Episode•October 9, 2025•20 min

Exploring the Business Side of Filmmaking with Mikey T | Ep. 392

This week, Tiff dives into the business of filmmaking with special guest Mikey T—a passionate filmmaker whose work centers around Jamaican culture, legacy, and economic empowerment. Together, they explore the intersection of creativity, culture, and business, and how aspiring creatives can navigate the industry with both financial sense and social impact in mind. Check out the full show notes: https://moneytalkwitht.com/podcast-show-notes/turning-stories-into-impact/ Key Topics Covered What Is Filmmaking (for Mikey T)? Filmmaking isn’t just about art—it’s a powerful way to start conversations, drive change, and reach people worldwide. Mikey shares how his love for Jamaica inspired him to document and amplify voices that matter. The Importance of the Elevator Pitch: In today’s fast-paced networking environment, having a clear, compelling elevator pitch is crucial for filmmakers and creatives looking to find support or funding. Common Mistakes in Film Business: Mikey discusses why passion alone isn’t enough to attract investors—artistry must be paired with business acumen and clarity on ROI (return on investment), whether financial or social. Social Capital & ROI in Filmmaking: Not every film yields direct profits, but building social capital can offer tremendous value. Mikey highlights ways filmmakers can appeal to impact-driven investors and align their projects with broader social good. Shifting Media Landscape: With platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and digital streaming, the paradigms for making—and funding—films are rapidly evolving. Mikey outlines how these changes have opened global doors for storytelling and monetization. Current & Upcoming Projects:Jamaica Story (documentary) — Exploring Jamaican diasporic investment and social change Real Jamaican Food (short doc) — Featuring food security activist Peter Ivy Beg Yuh a Call (narrative short) — A festival-circuit film on family and friendship Event mini-docs in the works Special treat for Tiff’s email list subscribers: exclusive access to unreleased films! Tiff’s Takeaways Always lead with your passion but NEVER skip the business strategy—investors want to know why they should invest, and how they’ll see a return (not just money, but impact too!). Build your social capital and leverage your network, especially if you’re funding your own projects. Don’t sleep on new content formats—short-form video and global streaming are changing the filmmaking game. Community-building and sharing culture through art can be just as valuable (if not more) than chasing Hollywood profits. Links & Resources Jamaica Story - Watch on YouTube Sign up for Tiff’s Email List for exclusive sneak peeks (join here) Connect with Mikey T:Instagram: @mikeytspeaks Email: [email protected] Connect with Tiff Website: moneytalkwitht.com Instagram / Facebook / Twitter: @moneytalkwitht Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoyed the episode. See you next Thursday for more Money Talk With Tiff!

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Key Takeaways

Filmmaking is a tool for global conversation and social change, not just art

Mikey T uses film to discuss Jamaican investment and culture with thousands instead of one-on-one conversations

Documented stories can reach worldwide audiences and drive economic empowerment

Passion alone won't attract investors—pair artistry with business clarity and ROI focus

Investors need to know why they should invest and how they'll see returns (financial or social impact)

Family validation isn't enough; filmmakers must demonstrate they know what they're doing

Elevator pitches are essential in fast-paced networking environments

Events have limited time; you need to hit people with your core message immediately

If they're interested, they'll stop and listen—otherwise, they'll move on

Social capital and social ROI can be as valuable as financial returns

Not every film will be profitable; building social impact attracts impact-driven investors

Businesses now seek social responsibility to maintain customer goodwill

The media landscape is shifting—short-form and global streaming open new doors

Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and streaming services are changing funding and distribution

Vertical micro-series in Asia show new monetization models (pay-per-episode or subscriptions)

Intro

Tiff explores the business side of filmmaking with Mikey T, a filmmaker focused on Jamaican culture, legacy, and economic empowerment.

Mikey T is a passionate filmmaker who creates documentaries and narrative shorts centered on Jamaican culture, food security, and diasporic investment. He splits time between Westmoreland, Jamaica and New York.

Exploring the Business Side of Filmmaking with Mikey T | Ep. 392

Key Takeaways

Intro

– What Is Filmmaking?

– The Importance of the Elevator Pitch

– Common Mistakes in the Film Business

– Social Capital & ROI in Filmmaking

– Shifting Media Landscape

– Current & Upcoming Projects

Resources

Topics