A long struggle of mine as I create my pilot/studio

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is funding. I started developing this pilot when I was 12, and now, at 16, I’m still limited in terms of grants, formal employment, and access to traditional funding routes.

This has also made it harder for me to recruit people for help, as I mostly get left in silence when trying to ask for help, especially at my age.

Because of that, the project has operated on a volunteer basis so far, including me. I’m aware of the limitations and risks of that model, so I make sure expectations are clear, workloads are flexible, everyone on the team is free to step away at any time, and we have bi-weekly meetings to address problems or updates. No one is locked in or ignored.

Long-term, as I grow as an artist and studio president, I don’t want the project to rely on unpaid work. That’s why I’m preparing a crowdfunding campaign to move toward a more sustainable structure with the help of my team.

It’s definitely frustrating at times, but I see it as a production constraint I need to solve, not a permanent state.

If anyone has advice on sustainable funding paths for younger creators or indie teams in early stages (and me), I’d genuinely appreciate it.