Forget FIFA, think WIFA. What is in for all? The STORYSMART® Way #10 - July 2026
Published 5 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader,
Like many families this summer, we've become consumed by the World Cup. Charlie, Colleen, and I are all in.
We've been watching matches on TV and are looking forward to attending one in Kansas City later this week.
Watching the world's best teams compete has reminded me that what we see on the pitch is only part of the story.
Behind every match are years of numerous people - not just players - working together toward a common goal.
That idea has been on my mind for another reason.
Now that we have advanced into the final phases on Steak Guerrillas, I've shifted much of my attention toward building STORYSMART STUDIOS.
That means filling our project development pipeline, recruiting advisors, refining our business model, and laying the foundation for what comes next.
It has me thinking less about FIFA and more about what I've jokingly started calling WIFA - "What's In It For ALL?"
That simple question has become the philosophy behind everything we're building.
This month's feature article shares some of that journey.
It's an honest look behind the curtain at what it really takes to launch an independent media company and why I believe the future belongs to those who build systems that create value for everyone involved.
As always, thank you for being part of the journey.
Ron
1. Feature Article
What Is In It for MeALL?
The Question Shaping Everything We're Building
St. Louis, MO June 29, 2026 - In May, our team took part in a private work-in-progress screening of Steak Guerrillas as part of our grant funding compliance.
Our film isn’t finished. The animation isn’t complete and we are still working to polish it, but the screening did its job.
People connected with Dr. Taca’s story. They laughed in the right places, got emotional in the right places, and they understood what we were trying to say.
It was an important milestone for our team who have been working at such a breakneck speed for the last year.
Our hard work paid off and I’m excited for what lies ahead.
As I reflect on it now, what surprises me was how fast my attention moved past the screening and my nearly singular focus on a film that has consumed so much of my life for more than a year.
The day after the screening, I wasn’t reviewing edits. I was finalizing scripts on a documentary series and reading through operating agreements and other legal documents.
A few days after that, I was thinking about advisor recruitment, hiring, and the next steps on several film projects in our story development pipeline.
The work feels different now, but it also feels familiar — because I’ve been working toward this studio launch moment for a lot longer than most people realize.
MEDIA LENS: The Business Lesson Hidden in the Credits of Heartland
The Business Lesson Hidden in the Credits of Heartland: What a Canadian TV Series Taught Me About Building a Sustainable Studio
St. Louis, MO – June 22, 2026 - I’ve spent a lot of time watching Canadian television over the years. Like many Americans, I originally found Canadian shows by accident.
One aspect of the streaming era I enjoy the most is the chance to watch shows from around the world. I love it. I find myself gravitating toward shows from different parts of the world. I also find myself seeking out shows that make me feel good about humanity.
One of my favorite shows is Heartland. My wife and I have been working through each season of the long-running family drama set against the backdrop of a horse ranch in Alberta.
While I expect to dig into the storytelling of this amazing show in a future edition of our Storytelling for ALL® newsletter, today I want to use our media lens to look at the economics of Canadian television.
6. Want to Learn More about the STORYSMART® Framework?
Hollywood Insiders Know the Playbook. Now You Can Too.
7. Archive of Newsletters
About Our STORYSMART® Perspective
We approach storytelling and filmmaking as a long-term, rights-first business rather than a project-by-project creative exercise. Our focus is on understanding how stories create value over time through ownership, disciplined development, and thoughtful risk management.
The ideas shared here are intended to contribute to a broader conversation about sustainable, independent media, not to promote specific projects or investment opportunities.
About Ron Watermon
Learn More About Ron Watermon
Ron Watermon is a creator, builder, filmmaker, media entrepreneur and the founder of STORYSMART. Ron writes about professional storytelling, media entrepreneurship, filmmaking, and the business of turning stories into a valuable assets.
Ron is the author of STORYSMART Storytelling for ALL and is currently building STORYSMART STUDIOS, an independent media company dedicated to developing, producing, and owning profitable enduring original media properties.
