The Backlot is Changing
The Growth and Evolution of the Newsletter
Welcome to this week’s Sunday Evening edition of The Backlot. These newsletters have been a compilation of stories from my recent experiences working in documentary filmmaking, helpful resources for emerging filmmakers, and other posts covering topics in the industry.
This week’s newsletter is a bit different because we are discussing the next steps of this newsletter and providing a look at The Backlot's evolving future.
The Growth & Evolution of The Backlot
The Backlot started this past spring as a place where I could share my personal journey into the world of filmmaking and the film industry. This newsletter was meant to be a journal for my personal experiences, some of which I hoped would help others in their own efforts to break into the industry.
At the same time, I’ve always imagined this newsletter as a place where filmmakers could connect, share their experiences, and grow together. This was the original intention of the name The Backlot—a place on set where people from across the industry could come together in passing, sharing their experiences even for a brief few moments.
I’m very proud of the posts and discussions that have become the centerpiece of this platform over the past six months. In that time, we’ve had the chance to discuss topics touching on many different facets of the film industry, from the rise of AI to the need to care for your own health as a filmmaker. These stories and discussions have offered an excellent opportunity to broaden my horizons in the industry and share my thoughts on many different assets of filmmaking.
At the same time, there has been a growing desire within myself to alter the course of this newsletter.
As much as I feel it necessary to share my experiences in the industry, I’ve felt this platform lacks the presence of other voices, experiences, and knowledge. This newsletter needs to be a collective voice that is more community-focused to build a place for others to learn, collaborate, and grow.
I’ve also been feeling that this newsletter is a little misaligned with its purpose and the desired vision of the platform. Thus far, we’ve focused more heavily on the industry as a whole, slightly steering the conversation away from the part of the industry that this newsletter was designed to uplift—documentary.
While navigating these feelings, I’ve started working hard to pinpoint the next steps for this newsletter and platform. Through this, I’ve realized that this project needs to evolve to become a stronger platform for this community.
For these reasons, we have come to a moment when this newsletter must change.
What Does That Mean?
On the surface, this evolution means The Backlot will look very different in the future. This newsletter will have a new name, format, and purpose. The exact definition of these changes will be revealed soon.
For now, I can share that The Backlot will be more centered on the world of Documentary Filmmaking. There will be moments when we return to our narrative roots, but overall, this will be a newsletter about the beautiful and changing landscape of documentary film.
In addition, the new format will be a bit different than the past. Instead of a constant barrage of posts and weekly episodes, the newsletter will have seasons.
This means we will have portions of the year when new episodes are released weekly, focusing on different topics, stories, and experiences from the world of documentary film. This format change also allows me and the newsletter's collaborators to take breaks, focus on our own journey into filmmaking, and recharge ourselves for the next season.
Finally, there will be a new name. As much as I love the name of this newsletter, for the reasons outlined above, this evolution demands a new title. I’m excited to share that new name with you soon and explain more about the choice.
What’s Next
For now, The Backlot will be taking a break to get ready for this transformation. This means there will be no new newsletter until mid-September.
In that edition, I will reveal the new name, format, dates, and topics for the upcoming refined platform. The September post will also tease a few of the guests of the first season and share some exciting opportunities for members of this community.
For now, we’re taking the next few weeks off. I’m very excited about this evolution into the newsletter's new future and the growth of this community. Thank you all for being here and joining me on this journey—your support means the world to me.
Thanks for listening. Stay tuned. We will be back in a couple of weeks.
Sincerely,
Keegan
