96. Evan Shapiro: The Affinity Economy and a New Model for Indie Film
About this episode
Evan Shapiro discusses the Affinity Economy and a new model for indie film with Alex Stolz.
In this episode, Alex is joined by Emmy and Peabody Award–winning producer, and analyst, Evan Shapiro. Known widely as the Media Cartographer, Evan has spent years mapping how power, attention, and money move across media. But now he’s gone beyond analysis and into practice with SKIT, a $65,000 feature film shot in eight days and released globally via Tubi and Filmhub. Evan calls SKIT a case study in the “Affinity Economy”: a new model for independent filmmaking that is creator-led, audience-aligned, and designed for sustainability rather than old industry models of gatekeepers and 'lottery-ticket' thinking. Evan and Alex explore why the traditional indie film system no longer works, how festivals and streamers have narrowed opportunity, and why creators must now think in terms of communities, engagement, and ownership. They dive into the making of SKIT, the economics of free ad-supported streaming, the collapse of monoculture media, and what it really takes to build a sustainable creative career in 2026 and beyond. This episode is essential listening for filmmakers, creators, and anyone navigating the future of screen storytelling. About Evan Shapiro Since he created his Media…
Topics covered
- independent filmmaking
- media economics
- audience engagement
- sustainability
- creative careers
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- 94. Ben Lock: Visual Intelligence, AI Workflows and the Future of VFX
- 93. Mehret Mandefro: Empowering Storytellers and Building Creative Infrastructure
- 92. Meagan Keane: How to Tell Your Story in the Age of AI
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