FORUM™

Connect. Grow. Thrive. Join the founder network of the world's leading independent studios.
APPLY
PREVIEW
It's a support system, a gathering place, a playground for idea exchange. You'll be greeted with unfiltered, unbiased, and unwavering camaraderie.
Ricardo Roberts
Co-Founder and Executive Producer at BIEN
Decorative
For founders and leaders running the world's top studios and production companies in:
Motion Design & Animation
Live Action & Content
Music & Sound Design
Experiential, Immersive & Events

Full Member benefits.

Private Network.

Discussion Spaces
Tap into ongoing honest conversations with me and your founder peers. Post questions, comment, DM, and bookmark.

Don't be surprised if your rivals turn out to be your strongest supporters.
Live Roundtables & Replay Library
Each week for our full members, I invite a special guest for a live discussion of a hyper relevant business topic.

Missed the livestream? Catch up anytime in our Replay Library.
FUSE invitations
Full members enjoy invitations to my FUSE founder dinners bringing studio leaders together in the world's creative capitals.

Elite Resources.

Accelerators
Each quarter I lead full members through one advanced accelerator course such as Derail the Pitch, the Saleskeeping Sessions, Studio Flight Deck, etc. New accelerators are in constant development.

FORUM+ members enjoy Year Round All-Access to all past courses.
Studios United
Imagine big brands bringing projects right to your doorstep without pitching, bidding, or negotiating. Studios United is replacing the RFP with the RWA.

Open exclusively to FORUM full members. Currently in startup mode. Visit https://studios-united.com.

Personalized Support.

Biweekly Office Hours
FORUM+ members and I convene regularly to work on their businesses. No appointment necessary, no topic off limits.
Quarterly Review & Planning
Every 90 days each FORUM+ member meets with me 1:1 for an intensive review and planning session.
Priority Support
FORUM+ members enjoy priority support from my support team.

Direct 1:1.

Direct Advice, Coaching, and Accountability with Joel Pilger
FORUM Reserve is a 1:1 engagement with me for focused advice, help, and accountability.

The FORUM Story.

[01]

The challenge.

These days it seems like everyone has launched a studio.

Launching is one thing. But running a studio – that is a strong, resilient business – is quite another.
[02]

The journey.

Unlike consultants who have never run a studio or production company, I ran Impossible Pictures for 20 years. So I've lived the life you're now living. Many times I have experienced that thrill of victory and agony of defeat.
[03]

The lonely road.

There's no better life than helming a creative company. But as much as we love running our businesses, it can be a lonely road; years of toiling, making it up as you go, wondering how everyone else does it.
[04]

The support you need.

This is why I created FORUM where the world’s top creative founders come to elevate their studios — together.
[05]

For founders, by founders.

Our advisory council is made up of accomplished leaders from the industry, offering guidance akin to a board of directors:

• Amanda Russell, Co-Founder/CD at Cream
• Andre Foster, Co-Founder/ECD at First Fight
• Production Exec/Agent at Carolyn Reps
• Eric Singer, Partner/EP at Coupe Studios
• Martín Schurmann, Owner/ECD at Váscolo
• Ricardo Roberts, Co-Founder/EP at BIEN
• Robb Wagner, Founder at Stimulated-Inc.
• Ryan Summers, CD at Spillt
• Sarah Ward, Co-Founder/EP at The Frame Theory
It's like having a board of directors made up of the brightest minds in the industry. Truly a priceless resource.
Eric Singer
Partner at Coupe Studios
Decorative
Not the biggest. The best.
During the pandemic I spearheaded a large community, and it was good. But as it grew, I realized that focusing on bringing in new members took energy away from what mattered most: our existing members.

This is why I keep FORUM small and impactful — capped at just 100 full members — so each founder gets dedicated attention and the most value from our network.

How it works: once your application is accepted, you’ll be invited to join my next Initiation Session. You will start with a 30-day trial to experience the full benefits of FORUM. If no seats are open, you will be moved to our Lite waitlist for future openings. While you wait, enjoy access to limited community spaces.

Your fellow founders and I look forward to helping your studio thrive!
APPLY
Last night when I posted there were immediate responses from everyone all over the world, including you. Before I asked anyone for help, everyone just gave it.
Amanda Russell
Co-Founder & CD at Cream Studio

Apply.

Apply here to join Joel Pilger in his next upcoming Initiation Session. Please note FORUM full memberships are capped at 100. If no seats are open after a 30-day trial, new members are moved to the waitlist.

CLIMBING

FORUM

USD 495 quarterly
30-day free trial
PRIVATE NETWORK
Discussion Spaces
Live Roundtables & Replay Library
FUSE invitations
ELITE RESOURCES
Quarterly Accelerator
Studios United
DIRECT SUPPORT
Biweekly Office Hours
Quarterly Review & Planning
Priority Feedback
1:1 ADVISORY
Direct Advice, Coaching, and Accountability with Joel
APPLY
REACHING

FORUM+

USD 995 quarterly
Includes FORUM plus DIRECT SUPPORT
PRIVATE NETWORK
Discussion Spaces
Live Roundtables & Replay Library
VIP FUSE invitations
ELITE RESOURCES
Year Round All-Access
Studios United
DIRECT SUPPORT
Biweekly Office Hours
Quarterly Review & Planning
Priority Feedback
1:1 ADVISORY
Direct Advice, Coaching, and Accountability with Joel
APPLY
CRUISING

FORUM Reserve

USD 12K+ quarterly
Includes FORUM+ plus 1:1 ADVISORY
PRIVATE NETWORK
Discussion Spaces
Live Roundtables & Replay Library
Priority FUSE invitations
ELITE RESOURCES
Year Round All-Access
Studios United
DIRECTSUPPORT
Biweekly Office Hours
Quarterly Review & Planning
Priority Feedback
1:1 ADVISORY
Direct Advice, Coaching, and Accountability with Joel
APPLY
Price increases coming January 2025. Details subject to change to better serve our members.
Decorative
FAQ
  • Are discounts available?
    Annual memberships are available which include a substantial discount. Special discounts are also available to international studios (based outside US, Canada, EU, APAC) to help offset the strength of the US dollar.
  • What is Lite?
    Lite is our waitlist for new members who after their 30-day free trial are unable to become full members due to our cap on membership.
  • How is membership in FORUM+ different than FORUM?
    ​FORUM+​ is for the ambitious creative seeking more personalized help from me via Biweekly Office Hours, Quarterly Review and Planning, and Priority Support.
  • What is FORUM Reserve?
    ​FORUM Reserve​ is the name for my exclusively 1:1 advisory engagements. Slots are extremely limited, please inquire.
  • If I downgrade to Lite, may I reinstate full membership later?
    FORUM full memberships are capped at 100 so when you downgrade, you are moved to the end of the Lite waitlist. Rejoining is possible only when a member leaves, so your wait could be long (at present our waitlist contains just over 200).