From Home Movies to a $1.25M Dream: How This Family Is Crowdfunding 'Fabiola' - Industrious Films
What if an ordinary family could strike out and tell bold stories — from their living room to a $1.25 million film project? Visit the website
This is the wild true story of a small, homeschool family who traded TV for violin lessons... then turned backyard filmmaking into a full-blown film studio. Inspired by a grassroots movie called 'The War of the Vendee', they learned on the fly — directing their first feature with an iPad and no microphone.
But this isn’t just a story about scrappy beginnings — it’s about scaling big dreams. With mentors like Jim Morlino and Christian Zelada, they've launched their dream project, 'Fabiola', a Roman-era tale about faith in a pagan world.
Along the journey, they're building their own streaming platform, film festival, and a vision for a 'Catholic Hollywood' alternative. Their advice to other creators? Start before you're ready. Build with what you have.
And don't expect your closest friends to get it — because real creativity attracts new allies along the way.
Let’s dive into #5 — pulling out the top mindsets, habits, and viral-worthy stories from the full transcript. Here's what stood out:
💭 Mindsets: Thoughts That Reframe Everything
1. “Start with what you have.”
You don’t need the perfect setup — their first film was shot on an iPad, no mic. The mindset is resourcefulness over readiness.
2. “Don’t expect everyone to support you.”
Realism meets resilience. They emphasize not relying on friends/family for validation — your audience will emerge through the process.
3. “Build the thing you wish existed.”
From starting their own streaming service to launching a film festival — they don’t wait for institutions to invite them, they create the ideas.
4. “This isn’t about perfection. It’s about momentum.”
They consistently release, iterate, and move forward. Perfectionism is the enemy of progress.
🔁 Habits: How They Make It Real
1. Daily Planning Meetings
They meet every morning to prioritize tasks — staying agile and focused.
2. Intentional Simplicity
When overwhelmed, they pause or pivot. If a system isn’t working, they scrap it.
3. Skill-by-Skill Progression
Each film tackled one skill: lighting, angles, storytelling. Strategic growth, not random grinding.
4. Relationship-Driven Growth
Mentorships, collaborations, and grassroots recruiting fuel everything — from team-building to audience growth.