Streaming Platform Launches New Model Letting Filmmakers Build Audiences Before Films Are Finished

ReDiscover TV, a family-focused streaming service with more than 3.9 million Roku downloads, more than 600,000 users, and 50,000 paid monthly subscribers, has launched ReDiscover Backlot, a new platform designed to transform how films are developed, financed, and brought to market. 

The company also announced that principal photography will begin in August on “She’s Dating Jesus,” the first feature produced through the Backlot model. Produced by Justen Overlander (“The Chosen,” “The Shift”), Tyler Sansom (“I Can,” “Learning You”), **Venus Monique **(“Vindication”), and Wally De La Fuente, the film stars Daniel Roebuck (“Matlock,” “LOST,” “The Fugitive”), Joe Estevez (“Apocalypse Now”), Demoetrios Troy (“The Chosen”), Mari Deese (“Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay,” “Blockbuster”), and Leontine Guilliard (“ER,” “How High”).  Built in collaboration with award-winning filmmaker Sansom, **ReDiscover Backlot **introduces a new model for film development. Instead of projects being built behind closed doors and monetized only after completion, filmmakers can now build in public, growing an audience in real time and generate revenue while projects are still in development.    “You’re not just looking at potential anymore,” said Sansom. “You’re seeing what is actually resonating while the project is still being built.”

With ReDiscover Backlot, filmmakers can upload projects at any stage, from script to post production, and share updates, footage, and progress in real time. Audience engagement through views, follows, comments, and support is captured in a Momentum Score that reflects each project’s traction. Industry professionals gain a new way to evaluate projects, with clear insight into which stories resonate and which creators consistently build engagement.     The platform also introduces early monetization, a model not traditionally available in the film industry. Once a project reaches a Momentum Score of 30, creators unlock an affiliate link to earn 50 percent of first month subscription revenue generated through their audience, providing a direct path for filmmakers to generate income while still creating.   A watch hour pool ties revenue directly to audience attention while protecting independent creators from competition with major studio films. Ten percent of all subscriptions across ReDiscover TV and** ReDiscover Backlot **is allocated to a shared pool that is distributed only among Backlot projects. Each project earns a share based on its percentage of total watch time within Backlot, so as viewership and engagement increase, so does its share, giving audiences a direct way to support creators and provide a meaningful path to earn during development.    ReDiscover TV does not take any platform fees on donations made directly to projects. This allows filmmakers to receive full support from their audience without deductions, further reinforcing the platform’s focus on helping creators fund and finish their work.

For producers, distributors, and investors, the platform offers early visibility into projects that are gaining traction. It provides a way to identify creators who can build and sustain audience interest and to evaluate projects based on real engagement rather than assumptions. The goal is to create a space where projects are not only discovered, but also developed in collaboration with both audiences and industry leaders.

“This isn’t just another crowdfunding platform,” added Wally De La Fuente, founder of ReDiscover TV. “Filmmakers are building audiences, proving demand, and generating revenue while their projects are still in development. There’s nothing else quite like this in the market right now.”    The platform is initially launching as a web-based experience, with plans to expand into a dedicated app. Access is included as part of a ReDiscover Premium subscription, which combines streaming on ReDiscover TV with full access to ReDiscover Backlot.

For more information, visit www.rediscoverbacklot.com.     About ReDiscover TV ReDiscover TV is a family-friendly streaming platform built to help audiences discover meaningful stories that entertain, inspire, and encourage.  Its growing library includes faith-based films, family movies, documentaries, classics, and original content. The company supports creators by helping quality projects reach audiences beyond the traditional Hollywood system. With the launch of ReDiscover Backlot, it expands into film development, connecting creators, audiences, and distribution. See more at www.rediscoverfamily.tv.