknown

“The good thing about streaming services is that they need content and lots of it,” Hamm Duenas says. “There are many opportunities to get your film distributed and seen. And if you can find a way to stand out from the rest or catch the algorithm that shoots your film to the top of the recommended viewing list, then you could have that hit movie with millions of eyeballs that you always dreamed about.”

Figuring out what kind of content has the best potential to go viral is the big unknown for 2025.  To explain, Hamm Duenas poses some of the rhetorical questions independent movie producers ask themselves: “What’s going to be the next big thing, and who’s going to bottle and sell it? Is one of the unknown actors you cast going to get their big break and blow up?”

To increase the odds of success, Hamm Duenas also advises casting at least one big-name actor, since this can help the film acquire a distributor and attract viewers.

Embrace the crazy for a rewarding ride

While 2025 presents challenges for those in the independent movie sector, it also presents rewards you can’t get anywhere else.

“Being an independent movie producer is a complex and hectic process, but if you embrace the crazy, it’s so worth the ride,” Hamm Duenas says.

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