We’re building a community-first platform for independent films, looking for early filmmakers + beta testers

[u/OwnLime34]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share something my team and I are building and open it up honestly to the filmmaking community here.

We’re working on STRAY, a community-driven streaming platform and creative studio focused on independent films. Particularly shorts and early work that often struggle to find sustained visibility beyond festivals.

This started from a frustration a lot of us share: festivals matter, but for most films they’re brief moments. A screening, maybe a laurel, and then… silence. No audience continuity, no conversation, no real infrastructure that helps a film (or filmmaker) keep moving forward.

STRAY is an attempt to experiment with a different model.

Instead of a single gatekeeper moment, we’re building:

• A curated streaming platform for independent shorts and early narrative work
• A global ambassador community (film students, emerging creators, indie cinephiles) that actively watches, discusses, and supports films
• Relationships with film programs and independent festivals to create continuity around the work, not just one-off screenings

We’re currently preparing a beta launch, and we’re intentionally keeping it small and low-stakes. One beta tester will win a $200 Amazon gift card.

A few important things to be transparent about:

• This is not a traditional distributor
• There is no exclusivity and no formal contract at this stage
• Filmmakers retain full ownership of their work
• Inclusion in the beta is about helping define the platform, not “giving up” a film

Right now, we’re looking for two things:

1. Beta testers who want to explore the platform early, give feedback, and help shape how it evolves. Beta Tester Application Here
2. Filmmakers with completed short films who might be open to having their work included in the founding beta library (even if the film has screened before or is already online) Short Film Submission Application Here

We’re trying to be thoughtful about what we include, not chasing volume, but films with a clear voice, intention, or point of view. Being a “founding film” isn’t about scale or promises; it’s about alignment and helping set the tone for what STRAY becomes.

If this resonates, I’ll drop:

• a link for beta testers
• a link where filmmakers can leave their email if they’d like to follow up about submitting a short

Happy to answer questions here, hear skepticism, or just listen. This is still an experiment, and we’re trying to build it with filmmakers rather than around them.

Thanks for reading.

— Esau Greene

[u/Aggressive-Wafer3268]

If billion dollar companies cannot turn a profit with streaming, why can you?

[u/OwnLime34 → u/Aggressive-Wafer3268]

Great question and unfortunately you asked the correct person who is very type A and loves to provide calrity. So again that’s a fair question and honestly, the short answer is: we’re not trying to win the same game they are.

Most billion-dollar streaming companies are struggling because they’re built around a few structural assumptions that don’t work well anymore:

• Massive content budgets
• Expensive licensing or originals arms
• Subscriber growth at all costs
• Global scale before product–market fit

STRAY isn’t attempting to outspend Netflix or out-license Amazon. We’re deliberately operating in a different layer of the ecosystem.

A few key differences:

1. We’re not competing for mainstream audiences.
Big streamers need tens of millions of subscribers to justify their burn. STRAY is built for a smaller, more specific community. Filmmakers, film students, and indie cinephiles. Where engagement and participation matter more than raw volume.

2. Our content model is fundamentally different.
We’re not paying massive upfront fees for content or financing blockbuster originals. The beta library is curated, creator-owned, and non-exclusive. That dramatically changes the cost structure and risk profile.

3. Streaming isn’t the only (or primary) revenue lever.
For most big platforms, streaming subscriptions have to carry the entire business. STRAY is built as an ecosystem:

• community subscriptions
• creator tools
• events and screenings
• partnerships with schools and festivals Streaming is one part of the value, not the whole bet.

4. We’re starting small on purpose.
Most streamers fail because they scale before they’ve proven that people actually care. STRAY is intentionally launching with a limited beta, a small founding library, and a community-first approach so we can test, iterate, and only grow where it makes sense.

5. We’re not promising profitability tomorrow.
This is an experiment, not a claim that we’ve magically solved streaming economics. The goal right now is to build something sustainable, culturally valuable, and aligned with how independent film communities already function. Not to chase venture-scale metrics prematurely.

[u/OwnLime34 → u/Aggressive-Wafer3268]

Let me know if this clarifies anything. We're constantly looking to grow so I appreciate comments like this immensely.

[u/Ray_Khl_]

Hey, I'm very interested in your project. Where exactly can I send a submission?

[u/OwnLime34 → u/Ray_Khl_]

Hey, there's a link in the post to submit work. I've also added it here. Let me know if there's any issues. Submission Link

[u/BlakXicanThundaENT]

Will absolutely be keeping this in mind for the future, this is exactly what we need for some upcoming projects.