Startup Mentality Fuels New Film Company, Romantical

Filmmaker Jonah Feingold is redefining the independent film landscape by adopting startup methodologies for his new media company, Romantical. The venture is currently seeking $3 million to establish an infrastructure dedicated to romantic comedies, encompassing film production, digital series, live events, and brand partnerships.

Feingold's approach shifts from traditional film financing, which underwrites single assets, to building a business. Romantical aims to create a compounding intellectual property engine where investors back a series of films and digital properties. This model also offers filmmakers equity, fostering a long-term vision rather than focusing on a single release.

This innovative strategy is partly inspired by Feingold's career path, which includes experiences at digital media companies like BuzzFeed and Tumblr, alongside his filmmaking. He previously directed features like "Dating & New York" and has produced content for platforms such as Paramount+ and Amazon.

Romantical's operational model includes direct distribution strategies to ensure creators and equity holders see returns, diverging from traditional models. Feingold advocates for tools like a native Rent/Buy button on platforms such as YouTube, enabling direct sales to audiences and providing valuable viewership data. This aligns with a broader industry shift toward creator-led businesses and direct-to-audience models.

Feingold envisions Romantical becoming a hybrid of a film studio, creator business, and direct-to-audience brand. By year three, the company aims for a breakout theatrical release with accompanying digital content, and within five years, to develop a library with output deals and licensing agreements with major streaming platforms.