Sean Baker is the blueprint of building your indie filmmaking career

Sean Baker swept the Oscars on Sunday night but he was no "overnight success"

Sean Baker’s career trajectory is the blueprint. It’s a beautiful, steady, slow burn that is clear as DAYY. And so well deserved, not just for his talent, but for what it represents. That great storytelling does break through. That consistency and persistence matter. That creating - taking risks, over and over again, is the only way to grow.

On Sunday night, he gave a lot of phenomenal speeches. He thanked his mother for his love of cinema. He urged the powers-that-be to breathe new life into film distribution—to bring movies back to theaters. He called on audiences to return to that shared, communal experience where you can spend two hours laughing, crying and screaming with a group of strangers. And he reminded filmmakers everywhere: don’t give up.

For the past twenty-four years (and let’s be real, probably longer), Baker has been quietly, relentlessly building one of the most human and glorious filmographies out there.

He’s living proof that turning your ideas into realities, or finding “success” in this industry is a marathon, not a sprint.

And that if you tell a great story… then another and another - they can fight its way through the noise. Of course, we can (and should) talk about the network Baker cultivated—the people who helped him finance, distribute, and market his films. Because you know me, I love the business side and that is truly the other half of the battle. But what I find so impressive and what I think sets him apart is his ability to consistently create unforgettable characters and stories without Hollywood-sized budgets and without any approval from the “power’s that be”. That’s the magic. That’s the goal.

And honestly, for those of us starting out, there’s never been a better time to get scrappy. Sure, I love a beautifully produced film, but let’s not ignore the gift TikTok has given us—the ability to embrace “lo-fi” storytelling and, more importantly, an audience that has embraced it. If you’ve got an incredible story and characters that stick, you don’t need a massive budget to make an impact. You just need to start.