My name is Cody Clarke, and I am a truly independent filmmaker. I am part of a growing number of filmmakers who are making movies completely outside of the Hollywood system, often with the same small footprint as it takes to make 'content', except we're making feature-length films. I'm talking about movies made by and for the people—cutting edge, singular works, direct from artist to audience.

I have been making films in this way since 2011 and I am well-established within this community. I understand the needs that we face as truly independent filmmakers. We create in the way that we do not to get rich, but to tell great stories and show people how great movies can be without massive crews, or bureaucracy breathing down the back of your neck. We are not trying to be popular, or 'viral'—we are instead just trying to make great cinema and get it out there.

As such, we are often broke. Many of the best truly independent filmmakers out live in poverty—we are starving artists. I want to change that—I want to ensure that truly independent filmmakers with talent and drive are able to thrive. As it stands currently, we have little to aspire to that aligns with what we do: the pathways laid out for us are either to pander and resort to creating 'content', or for us to get swept up into the corrupt and stifling Hollywood system. We believe in the important films that we are making, and we want the best years of our lives to be going specifically to doing what we do.

Unfortunately, there are currently no non-profit organizations set up to directly address our needs. And so, as I am acutely aware of such, I am starting one.

However, one of the catch-22's of starting a non-profit is that it takes time and money to start one, and start it right. As such, I am looking to raise funds to even be able to start this non-profit! Right now I'm looking for $100,000—that would allow me to make starting this non-profit my full time job, and it would position the non-profit best towards being able to operate well and raise a ton of money from donors.

I hope that you will find it in your heart, and your wallet, to help me afford to do this. Truly independent filmmaking is the future of film, and our best minds need to be able to do their best work.