Old vs New Hollywood
The Cold Call That Changed My Life
For years, I felt stuck in jobs that drained me —payment processing, medical testing, and substitute teaching. But deep down, I always carried the dream of working with independent films and filmmakers. Every tip I earned as a waiter, I tucked away. By 2015, after years of saving, I finally had enough to pay a programmer to bring our vision to life and build www.opprime.tv.
Today, OPPRIME.tv proudly streams over 1,000 award-winning independent films, creating the largest library of indie films on the internet. But back in 2016, we started small, with just 25 movies. It was an uphill battle to get filmmakers to trust a brand-new platform, especially with the shadow of bad indie distributors looming over the industry.
The day I picked up the phone and randomly called Martín Rosete felt like a small, lazy move, but it turned out to be a massive turning point for my business, though I didn’t realize it then. I was dragging my feet that day, feeling down, and didn’t even bother to check IMDb to see who he was. All I knew was that he was a filmmaker from Spain. Little did I know, he was deep in the process of creating his first Hollywood movie, Money, starring Kellan Lutz and Jesse Williams.
I could tell right away that he was an “actor’s director.” As we started talking, within 10 minutes, it felt like I was sitting on a couch pouring my heart out to a therapist. I opened up about how my dream was slipping through my fingers, and the fear of not making it in the independent film world was weighing on me. For the next 40 minutes, he lifted that weight, encouraging me and sharing his own battle scars—how tough it was to scrape together funding and get distributors to take a leap on new projects. The most important thing he said was to never give up because staying determined makes you stand out. He promised that if I kept pushing, new doors would eventually open.
Martín’s short film, Voice Over, had already swept through the festival circuit, winning more than 100 awards and even earning a Goya Award nomination. When we spoke, he extended his hand to us by allowing Voice Over to stream on OPPRIME.tv. The man who became my therapist for 40 minutes knew he wouldn’t make much money from it—we were a small company just finding our feet. But he stood by the belief that the independent film community is like a tight-knit group, lifting each other up, just like others had lifted him.
All of Martín’s films live on our platform, and I keep them there as a constant reminder of his words. Independent filmmaking isn’t just surviving; it’s gaining strength, like a wave-building momentum. We’re more than an industry—we’re a circle of storytellers, lifting each other up, just like Martín did for me. Filmmakers like him are carving their path in the New Hollywood Economy, leaving their mark with every step they take.
Hollywood – The Unbreakable Fortress
Yesterday, the Old Hollywood Studio System was like a powerful and unbreakable fortress. Big studios had all the money and power, controlling the film industry and shaping what people saw and thought. From the 1920s to the late 2000s, studios like MGM, Warner Bros., and Universal made most of the movies and didn’t let independent filmmakers in.
The Fortress Has Fallen
Today, we are in the New Hollywood Economy, where independent filmmakers have a chance to succeed.
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Under the Old Hollywood Studio System, filmmaking equipment was expensive and only big studios could afford it. Today, high-quality technology is affordable, so you can make professional films on a smaller budget. You don’t need millions of dollars to make a great film, which helps you compete with the big studios.
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The Old Hollywood Studio System controlled the only way to show movies, which was in theaters, and filmmakers needed theaters to let people see their movies. Today, filmmakers in the New Hollywood Economy don’t need big budgets or theater deals like the Old Hollywood studios did.
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Thanks to streaming services and VOD platforms, you can skip theaters and reach audiences directly. Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Roku, and Tubi let you share your stories with people all over the world. Even if you don’t have a big marketing budget, these platforms give you a chance to compete and earn money. Now, even without Hollywood’s help, your film can be seen worldwide and make money.
Social media also helps independent filmmakers rise and challenge the old system. You can reach your own audience without needing big studios.
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What’s even better is that you have more creative freedom now. Under the Old Hollywood Studio System, filmmakers had to follow the mainstream and make stories the big studios wanted. But now, you can tell the stories you love and find an audience that loves them too. You don’t need to worry about what big studios think. This gives you the freedom to create unique films and share them with people who enjoy discovering new stories.
Plan to Succeed with OPPRIME.tv
Ask yourself these questions:
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Are you getting paid upfront for your film?
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Is someone else covering the costs of marketing?
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Do you focus only on creating films, without worrying about promotion?
If you answered "YES" to these, you’re in the New Hollywood Economy.
If you answered "NO," your journey starts in the Independent Film Economy. Here, you must work harder to promote yourself. With professional marketing and global distribution, your passion can make money. Without a plan, filmmaking stays a hobby.
Guaranteed Money & Bigger Audiences
We help you earn money from your art. We work with filmmakers, producers, and media creators like you who love finding new ways to succeed in the film and media industry. Together, we guarantee results!
Do you want to share your film with a worldwide audience?
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We Guarantee you’ll get paid directly from your fans with OPPRIME.tv’s Referral Link technology. No other indie film company can promise that!
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Reach more fans around the world right now and grow your audience.
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We promote you to 80K new indie film fans on social media and email.
Your Dreams Matter
We offer you a free consultation because we care about your dream and want to help you carry it forward. Without a solid plan, success slips through your fingers. With OPPRIME.tv, we sit down with you, listen to your story, feel your vision, and guide you toward real results. Whether you're taking your first step or have walked this path before, we’re here to walk beside you now!