The Space Between “Pay Me” and “Let’s Just Make Something”
A reflection on collaboration in the Twin Cities film scene
As I work to develop a collaborative environment through The Crewsaide, it has given me time to reflect on the ever present conversation about unpaid creative work. Even in markets where we assume the debate has quieted, it continues to surface. It is a fair and honest question for filmmakers in the Twin Cities, where the desire to create is high, but the cash flow is limited to a few significant grant sources like The Jerome Foundation, and The McKnight Foundation. These support systems matter, yet they cannot carry the entire creative community on their own.
“Don't wait for the system to finance your projects. If you can't afford to make a million-dollar film, raise $10,000 and produce it yourself”
Within our film scene, there are two familiar perspectives. Some filmmakers expect monetary compensation for any work they give to a project. Others are open to collaborating if there is transparency, respect for their time, and some form of thoughtful acknowledgment. No one is wrong. Each stance reflects the realities people navigate.
Commercial work does exist here. In terms of pay, it keeps many freelancers steady, even as it leaves them hungry for narrative work that feels closer to their creative identity. That’s where the real demand is: filmmakers want more opportunities to build stories, not just content for clients. But those narrative projects are fewer, and the people who want to make them don’t always find each other at the right time.
That is where the gap forms. There is talent in the Twin Cities, but skill levels vary, and experience grows slowly when the projects are scarce. Directors, actors, producers, and crew want to build meaningful work, but they often operate in parallel rather than together. When they do finally meet, the tone shifts. Expectations align. Respect becomes easier. Compromise becomes possible.
What many of us share is a desire to create in a space where connection comes first. Collaboration does not have to mean working for free. It also does not have to mean stretching a budget beyond reach. It works best when people connect early, communicate clearly, and understand what each person is bringing to the table.
That is the intention behind The Crewsaide. Not to solve every challenge in our film ecosystem, but to close the distance between the people who want to create and the people who can help them do it. When those connections become consistent, projects move. When projects move, the entire scene grows.
And that’s the version of the Twin Cities film community that a lot of us are ready for.