An audience is more than a follower count. For filmmakers and creators, building a direct relationship with the people who care about their work can be the foundation of a sustainable creative career.
In this episode, Alex Stolz speaks with Jeffrey Kohn, founder and CEO of TopFan, about what filmmakers can learn from the creator economy—and why building an audience and “owning” that relationship are two very different things.
Jeffrey explains why creators cannot afford to depend entirely on social platforms and algorithms for access to their fans. Instead, he argues for using those platforms as a point of discovery, while creating direct channels through which audiences can become part of a deeper and more enduring community.
The conversation explores the power of superfans; why relatively small but highly engaged audiences can be more valuable than large follower counts; and how creators can turn moments of attention into long-term relationships. Alex and Jeffrey also discuss crowdfunding, audience participation and the ways a committed community can help creators finance projects, generate revenue and carry momentum from one story to the next.
A practical conversation about moving beyond rented platforms, creating genuine connection and building an audience that can sustain your creative work over the long term.