Backlot is where indie filmmakers find cast and crew — and where crew finds the projects worth working on.
Our story
Coming soon to the App Store
How it works
01
Post a project
Describe your film, the roles you need, the vibe you're going for. Takes a few minutes.
02
Find your people
Browse applicants or discover collaborators on the Discover tab. Message directly in-app.
03
Build your reputation
When the project wraps, vouch for your collaborators. Your track record follows you.
Who it's for
Filmmakers
Directors, producers & writers
Post your project, define the roles, and find collaborators who actually want to be there. No more cold messaging in Facebook groups.
Talent
Actors, editors & cinematographers
Browse real indie projects, apply with your portfolio, and build a reputation that opens doors — no agent required.
Students
Film school & college filmmakers
Built by a film student, for film students. Break into the industry by collaborating on real projects with real people.
Crew
Sound, lighting, production design
Get discovered for more than just your resume. Your Backlot profile is your artistic identity — not just a list of credits.
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In the past, you had to "know people" to get on a film set. Backlot opens that up to everyone.
Ready to find your crew?
Coming soon to the App Store
Support
How can we help?
Everything you need to know about using Backlot — from setting up your profile to posting your first project.
Getting started
Projects
Community
Account
Getting started
Projects
Community
Account
Getting started
What is Backlot?
Backlot is a mobile app for indie filmmakers, actors, editors, directors, and crew to find collaborators for their projects. You can post a project and find your crew, or browse projects and apply to work on something you love. Every collaboration builds your reputation over time through the vouch system.
How do I set up my profile?
After signing up, go to your Profile tab and tap Edit Profile. Add your name, role, city, a short bio, and your portfolio links. You can also pick your creative style tags and write what you're currently looking for. The more complete your profile, the more likely people are to accept your applications or reach out to collaborate.
What are style tags?
Style tags describe your creative aesthetic — things like 16mm, narrative, surrealist, lo-fi, documentary. They help other users understand your vibe instantly and help the Discover tab match you with people who work in a similar style. You can pick up to 5.
What does "Currently Looking For" mean?
It's a one-line status on your profile where you tell the community what you're seeking right now — for example "A DP for a short film in the Mission" or "Open to acting in drama shorts." It shows on your public profile and helps people know you're available and what for.
Should my profile be public or private?
Public means anyone can find you on the Discover tab and search for you by name. Private means only people you approve can follow you and your profile won't appear in Discover. You can change this anytime in Settings → Privacy.
Tap the + Post tab in the bottom navigation bar. Fill in your project title, a short description, the type of project (short film, feature, music video etc), the roles you're looking for, the location, and the dates. Tap Post and your project goes live immediately on the feed.
How do I apply to a project?
Find a project on the home feed or Discover tab that interests you. Tap it to see the full details, then tap Apply. Write a short motivation note explaining why you'd be a great fit and add any portfolio links you want to share. The project creator will review your application and either accept or decline.
What happens after I apply?
The project creator receives a notification that you've applied. They'll review your profile and motivation note. If they accept you, you'll get a notification and can start messaging them directly in the app. If they decline, you'll be notified as well.
How do I review and accept applicants?
Go to your project from your Profile tab under My Projects. Tap the project to open it, then tap View Applicants. You'll see everyone who has applied along with their profile and motivation note. Tap Accept or Decline on each one.
How do I mark a project as wrapped?
Open your project from My Projects on your profile. Tap the options and select Mark as Wrapped. This closes the project and triggers the vouch flow where you and your collaborators can leave each other vouches.
When a project is marked as wrapped, everyone who worked on it gets the opportunity to vouch for each other. A vouch is a short public endorsement that appears on someone's profile — it's proof that you've actually worked together and that the collaboration went well. Over time, vouches build your reputation on Backlot.
How do I follow someone?
Find someone on the Discover tab or tap their profile anywhere in the app. Tap the Follow button on their profile card or profile page. Once you follow someone you can message them directly even without being on a shared project together.
How does the Discover tab work?
The Discover tab shows you other creatives on Backlot. You can browse everyone, search by name, or use the Filter button to narrow by role (Director, Actor, DP etc) and by vibe/style tags. Tap any profile card to see their full profile, their projects, and follow them.
What's the difference between public and private profiles?
A public profile appears in the Discover browse feed and can be found by anyone searching. A private profile is hidden from Discover — people can still find you by searching your exact name, but you won't appear in the general browse feed. You can change this in Settings → Privacy at any time.
Go to the Profile tab → tap the Settings gear icon → Account → Change Email or Change Password. You'll need to enter your current password to make changes.
How do I delete my account?
Go to Settings → scroll to the bottom → Delete Account. You'll be asked to type DELETE to confirm. This permanently removes your profile, projects, messages, and all associated data within 30 days. This action cannot be undone.
How do I report a problem or send feedback?
Go to Settings → Send Feedback. This opens an email to hello.backlot@gmail.com where you can describe the issue. We read every message and aim to respond within a few days.
The app isn't working — what should I do?
First try closing and reopening the app. If the problem continues, make sure you have the latest version installed from the App Store. If it's still not working, send us a message via Settings → Send Feedback and describe what's happening.
filmmaking is easier when you know the right people.
I'm Lilou, a film production student at City College of San Francisco. I built Backlot because I needed it.
When I started making my first short film here in San Francisco, I ran into the same wall a lot of new filmmakers hit: I didn't know anyone. Finding a DP, a sound recordist, an actor who actually shows up — it's hard when you're new to a city and even newer to its film community. The existing options felt either too corporate, too expensive, or just not built for people like me — students, independents, people making things on a shoestring because they love it.
I kept thinking about how much the film industry runs on relationships. Who you know. Who vouches for you. And how intimidating it is to break into that when you're just starting out. That's the problem Backlot is trying to solve.
I built this app from scratch, as a film student, because I believed it needed to exist. Backlot is a place where your work speaks for itself — and where the people you collaborate with can vouch for you over time.
If you're a filmmaker, an actor, an editor, a DP — if you've ever felt like you were on the outside looking in — Backlot is for you. Come find your people.