There's something exciting about having more to work with. A bigger budget. Better equipment. New technology that promises to make our lives easier and our work even better.

But does having more always lead to better results?

Filmmakers have been wrestling with that question for decades. Some of the most inventive movies have emerged from modest budgets, where limited resources forced filmmakers to approach familiar problems in entirely new ways.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with having access to the latest tools. But even the most sophisticated equipment is only as valuable as what you accomplish with it. And in an industry where technology is constantly evolving, it's easy to get caught up in what comes next instead of making the most of what's already available.

This week, we're looking at what happens when ingenuity matters more than innovation, and why having the right tools doesn't necessarily mean having the most expensive ones.

— Ian Max Eyre, Editor-in-Chief

What begins as a routine mission to the moon becomes a desperate fight for survival when an onboard explosion leaves three astronauts stranded in space. Starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton, Apollo 13 brings NASA's extraordinary 1970 rescue effort to life, from the tension inside the spacecraft to the frantic problem-solving back on Earth. It's a gripping true story of teamwork, ingenuity, and finding a way forward when almost everything goes wrong.

WHERE TO WATCH →

When famine threatens his village in Malawi, 13-year-old William Kamkwamba finds an unlikely solution in a science book and a pile of discarded materials. Based on a remarkable true story, this Netflix film follows a young boy determined to build a windmill to save his community, even as those around him doubt his plans. With little more than curiosity and determination, William sets out to prove that he doesn't need much to make a difference.

WHERE TO WATCH →

In Ron Howard's Apollo 13, there's a memorable scene where NASA engineers dump a collection of miscellaneous equipment onto a table.

Three astronauts are stranded in space, and carbon dioxide is building up inside their spacecraft. Their survival depends on finding a way to make incompatible pieces of equipment work together.

The engineers don't have the luxury of designing something new. They have to solve the problem using whatever is already aboard the ship.

It's one of the film's most compelling moments, and a lesson that has stuck with Paul Every, founder of Assurify Consulting.

Paul helps businesses get more value from their technology investments, and over the years he's noticed something surprising: companies using what he calls "just good enough IT" can outperform those investing in the latest, most sophisticated systems.

Why? Because newer, more expensive technology often adds complexity that makes it harder to use effectively.

As Paul puts it, the resourcefulness that brought the Apollo 13 crew home is a great example of getting the most from what you have, even if necessity forced the issue.

It's a familiar challenge for independent filmmakers. With new cameras, AI tools, and production technology arriving seemingly every day, there's always something promising to make the process faster, easier, or more impressive.

But the real question is whether those tools will actually make the finished film better.

Through his work, Paul encourages organizations to think more carefully about what they're trying to accomplish before committing significant resources to new technology.

He's also sharing a free guide to successful change, with three practical principles for making decisions that deliver meaningful results.

Because sometimes the smartest investment isn't the newest thing on the market. It's learning how to make better use of what you already have.

_{*This week’s “Spotlight Series” is part of a collaborative exchange between “Plumb News” and “Paul Every.” No compensation was exchanged. We just thought his perspective and work was worth sharing with the Plumb community.}

The results are in, and it's a tie! 50% of you voted for “reaching new audiences,” while the other half chose "pooling resources to make more films" in last week's poll: Where could faith-based filmmakers make the biggest impact by working together?

Independent filmmaking can get expensive quickly, especially when every location, permit, and production resource comes with a price tag. But some of the most valuable resources aren't things you can buy.

Take filmmaker Aleksa Ristović, whom Plumb's Ian Max Eyre first met at the 2025 Hard Faith Film Festival. By getting involved in Malta's local film community and building relationships, Aleksa gained access to resources that helped bring his debut feature, Illusion of Faith, to life - in less than a year from start to finish. The film has since earned festival recognition and secured international distribution.

His experience offers a practical example of the P.R.O.V.E. Method™:

The takeaway? Start building relationships long before you start asking for favors. Show up for other filmmakers, lend a hand when you can, and become someone people want to work with. Imagine how much we could accomplish if we served each other and invested in the people around us.

Ian plans to share more about Aleksa's journey in an upcoming case study at IndieFilmROI.com. Stay tuned!

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

We make plans because we want to be prepared. We set goals, consider what might go wrong, and make the best decisions we can with what we know. There’s wisdom in that, and Scripture encourages it.

But even the best plans can fall apart. Circumstances change, resources run short, and we’re left figuring out what to do next.

Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while we’re responsible for our decisions, we don’t control every outcome. That’s not always easy to accept, especially when we’ve invested so much in a particular direction.

Trusting God doesn’t mean giving up on our plans. It means being willing to change them, even when we’re unsure where the new direction might lead.

Until next time,

THE PLUMB NEWS TEAM