The Blended Future Project | Maris Lidaka | Substack

Build Your Own Game

A Filmmaker's Path to Creative Sovereignty

Jan 12 • Maris Lidaka

The Prize I Didn’t Win (And Why That Was A Good Thing)

I was 22, standing on stage looking at a packed auditorium at the Columbia College Chicago annual Best Of showcase.

Jan 11 • Maris Lidaka

2026, The Year Filmmakers Leave the Nest

It's Time For Us To Grow Up and Take Our Lives Back

Jan 5 • Maris Lidaka

What Chicago Taught Me About Building vs. Waiting

I’m writing this from my desk in Los Angeles, finally back home after two weeks in Chicago.

Jan 4 • Maris Lidaka

Conditioning the World to See You Whole: A Filmmaker's Guide

Last week, I wrote about stopping apologizing for being too many things at once.

Dec 22, 2025 • Maris Lidaka

Most Popular

Why Filmmakers Are Still Stuck in 2005 (And Musicians Aren’t)

Nov 3, 2025 • Maris Lidaka

FilmStack Inspiration Challenge #43: Why Loss Made Me Stop Taking My Film Career for Granted

Sep 29, 2025 • Maris Lidaka

Filmmakers, It's Time to Change Your Production Company Dreams

Nov 25, 2024 • Maris Lidaka

Think Global, Act Local: Here Is The Future of Indie Film Distribution

Feb 10, 2025 • Maris Lidaka

Recent posts

The Glory Lives in the Work Itself

If you noticed, this weekly note is coming out on a Sunday.

Dec 21, 2025 • Maris Lidaka

Stop Apologizing for Being Too Many Things at Once

When I first moved out to Los Angeles, I was asked time and again this question:

Dec 15, 2025 • Maris Lidaka

When YouTube Becomes Cinema

One filmmaker is making Wong Kar-Wai films on YouTube and everything is about to change

Dec 11, 2025 • Maris Lidaka

Concrete River - Diamonds in the Rough

Open Casting Strategy and Script Evolution

Dec 8, 2025 • Maris Lidaka

The Thanksgiving Steak Dinner Revelation (and Why Hollywood Keeps Repeating the Same Mistake)

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.

Dec 3, 2025 • Maris Lidaka

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