The Vision: Community, Representation and Purpose
The U.S. entertainment industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry at the core of pop culture and modern media. Still, indie filmmakers are hurdling through production with a lack of funding and mainstream support.
Margaux Amie is among the filmmakers conquering an art form notorious for being difficult to break into, until the Credibly Small Business Award helped get her films rolling onscreen.
Starting out hosting nonprofit fashion shows, Margaux ventured into acting and immediately took control of her career with self-produced films. After a significant period of experiencing personal grief and loss, she found a career path that served as a place of expression.
She wanted to create her own roles, so she hit the ground running with her first independent film centered on women’s issues and marginalization. Landing in multiple film festivals, Margaux’s first film affirmed her drive to create an independent film production company in March of 2023.
Margaux’s film company initially served to create her own opportunities but also offered a place for other underrepresented crew members to land, especially in the wake of a major industry strike. True Self Films opened roles for the underdogs of Hollywood, specifically for minority and older demographics often excluded by industry standards.
Challenges: Scaling Alone in an Oversaturated Industry
But like any small business owner, Margaux was a team of one with a dream for many. The early stages of True Self Films required her to manage the critical administrative aspects of the business herself, often with outdated equipment and minimal resources.
The monumental task of self-started entrepreneurs was even harder for Margaux, as the majority of independent filmmakers are underrated and overlooked by the rest of the industry.
“Anything in the film industry, we take for granted… But for indie filmmakers, which is what I am, we are the ones, like down on the ground, scuffling, trying to come up with the stuff.”
Film grants had lengthy application processes, compounded by fees and competitive requirements that still result in disqualification, regardless of the time and money spent. Some applications cost up to $150 per submission after 8 hours of form filling, and many investors need a proof of concept to consider funding a project.
“And that is its own small film. So you need money, basically, to do that. And it was, when I say scratching, biting, fighting, and clawing, I’d say that multiply that by 10 to get the money together just to do the proof of concept.”
Margaux found that funding was often strictly limited to specific genres or demographics, leaving her efforts and limited budget wasted.
The Solution: The Credibly Small Business Award
At the end of 2025, after two years in business, Margaux received a call from a representative at Credibly. True Self Films had been awarded $30,000 as the top winner of the Credibly Small Business Award.
After countless no’s, she had finally received one, very big, yes.
She had applied in September, and this award was unlike the previous grants Margaux had attempted. While those grants had strict requirements with an image of the recipient already in mind, this award was unbiased, accessible, and focused solely on registered small businesses.
“I had just pulled into Warner Bros to work that day, and [Credibly] called me. ‘Tell me about your company.’ And I said, it’s not a brick-and-mortar. We’re not a bakery, we’re not a dry cleaners, but it’s a film company, and I’m doing it for these reasons. And I started to cry… I couldn’t help it.”
This award would help Margaux solidify the foundation of True Self Films and its course for the future.
Looking ahead: The future for True Self Films
The funding allowed True Self Films to reach several critical milestones:
- Operational Efficiency: Margaux was able to purchase a new computer and a new phone, optimizing her resources to drive efficiency.
- Infrastructure & Protection: The grant helped complete central administrative tasks and secured foundational protections for intellectual property.
- Job Creation & Growth: The funding enabled Margaux to finally hire support staff, addressing the need to delegate as the company grows.
“The most important thing that I’m able to do with the grant is start hiring people because I am getting to the point where I cannot do everything by myself.”
She is now able to staff experts for her future projects, driving her vision of True Self Films to fruition, and future-proofing its operations with the Credibly Small Business Award. Now backed by capital, she can accelerate the timeline of her next project: True Self’s flagship film.
Most importantly, Margaux did not have to choose between profit and passion. She can stick to her own script and write which role she plays.
“We all, as humans, we do what we believe we can do. I don’t believe I can be a bartender. I don’t believe I can be a postal worker or a fireman, but I believe I can produce…I understand I have found something that I love to do, and I’m gonna do it.”.
