Mythica: The DIY Fantasy Epic and Indie Filmmaking Success
Explore how Mythica: The DIY Fantasy Epic built a six-film cinematic universe from a humble Kickstarter campaign to become a legendary indie filmmaking success.
Best quote from Mythica: The DIY Fantasy Epic and Indie Filmmaking Success
It’s a masterclass in independent filmmaking: use your surroundings, lean into your tropes, and never, ever lose that sense of fun that made you love the genre in the first place.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
The evolution and popularity of the Mythica film franchise
Frequently Asked Questions
Mythica is a six-film indie fantasy saga that successfully built an expansive cinematic universe starting with a modest Kickstarter campaign. Created by Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin in Utah, the series is celebrated for capturing the authentic spirit of a Dungeons & Dragons adventure. It follows the journey of characters starting at Level 1 and evolving into legends, offering a grassroots alternative to big-budget studio franchises.
The Mythica series began its journey through independent crowdfunding rather than traditional Hollywood studio backing. The initial Kickstarter campaign raised exactly ninety-four thousand, two hundred and ninety-four dollars to launch the project. This relatively small budget, which Miles notes is comparable to a single day's catering costs on a major studio set, successfully birthed a decade-long franchise that defies standard industry logic.
Fans and creators describe Mythica as one of the most faithful cinematic representations of a role-playing game experience. The series mirrors the progression of a D&D campaign, where a group of friends starts with no gear and significant challenges before slowly gaining power. It prioritizes the fun and collaborative feeling of tabletop gaming, focusing on the specific tropes and progression found in classic role-playing adventures.
The Mythica cinematic universe was spearheaded by creators Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin. Based in Utah, these filmmakers bypassed the traditional studio system to create an epic fantasy world featuring dragons and necromancers. Their DIY approach to filmmaking has allowed the series to maintain its indie roots while delivering the massive world-ending stakes typically reserved for franchises with hundreds of millions of dollars in development.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
