Meet The Modern Filmmaker
The Mission: Create Feeling. Stop Waiting.
The Modern Filmmaker exists for two reasons.
First: To create feeling. Not hype. Not hustle. Not surface-level advice. My goal—as a filmmaker, a writer, and a human—is to create work that lands in the body first. Work that lets authentic emotion populate naturally. Viscerally. Honestly. Sometimes uncomfortably.
Second: To build the NonDē Movement. “NonDē” stands for Non-Dependent. It means we stop waiting for permission. We stop waiting for the studio to greenlight us, for the gatekeepers to open the door, or for the “industry” to validate our art.
In the NonDē world, you are the studio. You validate yourself.
Everything I release here—essays, tactical guides, lessons from set, and reflections on grief and momentum—is built to help you reclaim that independence.
Hi, I’m Mike Rekola
I’m a director, producer, and writer working across feature films, television, and other visual projects.
I’ve had work featured in major national outlets, and I’ve taken long detours through politics, failure, burnout, and rebuilding. What I’ve learned—often the hard way—is that a rising tide lifts all ships.
I don’t just write about filmmaking; I live it. I split my time between Washington, DC, and my family’s fifth-generation farm in Connecticut with my wife Kaitlin, our daughter Emmi, and our two sons Wyatt & River.
I am most committed to showing up inside the work—especially when it’s uncomfortable, uncertain, or slow.
What It Means to Produce
People often think producing is just spreadsheets and phone calls. I believe producing is the art of protection.
To produce is to orchestrate a crew, a location, and a budget to protect a fragile idea until it becomes reality.
It requires logistical warfare.
It requires emotional intelligence.
It requires the ability to look at a problem and say, “I’ll fix it.”
I wrote The Modern Filmmaker’s On-Set Filmmaking Dictionary to give you the language you need to walk onto those sets with confidence. But I write this newsletter to give you the spirit to keep going when the set falls apart.
In short: A producer makes shit happen so that art can happen.
The Ecosystem: How I Sustain the Work
I am an independent creator. I don’t have a studio overhead or a trust fund backing this work. The “NonDē” life means building your own stability so you don’t have to ask for permission.
Here is the ecosystem that keeps the lights on:
The Knowledge: Sales of my book, The Modern Filmmaker’s On-Set Dictionary.
The Studio: Producing commercial and industrial work through my company, Goodworks (yes, you can hire us).
The Access: I offer limited 1-on-1 consulting for your individual projects.
The Dream: I’m currently building a micro drive-in movie theatre for my community.
The Support: Affiliate links, views, and one-time donations from readers like you.
None of this is separate from the art. It’s what allows the art to keep happening.
Reach Out
If you have an opportunity, a project, or a problem you’re trying to solve, reach out.
Advice is always free.
Networking is always free.
The door is open.
Let’s build something non-dependent, together.
Together, with faith.
M.P. Rekola
