The Story Behind The Crewsaide
Why We Built This for The Twin Cities
The Crewsaide began with a simple idea: filmmakers deserve a place to belong. For too long, Twin Cities creatives have been working in silos; finding collaborators in Facebook groups, juggling day jobs, and creating without consistent community. I built The Crewsaide so that no filmmaker has to walk that path alone.
Minneapolis already has rich roots in storytelling. From local theatre to indie film festivals and regionally shot productions. But often, the infrastructure, the community, and the sustained support are missing. The Crewsaide is designed to fill that gap: to be an online-first coworking hub, a place where storytellers can talk shop, find collaborators, screen works-in-progress, and grow together, even before we open our physical doors.
“The best art is realized when you can share the experience of making … not just the presentation of it.”
That idea resonates deeply: art is rarely made in isolation. We need space. Both literal and figurative, to test ideas, wrestle with scenes, get feedback, and iterate. In The Crewsaide, you’re not just showing a finished film; you’re invited into the making of stories, the messy process, the breakthroughs, the doubts, and the deep growth.
Here’s why this matters to Minneapolis:
- Nurturing local stories: We have so many tales rooted in our cities, towns, and communities. The Crewsaide helps make space for those voices.
- Reducing barriers: Budget constraints, lack of access, limited networks. Many filmmakers never get started or stall out. This is a resource to lower those obstacles.
- Strengthening community: When creatives support one another, the ripple effect is huge. Collaborations, mentorship, peer feedback, it changes trajectories.
- Anchoring creativity: We want this space to become a cultural anchor, where the next wave of Minnesota filmmaking takes root.
As we build toward a physical space in Minneapolis, our online-first model lets us begin the work now. Early members will shape the features, get founder perks, and help craft what feels like “ours” from day one.
If you’ve ever quietly wished for a place to test ideas, ask questions, share work-in-progress, or simply feel seen, that’s what we hope The Crewsaide will become. Minnesota’s stories deserve a home crafted by and for creators.