From Finance to Filmmaking: Adam Kilburn on Building Black Raven Films, Betting on a Dream & the Business Behind the Movies

On this episode of In the Studio with J Haleem, J sits down with Adam Kilburn, founder of Black Raven Films, for a brutally transparent conversation about entrepreneurship, filmmaking, money, relationships—and what really happens when you decide to chase a dream.

Before Adam was producing films in Las Vegas, he was a certified financial planner selling insurance and investments.

Then one night, he woke up in a cold sweat imagining himself at 80 years old with one major regret:

He never went after his dream of making movies.

That moment helped change the direction of his life.

Adam eventually launched Black Raven Films in Las Vegas in 2009, building a commercial production company while slowly creating the foundation that would allow him to pursue filmmaking.

But this isn't a story where somebody simply says:

“Follow your dreams and everything works out.”

Adam tells the other side, too.

The business makes money.

The movie?

That's been a very different financial story.

And that's exactly what makes this conversation so valuable.