Greenlight Lab

From Pattern and Hoodox

6-week Accelerator for Indiana’s Emerging Documentary Filmmakers

6-week Accelerator for Indiana’s Emerging Documentary Filmmakers

Program Overview

Greenlight Lab is a new statewide accelerator from Pattern and Hoodox designed to help emerging documentary filmmakers build more economically sustainable careers in Indiana. Over the course of the program, a small cohort of filmmakers will work with experienced practitioners and advisors to strengthen the business side of their creative practice: 

  • Exploring diversified revenue streams, 
  • Budgeting and financial management,
  • Legal and business structures, 
  • Marketing and sales, 
  • Distribution, 
  • Strategic funding opportunities.

Rather than assuming there is one path to making a living as a filmmaker, Greenlight Lab will help participants develop practical strategies around their own goals, whether that means financing an independent documentary, building a sustainable production business, pursuing commissioned storytelling and client work, or combining multiple revenue streams. Participants will leave with an actionable 12-month sustainability plan, individualized guidance, and stronger connections to Indiana’s filmmaking and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Info Session

APPLICANTS

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Greenlight Lab is for Emerging Documentary Filmmakers in Indiana. These are individuals who are non-fiction storytellers with proven creative talent, but need a stronger foundation in the areas of formal capital strategies and business frameworks for repeatable project execution.

You are an ideal candidate if:

  • You are the lead director, producer, or founder of an active non-fiction project with full decision-making authority over financial and legal choices.
  • You have a creative foundation, having completed at least one short/feature documentary OR have an active project in pre-production.
  • You want to move away from relying on out-of-pocket spending or waiting on a single grant by building a diversified capital stack (combining grants, sponsorships, pre-sales, and educational licensing).

You are prepared to complete 1:1 advisory hours, build a formal 12-month financing plan, and pitch or submit an active funding application during the cohort.

 

PROGRAM STRUCTURE & SCHEDULE

Format: Hybrid model combining 6 weekly virtual cohort sessions and 1 mandatory in-person intensive hosted in Central Indiana.

  • Application Window: September 23 – December 6, 2026 (Rolling Admissions)
  • Onboarding Period: January 11 – January 22, 2027
  • Weekly Cohort Sessions: January 25 – March 6, 2027
  • In-person Intensive: March 5-7, 2027

CURRICULUM OUTLINE

Week 1 : Business Model & Revenue Strategy

  • Participants define their overall venture model, including personal income targets, operating expenses, and diversified revenue pathways. This includes grants, sponsorships, commissioned storytelling, contract work, educational licensing, pre-sales, streaming, partnerships, and crowdfunding. Emphasis is placed on building economically sustainable practices rather than relying on a single funding source. 

Week 2 : Budget & Capital Stack Design

  • Participants examine how documentary projects are typically financed in Indiana and comparable markets. “Capital stack” is introduced as a practical tool for mapping how grants, sponsorships, commissioned work, earned revenue, and partnerships combine to fund a project. Participants distinguish between one-time project financing and ongoing business sustainability. 

Week 3 : Legal, Entity & IP Structuring

  • Entity formation options, fiscal sponsorship models, contract structures, rights management, responsible accounting practices, and cash flow planning. Participants build a stable operational foundation to support both project-based financing and recurring revenue. 

Week 4: Marketing, Sales & Distribution Strategy

  • Audience positioning, distribution pathways, client acquisition, sponsorship outreach, impact campaigns, and monetization channels. Emphasis on practical marketing and sales strategies that generate repeat revenue and long-term sustainability.

 

Week 5: Grant & Strategic Funder Readiness

  • Grant positioning, foundation research, sponsorship strategy, and selective funder outreach. Capital stack modeling revisited as one strategic financing tool when appropriate for specific projects. Participants refine realistic funding timelines and sequencing.

Week 6 + in-person intensive: Sustainable Venture Presentations

  • Participants present a 12-month sustainability and project financing plan that integrates diversified revenue targets, project-specific capital strategies, and growth milestones. Advisors provide feedback focused on economic viability and execution readiness.

KEY COMMITMENTS & PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES

What Selected Cohort Members Receive:

  • 6 Weekly Cohort Sessions
  • 1 in-person Cohort intensive
  • 2 hours of dedicated 1:1 industry advisory support
  • Plug-and-play budget, capital stack, and distribution templates
  • Access to Hoodox and Pattern’s statewide network of funders, mentors, and distribution partners


Cohort Requirements:

  • Attendance to each weekly Cohort Session
  • Attendance at the in-person intensive in Central Indiana
  • Completion of a 12-month project financing and distribution plan
  • Completion of at least one active grant submission or formal investor/funder meeting

Apply Today

Space is limited to 10–12 selected documentary filmmakers across Indiana.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis—apply early to secure your spot in the cohort.

For questions about Greenlight Lab, please contact program director Amanda Thomas at amanda.thomas@patternindy.com

Apply Here