Celebrating STANDOUT — And Building What’s Next
This week at Three Coin Productions, we’re celebrating a friend’s meaningful release, spotlighting a great conversation from the Truly Independent podcast, and continuing the steady forward momentum on The Pearl.
🎬 STANDOUT Is Now Released
We want to congratulate Tanner Christensen on the release of his new feature film, STANDOUT.
STANDOUT is exactly the kind of project we love to champion—story-driven, values-forward, and made with intention. The beautiful film is a true-life story of Ben Kjar’s incredible journey. We had the chance to attend the red-carpet premiere, and we were completely blown away with the story, and the manner in which it is told. See this film on the big screen to support excellent filmmaking.
Independent releases like this don’t happen overnight. They’re the result of years of persistence, collaboration, and belief in the story. We’re excited to see STANDOUT releasing in theaters, and look forward its impact on audience.
🎙️ Tanner Christensen on Truly Independent
If you want deeper insight into how STANDOUT came together, be sure to listen to Tanner’s recent appearance on the Truly Independent podcast.
In the episode, Tanner breaks down:
The origin of STANDOUT and why the story mattered to him personally
The realities of financing and producing an independent feature
Lessons learned navigating development, production, and release
Encouragement for filmmakers trying to push a project across the finish line
It’s an honest, practical conversation—especially valuable for filmmakers in the trenches who need both clarity and reassurance that the work is worth it.
📖 The Pearl Readthroughs Continue (Vegas This Week)
While celebrating others, we’re also continuing important development work on our own upcoming feature, The Pearl.
We’ve been hosting ongoing script readthroughs to refine the story, sharpen character arcs, and ensure the tone lands exactly where it should—balancing historical tension, humanity, and unexpected humor. These sessions have been invaluable in pressure-testing the script before moving further into production planning.
This week, The Pearl readthroughs continue in Las Vegas, and we’re grateful for the actors, creatives, and supporters who are helping us stress-test the material and make it stronger with each pass.
Moving Forward
Weeks like this remind us why we do what we do:
Celebrating independent filmmakers releasing meaningful work
Sharing real-world lessons through Truly Independent
Quietly, consistently building the next film with care and community
Congratulations again to Tanner Christensen and the STANDOUT team—and thank you to everyone supporting The Pearl as we continue shaping its journey from page to screen.
