The Independent Film School

• ALL-ACCESS Pass •

Ivy-league quality education. Artist-friendly prices.

Featured alumni films, in order of appearance: Graham Northrup, Nina Gielen, Richard Joseph, Nadhege Ptah, Lea Kalisch, Dylan Rogers, Rocío Mendez, Leslie Tô, Shane Andries, Meg Jenkins, Ekwa Msangi, Rodrigo Carvalhedo, Jamie Canobbio, Stephanie Williams, Amy Tompkins, Noelle P. Wilson, Andrew Hartfield, Fianna Litvok, Ghadah Alrawi, Isabelle Pierre, Nazli Sarpkaya, Cary Patric Martin, Memo, Nabil Viñas

Your all-access pass includes:


all flagship courses

Lifetime of skill building with self-paced courses that demystify and inspire: in screenwriting, producing, film directing.


Monthly challenges

Never get stuck again. Complete a new, 6-part challenge each month. Build skills and momentum in just 10 minutes a day.


DON'T GO IT ALONE

Access our community for guidance, accountability, networking, and applause!

Say Hello to Your Flow

our greatest goals are achieved
in baby steps

Slowing down is the fastest way to achieve most goals. Stalling is often the result of pursuing too big a goal, too soon.

monthly challenges

· change your life 10 minutes at a time ·

New 6-day challenge every month. Complete in 6 days, or space it out over the month.

Each challenge incorporates sections of courses, to help you work through material.

Community space to share your progress and thrive along with peers.

Ever enroll in a course and then not use it?

WARNING: You’re about to find out what happens when you show up for yourself.

My flagship courses offer a lifetime of learning. The bite-sized challenges that you’ll receive each month will move you through courses – at your pace. No rush.

THE WRITING SUITE

· 4 courses ·

Eliminate writing blocks, find your voice, and discover stories that only YOU could write.

  • Modules: 3
  • Units: 19
  • Runtime: 1hr 49min
  • Average video length: 6min
  • Format: Short videos with cheat sheets & exercises

Learn how to make audiences laugh, cry. Write scripts that readers can’t stop thinking about.

  • Modules: 1
  • Units: 10
  • Runtime: 1hr 32min
  • Average video length: 9 min
  • Format: Short videos with movie clips, cheat sheets & exercises

Everything you need to know to present as a professional screenwriter.

  • Modules: 3
  • Units: 11
  • Runtime: 43min
  • Average video length: 6min
  • Format: Short videos, PDF’s, sample scripts

The only 3 story tools you’ll need to turn inspired writing into well crafted page turners!

  • Modules: 7
  • Units: 41
  • Runtime: 5hr 5min
  • Average video length: 8min
  • Format: Short videos, PDF worksheets & exercises

Community announcement as you complete each course.

Certificate of completion when you complete all four screenwriting courses.

Get addicted to writing

no time?

When it comes to creative work, you’ll never find time. You must make time.

GIVE YOUR CREATIVITY 3 MINUTES A DAY. OR 10 MINUTES A WEEK! Spend more time if you wish, but getting started is the hard part. Showing up at all, for any amount of time, is the difference between a satisfied and a frustrated artist.

THE FILM DIRECTING SUITE

· 5 Courses ·

Understand scene coverage and the ABC’s of shot planning.

  • Modules: 1
  • Units: 8
  • Runtime: 1hr 11min
  • Average video length: 10min
  • Format: Short talks, demonstrations, movie clips, exercises.

Elevate every shot, in every film, regardless of budget.

  • Modules: 2
  • Units: 9
  • Runtime: 48min
  • Average video length: 7min
  • Format: Short talks, demonstrations, movie clips, exercises.

Economize your shoot while raising production value, by fully utilizing the creative possibilities of the moving image.

  • Modules: 5
  • Units: 31
  • Runtime: 1hr 51min
  • Average video length: 4min
  • Format: Short talks, demonstrations, movie clips, exercises.

The complete toolbox to achieving believable, authentic, unique, and engaging performances – every time.

  • Modules: 1
  • Units: 10
  • Runtime: 1hr 56min
  • Average video length: 11min
  • Format: Short talks, demonstrations, and a master cheat sheet.

Watch the tools put to practice by sitting inside my brain, as I work with actors through the rehearsal process. I explain what I’m doing and why with every step.

  • Modules: 8
  • Units: 38
  • Runtime: 5hr 19min
  • Average video length: 9min
  • Format: PDF of scenes, demo rehearsals, talks, short exercises.

Community announcement as you complete each course.

Certificate of completion when you complete all film directing courses.

fun is the most efficient use of our time

THE FILM EDITING SUITE

· 2 Courses ·

Become a more powerful filmmaker by learning to edit.

  • Modules: 8
  • Units: 34
  • Runtime: 4hr 18min
  • Average video length: 8min
  • Format: Short talks, demonstrations, and exercises with downloadable footage for your use.

Take a front seat to my cutting room and watch me edit in real time.

  • Modules: 2
  • Units: 10
  • Runtime: 4hr 46min
  • Average video length: 29min
  • Format: I share my screen as I edit and explain what I’m doing. Includes interviews with professional editors.

Community announcement as you complete each course.

Certificate of completion when you complete all film editing courses.

Financial considerations?

If you can’t afford the IFS All-Access Pass, stick around in my email list for many free resources. That said:

The IFS All-Access Pass is equivalent to what the average American spends on coffee.

Also (pssst!) my course on raising money and resources for films is included. Filmmakers who follow my guidance regularly raise ten times the cost of this program.

THE FILM PRODUCTION SUITE

· 7 Courses ·

Become the producer you’ve been waiting for. You already have everything that you need to create your next film; I’ll show you how.

  • Modules: 4
  • Units: 18
  • Runtime: 3hr 20min
  • Average video length: 10min
  • Format: Short video lectures, cheat sheets and exercises.

Receive the step-by-step roadmap that I’ve used myself and have seen hundreds of my students use successfully, to raise money and resources for our films.

  • Modules: 3
  • Units: 2
  • Runtime: 2hr 41min
  • Average video length: 10min
  • Format: Short video lectures, cheat sheets and exercises.

Whether it’s studio execs or a neighbor with a camera: your collaborators are looking for you. Help them find you by making your work (and yourself!) irresistible.

  • Modules: 5
  • Units: 16
  • Runtime: 3hr
  • Average video length: 10min
  • Format: Short video lectures and cheat sheets.

Know how to budget, schedule, and crew your self-produced films.

  • Modules: 3
  • Units: 25
  • Runtime: 2hr 43min
  • Average video length: 7min
  • Format: Short video lectures and cheat sheets.

Your audience is waiting for your film. Help them find it. Learn how to build niche audiences; fully utilize the festival circuit for maximum buzz; and get an overview of distribution roadmaps.

  • Modules: 3
  • Units: 11
  • Runtime: 3hr 19min
  • Average video length: 18min
  • Format: Short video lectures and cheat sheets.

Downloadable contracts, templates, links. All the production resources that you might need at your fingertips.

  • Modules: 3
  • Units: 24
  • Runtime: N/A
  • Average video length: N/A
  • Format: Downloadable docs, spreadsheets, and PDF’s, along with pertinent links to external resources.

From micro-budgets to multi-million-dollar projects: if, when, and how. (COMING 2026.)

  • Modules: 2
  • Units: 10
  • Runtime: TBD
  • Average video length: TBD
  • Format: Short video lectures and cheat sheets.

Community announcement as you complete each course.

Certificate of completion when you complete all producing courses.

Your future self thanks you

creative blocks are the result of isolation

It’s tricky to challenge isolation because we’re used to it; it’s like asking a fish to see water. But reality is:

Isolation is the foremost reason that we feel blocked, overwhelmed, or unmotivated.

Online courses are effective when they include community.

THE IFS COMMUNITY

· artists succeed in clusters ·

THE IFS STUDIO

Live co-working space (on zoom). Get focused on your creative work while making friends – even if you’re super shy. We have both facilitated and peer-run sessions in our virtual co-working space.

Moderated online group

A curated Slack workspace.  Slack works like a facebook group – but it’s more effective. Be ready to build your network. We know how to motivate and help forge relationships.

Monthly live sessions

Monthly sessions (that aren’t boring!) Join our monthly live group sessions with Ela Thier, or a guest industry professional. Get inspired, receive live guidance, and meet potential collaborators.

goal setting course

Receive the goal-setting tools that I’ve used for over 20 years to build a thriving career as a filmmaker.

  • Modules: 1
  • Units: 4
  • Runtime: 46min
  • Average video length: 11min
  • Format: Short video lectures and exercises.

help your collaborators find you

Ivy-League quality film school at $3.20/day

Writing Suite
$997

Monthly challenges
$997

Film Producing Suite
$1494

Live Co-working space
$197/yr

Film Directing Suite
$1997

Moderated Slack Workspace
Priceless

Film Editing Suite
$497

Monthly live sessions
priceless

Goal setting for Artists
$297

Enjoying your creativity
$?

Total value $6476

Your fee $97/mo

FAQ'S

Indeed, the total value of the All Access Pass is well over $6K, yet we’re charging just $97/month. Two reasons:

Firstly, I want these programs and courses to be widely accessible.

Secondly, I’m so confident in what you’ll get out of the experience that I know you’ll want to stick around for years. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

The first payment includes a 7-day refund window. Subsequent payments are not refundable, though you can cancel your pass at any point to stop future charges. Easily.

If you cancel your pass, you’ll lose access to the perks and features that come with it: the courses, monthly challenges, slack space, IFS Studio, monthly live sessions.

If you rejoin us in the future, progress made on any of the courses will reappear in your dashboard.

** If you purchased lifetime access to any of our courses in the past, you won’t lose access to those.

Amen. I’ve enrolled in so many that I’ve never used. Who’s got time? And most of them are boring and dry.

IFS courses are engaging, bite-sized, well organized, and built for action.

Additionally, each month, the 6-day challenges will give you the option to jump in for just 10 minutes and make progress, or dive deeper by working through entire courses – at your own pace.

We’ll help you put one foot in front of the other and stay at it.

We offer accountability and support you won’t find ANYWHERE else at this price point. Not by a long shot.

You have access to all courses as long as you have an All Access Pass.

You can binge through them marathon-style and knock out each course in a couple of weekends, or take your time and work on your schedule. View them as the lifetime learning opportunity that they are.

As you dive in, you’ll find a rhythm that works best for you. We’ll help.

We provide multiple layers of support and accountability:

  • Private Slack Workspace – for connecting, sharing, and accountability. If you haven’t used Slack, it’s like a Facebook group, but way more effective – and without the distractions of social media.

  • IFS Studio & Live Sessions – The IFS Studio (our live co-working space) and monthly live sessions, are additional ways to connect, get motivated, and build relationships – the ultimate ingredient in making progress.

We also offer the option to acquire an IFS Coaching Pass for feedback on work and direct guidance, if you want to invest more and work with our coaches.

I’m not aware of any space that offers this level of support at this price point. Whether you prefer peer support, structured accountability, or personalized coaching, we’re here for it.

The IFS Studio is a live, co-working space (on zoom). During facilitated sessions, you can join a small breakout room on the hour to connect with fellow creatives. The space helps focus, while removing isolation.

Outside facilitated sessions, it’s a 24/7 peer-run communal work space. Students have used it to gather writing groups and in many other ways.

Use the IFS Studio to build a daily writing practice, tackle challenges, work through a course – or fold laundry…? I’ve used it to get many things done 🙂

Brand new 6-Day Challenge = First Thursday of each month.

Live Group Coaching Call = Second Thursday of each month.

Live sessions are usually led by Ela Thier, and meet for an hour at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT.

Then you’re exactly who this program is for. No prior experience is assumed. Our community is the perfect place to dip your toes in and figure out how much further you want to go. Come on in, the water’s warm! 🤿

My courses and challenges are designed for all levels; I’ve often seen the more experienced writers and filmmakers get even more out of them.

You’ll continue to build skills and move forward in unexpected ways. As a lifelong student myself, with numerous features under my belt, I guarantee that you’ll enjoy the ride.

About your instructor, Ela Thier

I’ve written, directed, and produced several award-winning features and many shorts. Currently I’m in post production on 109 Billion Followers, a feature film with Oscar winning actor J.K. Simmons. I’ve also done writer-for-hire gigs on feature films. You can view my filmography on IMDB.

As importantly to me, I’ve guided hundreds of screenwriters and filmmakers since 2006, and proven time and again that to thrive, what artists need are skills, community, encouragement, and guidance from someone who believes in them and holds out high expectations.

It’s been a highlight of my life to have launched careers of fellow artists, who I’ve enjoyed supporting, and who supported me in return – often tenfold.

you won’t • you will

Your creativity needs a home

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