BECOME A FUNDED FILMMAKER
Get your indie film funded, produced, and distributed from concept to completion. Independent filmmakers often face significant challenges in securing funding for their projects. Want us to prove it? Look at our past indie films that have been distributed and made money!
PRODUCER · DIRECTOR · PROFESSOR
Independent films that
get made, get seen,
and earn their return.
For over a decade, Rob Margolies has financed, produced, and directed independent features with casts of Academy Award nominees and household names, distributed worldwide on Netflix, Amazon, STARZ, and Hulu.
Through Different Duck Films, he helps other filmmakers do the same.
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
PROFESSOR
Netflix · Amazon ·
STARZ · Hulu
20+
FEATURES
PRODUCED
8
FEATURES
DIRECTED
8
FEATURES PRODUCED
20+
FEATURES DIRECTED
FEATURES PRODUCED
20+
8
FEATURES DIRECTED
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
PROFESSOR
Netflix · Amazon ·
STARZ · Hulu
ABOUT
A working filmmaker, on real sets, getting films finished.
Rob Margolies has spent over a decade making independent films that punch above their budgets. He has produced more than twenty features and directed eight, working with Academy Award nominees Sally Kirkland, Cathy Moriarty, and Randy Quaid, alongside Josh Gad, Dennis Haysbert, Vivica A. Fox, Sean Young, Nolan Gould, and many others.
His films reach audiences worldwide on Netflix, Amazon, STARZ, Hulu, Lionsgate, and Tubi. Immortal holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Bobcat Moretti was the number one streamed film on STARZ for three weeks running in January 2024.
Rob is also a professor at Chapman University. He started Develop Your Movie to give other filmmakers the same real path to the screen that he has walked himself, from concept through development, financing, production, and distribution.
We can fund, produce, and distribute your $100,000 script together. Fill out our contact form today to see if your script is eligible for Develop Your Movie.
He started Develop Your Movie with David Thomas Newman to help filmmakers lacking funding and investor connections get their films from script to screen. Since 2010, Develop Your Movie has navigated the complexities of film finance, including securing funding from private equity, tax credits, and film financing companies to develop indie films that are distributed.
Our process comes with FREE coaching throughout the entire filmmaking journey, whether you are a student, first-time filmmaker, or seasoned veteran. A production company plays a crucial role in acquiring film funding through pre-sales and negative pickup deals and organizing multiple investment sources necessary for a film's budget
%20(1).jpg)
Rob Margolies is an award-winning producer and director having produced for big names like the Duffer Brothers (creators of Stranger Things), and directed celebrities like Josh Gad, Vivica A. Fox, and Dennis Haysbert.
Werewolf Game
Horror thriller featuring Tony Todd and Bai Ling.
In Fidelity
Starring Dennis Haysbert and Chris Parnell.
Immortal
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
.jpg)
Bobcat Moretti
#1 streamed film on STARZ for three weeks in 2024.
All You Can Eat
Comedy feature starring Kathy Najimy, Jason Mewes, and Oscar Nominee Randy Quaid.
I'd Like to Be Alone Now
Award Winning ensemble dramedy made for under 60K with an all-star cast
Yes
Award Winning independent drama starring Nolan Gould and Tim Realbuto.
The Dummy Detective
Award Winning ventriloquist murder mystery comedy.
Selected Work
The Films
Navigating the world of film financing can be daunting, but it’s a crucial step in bringing your film project to life. Film financing involves securing the necessary funds to cover production costs, and it requires a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and financial risk management. Whether you’re working with major studios, production companies, private equity firms, or independent investors, understanding the intricacies of film financing is essential. This knowledge empowers film producers to make informed decisions, ensuring the success and viability of their film projects.
Navigating the world of film financing can be daunting, but it’s a crucial step in bringing your film project to life. Film financing involves securing the necessary funds to cover production costs, and it requires a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and financial risk management. Whether you’re working with major studios, production companies, private equity firms, or independent investors, understanding the intricacies of film financing is essential. This knowledge empowers film producers to make informed decisions, ensuring the success and viability of their film projects.
Questions
Will I keep creative control?
Yes. Rob brings guidance, financing strategy, and production muscle. The vision stays yours.
Do I need funding already?
No. In several films above, raising the budget was the first thing Rob helped with.
Where do you shoot?
Based in Los Angeles and New York City, and open to anywhere else based on the budget.
Consultations
Not ready to make your feature yet? Book a one-on-one session. Rob works with filmmakers, writers, and actors to sharpen the materials and decisions that move a project or career forward, drawing on decades of developing, casting, pitching, financing, directing, and producing. Held over Zoom.
Tim Realbuto
Writer/Actor, YES & Bobcat Moretti
I had the script, but no idea how to get it made. Rob made it happen — and now my films are streaming on Amazon and STARZ. The process was smooth, professional, worth every penny, and honestly… life-changing.
Jon Dabach
Writer/Director, I'd Like to Be Alone Now
Within weeks of submitting my project, I had a business plan, an investor, and an incredible cast attached. I went from hoping to actually filming. If you're serious about making your movie, this is the real deal.
Jonathan Geffner
Writer/Star, The Dummy Detective
As a first-time filmmaker, I was intimidated. But Rob believed in my story, helped me self-fund wisely, and even brought in Sean Young for the lead. The experience exceeded every expectation.
Jon Dabach
Writer/Director, I'd Like to Be Alone Now
Within weeks of submitting my project, I had a business plan, an investor, and an incredible cast attached. I went from hoping to actually filming. If you're serious about making your movie, this is the real deal.
Jonathan Geffner
Writer/Star, The Dummy Detective
As a first-time filmmaker, I was intimidated. But Rob believed in my story, helped me self-fund wisely, and even brought in Sean Young for the lead. The experience exceeded every expectation.
Tim Realbuto
Writer/Actor, YES & Bobcat Moretti
I had the script, but no idea how to get it made. Rob made it happen — and now my films are streaming on Amazon and STARZ. The process was smooth, professional, worth every penny, and honestly… life-changing.
Consultations
Not ready to make your feature yet? Book a one-on-one session. Rob works with filmmakers, writers, and actors to sharpen the materials and decisions that move a project or career forward, drawing on decades of developing, casting, pitching, financing, directing, and producing. Held over Zoom.
Development
Shaping the script and concept into something that sells.
Business Plans
Investor-ready plans covering budget, market, distribution, and projections. Often the first thing I build.
Financing
Structuring and raising the budget through private investment, tax credits, and film financing strategies.
Production
Full production through Different Duck Films, from prep through wrap.
Post & Distribution
Finishing the film and getting it in front of distributors and onto platforms.
The First Step
A conversation about where your film is and what it needs. Not every project needs all of the above.
DEVELOP YOUR MOVIE
If you have a script and the drive to see it made, this is how I help you get there. I have been through this process more than twenty times, whether you need a partner for the whole journey or help with one piece of it.
PROOF, NOT PROMISES
Our high-profile contacts include hundreds of celebrities, agents, managers, executives, distributors, investors, crew, and vendors.
All of our feature films have garnered major deals with companies like Netflix, Sony, Hulu, Amazon, Lionsgate, Tubi, and many others on a global scale.
We own RED camera packages, all other necessary equipment, and will complete all paperwork so you have nothing to worry about, from concept to completion.
Can I still maintain creative control over my film?
Yes, we believe in supporting filmmakers' creative visions. While we provide guidance and resources, the project's artistic direction remains with you.
Are there any costs involved in the application process?
No, our initial application process is free. We aim to support filmmakers without imposing financial burdens during the early stages of their projects.
What is the process to get my film funded with Develop Your Movie?
The process begins with submitting your script through our contact form. We'll review your submission and, if eligible, guide you through our funding and production process, which includes free coaching and access to our network of industry professionals.
How long does it take to get a film from the script to the screen?
The timeline varies depending on the project's complexity and specific circumstances. However, we work efficiently to ensure your film is produced and distributed on time.
How does Develop Your Movie help with film distribution?
We leverage our high-profile contacts and partnerships with major streaming platforms and distributors, such as Netflix, Sony, and Amazon, to secure global distribution deals for your film.
Can I still maintain creative control over my film?
Yes, we believe in supporting filmmakers' creative visions. While we provide guidance and resources, the project's artistic direction remains with you.
Are there any costs involved in the application process?
No, our initial application process is free. We aim to support filmmakers without imposing financial burdens during the early stages of their projects.
What is the process to get my film funded with Develop Your Movie?
The process begins with submitting your script through our contact form. We'll review your submission and, if eligible, guide you through our funding and production process, which includes free coaching and access to our network of industry professionals.
How long does it take to get a film from the script to the screen?
The timeline varies depending on the project's complexity and specific circumstances. However, we work efficiently to ensure your film is produced and distributed on time.
How does Develop Your Movie help with film distribution?
We leverage our high-profile contacts and partnerships with major streaming platforms and distributors, such as Netflix, Sony, and Amazon, to secure global distribution deals for your film.
"The films get made because someone treats the plan as seriously as the picture."
© 2025 by DEVELOP YOUR MOVIE LLC
GET IN TOUCH
Tell me about your project.
One line is enough to start. The details, budget, script, and the rest, come once we are in a conversation. No uploads required up front.
