Better clients. Bigger budgets. Greater creative work.
Ambitious studio and prodco founders in motion, animation, VFX, live action, experiential, and sound.
Run a business that wins better clients with bigger budgets, thrives amid change, and produces its greatest work.
Two lanes: Live 🅛 for real-time collaboration and accountability. On-Demand 🅞 for self-paced, DIY progress.


Forum brings together the industry’s most ambitious studios and production companies — names like Versus, Polyester, MAKE, Spillt, Nocaut, Cream, and many more — winning bigger clients, commanding higher fees, and building stronger businesses together.
Join 200+ founders who have made the leap from vendor to expert. It all starts here.
Learn about Jumpstart®Skip the middleman and earn your seat at the table.
Learn about Brand Direct™Generate high-quality warm leads at scale—without losing the human touch.
Learn about Lead Flow Generator™Regain control of competitive pitches. Never again be the dreaded third bid.
Learn about Derail the Pitch™Replace the rollercoaster with steady, sustainable sales.
Learn about Saleskeeping®Delegate the day-to-day to your team while you pilot your studio—profitably.
Learn about Studio Flight Deck™Investment: about 1% of your annual revenue, designed to unlock the other 99%. After you apply, join Joel's next Initiation Session to begin a 14-day free trial. Upgrade or downgrade quarterly as your needs change.
Ambitious founders of studios & production companies in motion, animation, VFX, live action, experiential, and sound—typically 2–40+ people, ~$300K–$20M+ revenue. (Members include names like BIEN, Cream, MAKE, Panoply, Polyester, Spillt, VERSUS, and many more.)
1. Apply to join
2. Attend an upcoming Initiation Session
3. Complete the Quick Win Sprint to unlock your 14-day trial in Forum Live
4. Choose your lane: On-Demand 🅞 or Live 🅛
Forum On-Demand 🅞, Forum Live 🅛, and Forum Reserve 🅡.
For hungry creative leaders, the ROI is exceptional. A quick scan of the testimonials in the accelerators alone reveals that Jumpstart helps studios double their prices, Lead Flow Generator helps shops forge relationships with their dream clients, Derail the Pitch helps prodcos greatly increase their competitive pitching win ratio, Studio Flight Deck helps companies stop breaking even and become consistently profitable, and on it goes.
Yes. Forum membership runs on a quarterly rhythm to match our accelerators. But for founders interested in annual participation, reduced rates are available. Just ask about this benefit during your application.
Yes—upgrade or downgrade between On-Demand 🅞 and Live 🅛 at any time (changes start next billing cycle).
Note: joining Circles require a brief application; waitlists may occur.
The free Lite tier has been retired. Unpaid accounts have ongoing access to our Free Resources, Fabulist podcast, and email bulletins.
Yes, three. We offer annual pricing, discounted additional partner seats, and international adjustments for founders outside the US, Canada, UK, EU, and Australia.
Reserve 🅡 is Joel’s invite-only incubator for founders ready to go beyond work-for-hire and co-create ventures—IP, products, influence plays—often with Joel participating as an investor, advisor, or partner. It includes Forum Live benefits for you and your partners.
Yes. Reserve 🅡 includes seats for partners. To give your team acces to Live 🅛, purchase additional seats as needed (discounts apply).
Cancel any time; your access continues through the end of your current term.
