Are you making one movie, or are you making a separate movie for each member?

​Folklight's flagship project is one narrative (fiction) feature-length (90-ish minutes) film made during each 2-year membership cycle. 

This film will take place in Nashville either today or sometime within the last decade. Our creative focus is on people, community, and relationships - simple, truthful storytelling that honors you, honors this place, and facilitates connection.

How do you select the filmmaking team?

We look for a combination of extraordinary talent, disciplined professionalism, high quality of character, and a desire to use art as service. These artists are typically in our circles of professional friends culled over 30+ years, or come to us via recommendation from people who know the combination of talent and character with which we look to collaborate. All are members of the professional filmmaking unions.

So, you're making a feature film inspired by members. What does that mean?

The first thing members did when we began our beta test was fill out their Tell Us Your Stories survey*. There were questions about some general film preferences, as well as some specific questions designed to go a bit deeper. Our screenwriter, director, and executive producer thoughtfully considered what each member shared with us, looking for where common themes between members emerge, and looking for specific touchstones of inspiration. What we'll end up with is the first work of Film Terroir - a film that captures the spirit of people in this specific time and place.

No story shared with us will be told on screen as-is, rather we'll be finding bits of inspiration that will be woven into a single work of fiction that's inspired by your truths. As such, these surveys are private and will only be seen by our producer, our screenwriter, our director, and our script consultant. We want you to feel safe sharing with us and we want you to know that you and your stories are safe.

What will the movies be about?

We have no idea! That's where you come in. 

You mention that the movies will be SAG-AFTRA productions - what does that mean?

SAG-AFTRA stands for Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and it is the union of professional screen actors. Both in front of and behind the camera, your film will be made by experienced professionals who have dedicated their lives to the art, craft, and business of filmmaking and do it everyday. We want to make you the best film possible. Other filmmaking labor unions include DGA (Directors Guild of America), WGA (Writers Guild of America), and IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists, and Allied Crafts), International Cinematographers Guild, and the Motion Picture Editors Guild. We believe in the vital work that these unions do to protect people working in the entertainment industry, their careers, and their families.


It is our goal that the films we make be of the highest professional quality possible, be viable products in the marketplace. If you joined a wine club, you would expect your wine to be made by an experienced winemaker who's dedicated their life to the art and science of winemaking. The same is true of Folklight.

How can I sign up to be in the movie?

​Our cast will be a mix of professional actors based in the major entertainment hubs of Los Angeles and New York and professional actors based here in the Nashville area. We will be seeing talented locals at our local auditions. Local folks might want to get on our mailing list. Los Angeles and NYC casting breakdowns will be posted in the usual places.

There will be opportunities for members to participate in group scenes.

It would have been fun to offer small roles to members as a membership add-on (we did look into this), but found that would be in violation of labor laws. One can't offer employment in exchange for money, even a donation. Not everyone outside of the industry realizes this, but acting positions are real jobs like any other job - they come with health insurance, dental & vision plans, and possibly pension (with enough qualifying work). For every one celebrity you've seen, there are hundreds of normal people making normal, middle-class, steady livings as professional actors, living much like anyone else - buying homes, maybe having kids, trying to live in good school districts, etc. For most actors, their lives are pretty much like folks in any other profession, and just like any other profession, those jobs require a specific skill set and knowledge base. It's a priority for us to be an employer who supports professional actors and their families by employing people who depend on continued acting work as their primary profession.

I'm a screenwriter. How can I submit my screenplay?

The creative concept of Folklight is that we commission a screenplay to be written for our members based on who our members are, what is important to them, and what they want to see, so at this time, we don't produce completed screenplays. We do have plans to work toward being able to do so in the future.

Two member events are Member-made Short Films and a Festival of Member Shorts, so members who are screenwriters (or actors, or directors, or any other film position) have the opportunity to make a fully-produced, completed short film that screens in theatres for about the cost of a dinner and drinks.

Will the movie be rated R?

We don't know, and that will be up to our members. Members will have the opportunity very early in the membership to share with us their feelings about R-rated content and the contexts in which such content would or would not be welcome, and we will follow membership's lead. It's for you, after all, and we feel confident that we can make a quality film of any rating. Very generally (because this can be a whole conversation), we will not be making any art for shock value or that's exploitative. That's just not our thing. We will be looking to use the art of storytelling to create opportunities to feel and heal together, be it though laughter or tears (or anything in between). To connect.

What will happen with the film once it is completed?

We'll be doing the film festival circuit and seeking distribution for each film, mostly likely in the form of a limited release in movie theaters nationwide followed by streaming and foreign market sales. Just to give you an idea of what to expect, of the 4044 feature-length films submitted to Sundance in 2013, less than 2% were accepted and got distribution deals, but that doesn't necessarily even mean that the less than 2% that secured distribution actually made money. That said, our filmmaking team has had success securing distribution for their films. We're in the luxurious position of making films expressly for our members and our local community, and while we'd love those films to be sold and enjoyed by a wider audience (they very well may be), we don't need them to. That's the freedom that Folklight's business model gives us - the freedom to focus on our local community and to prioritize what our people want above all other concerns.

Will I be able to show the movie to my children?

We don't know. That will largely depend on the age of your child and your personal parenting style.

I don't live in Nashville - am I still eligible to join the club?

We consider this a local movement. Residents of Middle Tennessee are welcome to join Folklight at this time, and all events will take place in Nashville. We do plan to open chapters in other communities nationwide, and each chapter will source members (and inspiration) locally. If you live elsewhere and you feel like your community would be a good fit for Folklight down the road, that's a conversation we would love to have with you. Ideal locations for Folklight are midsized-to-large cities where people love the arts and trying new things. We can see future chapters in places as varied as Madison (WI), Portland (OR), Albuquerque (NM), Charleston (SC), Buffalo (NY), Atlanta (GA), Kansas City (MO), Austin (TX), Boston (MA), Salt Lake City (UT), and Honolulu, to name a few.

My child is interested in joining as well. How old do you have to be to join Folklight Film Club?

​Children aged 13-17 are welcome to join with a parent and with the signed permission of their parent or guardian. Membership would be a great multigenerational experience for parents with older children or parents with adult children (and spouses, if applicable). We don't feel that membership is appropriate for younger children at this time, however it would be exciting to explore the possibility of creating a membership a little down the road that focuses specifically on families, and creating a film specifically for children based on what they say they want, if the interest is there. That could be amazing.

When does the membership start?

Our 2-year beta test with a small membership group began in 2018. Membership enrollment for the 2025-2026 cycle will open in 2025.

How much does it cost to join the club?

Membership is $79 per quarter.

I'd love to join, but if most of the events are on weekends, I'll be working.

There is some flexibility in our scheduling, and when we know exactly who all of our members are, we'll be firming up those dates and times based on when members are available. Most events will happen in Nashville, and events will happen multiple times giving you the opportunity to sign up for the date and time most convenient for you.

What happens if we get to the end of this membership and I don't like the movie?

While we hope that everyone will like the movie, we know that’s not likely. When has any big group of people ever all liked anything? Our hope is that when you look back at the journey we all took together and at this new model for storytelling we're building together, you will be happy that you were an integral part of it, because you would be.

Here's what Folklight Film Club is not.

Folklight Film Club membership is not inherently a career networking club, a way to launch a professional film career, or a hands-on feature filmmaking experience for club members. The feature-length film is inspired and influenced by our members, but made by experienced working professionals who are members of the professional unions. While every Folklight member has the opportunity to get hands-on in making a short film that we produce for you and that will screen in local theaters for you to enjoy with friends and family as part of your membership experience, you should know that if you join Folklight with the expectation that you will be working on the narrative feature film, that is an expectation that will likely not be met. 

Separate from the membership, we will be hiring a cast and crew. Members are welcome to apply for those positions and could possibly be hired - it has actually already happened. To give you an idea of the level of expertise we look to hire, the first member hired by Folklight resettled in the area after spending decades as the first assistant director of multiple successful network television shows and studio features. 

What methods of payment do you accept?

​The future is here! We accept all major credit cards for payment. We do not accept cash or checks.

What if I have an emergency or move and I can't finish paying for the membership?

While membership is a 2-year commitment, we understand that sometimes disaster strikes, and we don't want membership to be an added stress or burden at difficult times. We'll be working with members on a case-by-case basis as situations such as medical emergencies, prolonged illnesses, natural disasters, and moves out of our service area occur (to cite a few examples). Talk to us, and we'll see what we can make work.