Entertainment
Best CBD for Calming or Stress Relief in 2023 on September 13, 2023 at 7:46 pm Us Weekly

This is branded content. Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Us Weekly is not endorsing the websites or products set forth below. The use of THC in any capacity may lead to health concerns and users should consult medical personnel before consumption. Local and state laws for use and possession of THC vary by jurisdiction and should be reviewed before purchase.
If you’re looking for a CBD option to help relieve some daily stress, you’ve come to the right place. Research has found that there’s evidence to suggest that CBD may help with a variety of stress and anxiety disorders, like PTSD.
But with so many options on the market, it can be hard to figure out which one is right for you. That’s where this buyer’s guide comes in! We’ve reviewed the top CBD products for calming and stress relief so that you can be informed while considering your options.
Best Overall CBD for Calming: FOCL Feel Good CBD + THC Gummies
Best CBD Oil for Calming: Verma Farms Mint CBD Oil
Most Potent CBD Gummies: CBDistillery Full Spectrum CBD Gummies
Best Non-CBD Option: Natural Stacks GABA Brain Food
Most Relaxing: Mission Farms Relax CBD Bath Soak
Finding the Best CBD for Calming: A Buyer’s Guide
It’s no surprise that CBD has become a popular way to help ease anxiety and promote relaxation. But how can you be sure you are getting the best product for your needs? The key is in understanding what sets one type of CBD apart from the next and knowing which factors to consider when shopping.
To help you on your CBD journey, we’ve created this buyer’s guide with tons of detailed information so that you can choose the right option for your needs.
What to Consider When Buying CBD for Calming
When shopping for CBD products, here are three of the most important factors to consider.
Production Process
Finding quality CBD for calming means understanding how it is produced. In general, all CBD products are made in a similar way though the particular details may vary from brand to brand.
The process begins with selecting and harvesting high-quality hemp plants with potent levels of cannabidiol (CBD). Following this, the hemp is then processed using one of several extraction methods used to separate out any oils or other active ingredients as well as terpenes which give each product its unique flavor profile.
The next step involves refining the extract through distillation and winterization processes that remove trace amounts of THC as well as other small molecules like waxes and plant matter while leaving behind only the desired cannabinoids including CBD.
When determining the best CBD products for this list, we made sure each brand uses the best production process possible.
Customer Reviews
Reviews can be a great source of information when looking to purchase CBD.
Reviews written by real customers contain valuable insights into the effectiveness and quality of different products, so shoppers should take the time to read them before placing an order.
This kind of feedback is hugely helpful whether you are new to using CBD or already knowledgeable in the area, providing shoppers with ‘real world’ accounts from people who have already tried specific brands and can share their experiences with others.
Quality ingredients
When purchasing CBD products, it is important to make sure the product contains high-quality ingredients that are safe and effective.
Through testing in laboratory settings as well as reports from actual users of these products on their effects, research has found that high-quality cannabis-derived building blocks result in enhanced potency which boosts the effectiveness of treatments when trying to achieve goals.
How Does CBD Work for Calming?
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system in our bodies, prompting various responses and reactions that can affect anxiety levels, stress levels, sleep cycles and other physiological processes.
When taken in appropriate doses, it has been found to help reduce symptoms related to nervousness and anxiety. It does this by activating certain types of receptors that are known as serotonin receptors involved in regulation of moods and emotions.
CBD also influences dopamine neurotransmitters responsible for many important bodily functions such as controlling movement, thinking process, emotional reaction etc. As a result of these effects on the brain receptors it may help individuals feel calmer while remaining alert and focused when necessary.
With continued use over time some users have experienced better sleep quality at night which can contribute positively into developing an overall sense of improved well being during the day.
Most Common Types of CBD
There are three main types of CBD available on the market – full spectrum, broad spectrum and CBD isolate.
Full spectrum CBD
Full spectrum CBD contains a complete profile of various cannabinoids, including THC. The other compounds beyond just the major cannabinoids, such as terpenes and flavonoids, can have an effect on how the potential health benefits are delivered to users.
These additional compounds found in full-spectrum may be said to create something known as the “entourage effect” which amplifies some of CBD’s therapeutic effects. Full spectrum CBD offers all these benefits combined due to its unique combination of multiple active compounds that work synergistically together within one’s body providing more effective results.
Broad spectrum CBD
Broad spectrum CBD is becoming more popular among CBD users due to its ability to provide therapeutic effects without the psychoactive side-effects of cannabis. It’s becoming known as a powerful and naturally occurring cannabinoid that most closely resembles full-spectrum products, since it has an extensive range of beneficial compounds including terpenes, flavonoids, essential fatty acids, and phytonutrients, minus THC (the compound found in cannabis that causes psychoactive effects).
CBD isolate
CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD and contains no other cannabinoids or compounds. It’s made by extracting only a single compound from hemp plants: Cannabidiol (CBD).
As such, it’s considered the safer option for users who don’t want any psychoactive side effects or potential intoxication to occur.
Most Common Forms of CBD
CBD can be administered in a variety of ways, including oils, gummies and topical applications.
CBD Oils
CBD oils are one of the most popular ways for people to tap into the calming and restorative properties of cannabidiol. CBD oil is extracted from cannabis plants, primarily hemp, providing a safe and non-intoxicating way to experience its effects.
CBD oils can be taken directly under the tongue, or added to drinks, food, baked goods, or any other exciting way you’d like to use it.
CBD Gummies
CBD gummies are a tasty and convenient way to incorporate CBD into your daily routine. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and flavors with different concentrations of CBD per serving.
While all forms of CBD can promote calmness and relaxation, CBD gummies have the advantage of being easy to work into your regular diet. As opposed to more traditional types of ingestion such as tinctures or oils that require measuring out exact doses, consumers who use gummies can simply consume their desired dose by consuming a couple pieces or gummy bears at once for on-the-go calming effects.
CBD Topicals
CBD topicals are creams, lotions and other similar products. These products can offer a variety of benefits for calming the mind and body, including relief from pain, inflammation, anxiety-related issues, stress regulation, skin care and more. They’re ideal for getting localized relief since users can apply the cream directly to the area in need.
Other Potential Benefits of CBD
With the potential of CBD comes more than just offering calming effects; it may also hold several possible benefits to improve a person’s quality of life.
Improved sleep
CBD could be beneficial for those struggling to get adequate sleep, thanks to its calming and relaxing effects on the mind and body. Studies suggest that CBD produces an effect of relaxation during anxious states which may help reduce racing thoughts often associated with insomnia.
Mood-boosting effects
CBD is quickly becoming one of the most popular supplements for people looking to improve their mood and combat stress, anxiety, and depression. CBD has a naturally calming effect on the mind, helping reduce issues like restlessness or insomnia that can make it difficult for some individuals to relax at night.
Pain relief
CBD is increasingly being studied as a potential treatment for pain, with studies showing that it can reduce inflammation, ease muscle soreness and help people manage chronic pain.
CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to regulate neurotransmitter signaling in the brain and reduce inflammation throughout the body. For those suffering from joint ailments such as arthritis or even normal muscle soreness from exercise, applying topical CBD products directly to the affected area may offer some relief.
Comparing the Best CBD for Calming in 2023
Here’s a look into our five favorite choices for a calming CBD experience.
Best Overall CBD for Calming: FOCL Feel Good CBD + THC Gummies
Pros:
Full-spectrum blend offers synergistic effects
Delicious and convenient form
Third-party lab-tested for quality
Con:
Only one flavor currently available
FOCL Feel Good CBD + THC Gummies are crafted to provide a delicious and convenient way to enjoy the combined benefits of CBD and THC. These tasty gummies are perfect for those looking for a mild psychoactive effect along with the therapeutic benefits of CBD. Made with natural ingredients and carefully tested for quality, each gummy promises to boost mood and relaxation.
Product Specs:
CBD Type: Full-Spectrum (includes THC)
Size: 30 gummies per bottle
Strength: 25mg CBD + 5mg THC per gummy
Flavor: Blood orange
Best CBD Oil for Calming: Verma Farms Mint CBD Oil
Pros:
Contains only trace amounts of THC
Refreshing mint flavor
Sourced from sustainable farming practices
Con:
Contains tree nuts (coconut oil)
Verma Farms Mint CBD Oil is a refreshing blend of high-quality CBD with a hint of mint flavor. Ideal for daily use, this broad spectrum cbd oil provides all the benefits of CBD without psychoactive effects for most people (due to only containing trace amounts of THC, if any). It’s a perfect addition to your daily routine to promote calm and relaxation.
For a delicious minty treat to help you wind down in the evening, add a drop or two into your nighttime tea.
Product Specs:
CBD Type: Broad-Spectrum (THC-free)
Size: 30ml bottle
Strength: 500mg or 1,000mg CBD per bottle
Most Potent CBD Gummies: CBDistillery Full Spectrum CBD Gummies
Pros:
High-strength full-spectrum CBD
Delicious and convenient
Made from non-GMO industrial hemp
Con:
May be too strong for beginners or those with low tolerance
CBDistillery 30mg Full Spectrum CBD Gummies are designed to provide a potent dose of CBD in a convenient and delicious form. With full-spectrum CBD, these gummies deliver all the beneficial cannabinoids for a balanced and effective experience. Whether you need relaxation or pain relief, these gummies have you covered.
Product Specs:
CBD Type: Full spectrum CBD
Size: 25 gummies per bottle
Strength: 30mg CBD per gummy
Flavor: Strawberry
Best Non-CBD Option: Natural Stacks GABA Brain Food
Pros:
Supports mental clarity and relaxation
Contains natural and scientifically-backed ingredients
Suitable for daily use
Con:
Lacks CBD, which might be preferred by some users
Natural Stacks GABA Brain Food is designed to enhance mental clarity and relaxation. As a natural neurotransmitter, GABA supports calm thinking and improves mood. This unique formulation combines GABA with essential vitamins and minerals for a balanced brain function.
Product Specs:
Contains GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), not CBD
Size: 60 capsules per bottle
Strength: 200mg GABA per capsule
Most Relaxing: Mission Farms Relax CBD Bath Soak
Pros:
Provides a spa-like experience at home
Contains soothing essential oils
Ideal for muscle relaxation
Con:
No bigger sizes available currently
Mission Farms Relax CBD Bath Soak is your pathway to ultimate relaxation. Infused with full-spectrum CBD and a blend of therapeutic essential oils, this bath soak transforms your bath into a spa-like experience. It’s perfect for soothing sore muscles, calming the mind, and rejuvenating the body.
Product Specs:
CBD Type: Full-Spectrum
Size: 3.5 oz bag
Strength: 175mg CBD per bag
Scent: Honey grapefruit
People Also Ask
Who can benefit from CBD?
CBD has a range of potential health benefits for all kinds of individuals — from seniors to those suffering with pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep issues.
While CBD does not make most users feel ‘high’ or intoxicated like cannabis products do, it is thought to help people achieve feelings of relaxation and calmness. Research suggests that CBD can activate the parts of our brain that are responsible for producing serotonin (a hormone associated with happiness and wellbeing), as well as helping lower cravings in certain conditions.
It may also reduce blood pressure slightly which could provide an extra calming effect on the body. Given this potential for relief, many believe taking CBD can lead to improved mental wellbeing over time without any significant side effects noted when taken responsibly according to suggested doses from professionals.
Are there potential side effects of CBD?
While considered safe and unlikely to produce strong side effects in most people, CBD has the potential for mild adverse reactions like nausea, fatigue and other flu-like symptoms. Clinical studies have suggested that in some cases these side effects can be attributed to interactions between CBD and other medications being taken.
Can I take CBD every day?
Studies and clinical trials suggest that daily usage can be tolerated by most people without any side effects.
To date, there are no known long-term risks associated with taking CBD on a regular basis and it appears to have an excellent safety profile in adults. That said, some people may experience mild digestive issues or fatigue while taking high dosage levels but these symptoms usually dissipate quickly after discontinuing use.
Everyone’s body responds differently to CBD so if you decide to try using it regularly, start out with a low dose and monitor how your body feels before gradually increasing the amount taken over time until you reach the desired effect for your needs.
How long does it take to see results?
The amount of time it takes to see results when using CBD for calming purposes can vary depending on the individual and other factors. Generally, the effects of CBD become noticeable within minutes after use but these could last anywhere from a few hours up to several days.
The primary factor that will influence the results-timeline is dosage: higher dosages often result in faster relief whereas lower doses may take longer to reach their maximum effect.
Frequency of dosing also plays an important role since changes are more likely to be noticed with consistent use rather than single, sporadic uses over longer periods of time. Additionally, due to differences in body chemistry and metabolic rate, certain individuals might experience different levels or lengths of relief compared with others.
Is CBD legal?
CBD derived from hemp is federally legal in the United States, while CBD extracted from marijuana plants may not be. Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa planted and harvested for its sturdy stalks and low THC content (no more than 0.3 percent).
Marijuana or cannabis typically contains higher concentrations of THC — the chemical responsible for producing psychoactive effects — but it can also contain large amounts of cannabidiol, or CBD.
In 2018, the Farm Bill legalized hemp cultivation at a federal level. Under this law, most products made with industrial-grown hemp in the US are legal as long as they have less than 0.3% THC concentration by dry weight.
This means that CBD oil derived from such plant biomass has no psychoactive properties and is considered safe to consume by individuals of all ages without any health concerns when purchasing or using them legally in all 50 states across America.
Will CBD produce psychoactive effects?
CBD is a non-intoxicating compound found in the cannabis plant and it does not cause any psychoactive effects for most people. Unlike THC, another cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, CBD does not produce any mind-altering results when inhaled or ingested.
Why Trust Us
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We try various products, so we can recommend our favorites, and we also summarize feedback and data from other customers. Data, like product reviews and ratings, helps us recommend the best product choices for individual price points and needs.
On top of that, we highlight unique product features for special use cases, ingredients preferences and more. We strive to make sure you are discovering new products that can make your life easier, while keeping you up to date with the best product choices for types of items you already know and love.
Us Weekly is not endorsing the websites or products set forth above. The use of THC in any capacity may lead to health concerns and users should consult medical personnel before consumption. Local and state laws for use and possession of THC vary by jurisdiction and should be reviewed before purchase.
This post is brought to you by Us Weekly’s Shop With Us team. The Shop With Us team aims to highlight products and services our readers might find interesting and useful, such as wedding-guest outfits, purses, plus-size swimsuits, women’s sneakers, bridal shapewear, and perfect gift ideas for everyone in your life. Product and service selection, however, is in no way intended to constitute an endorsement by either Us Weekly or of any celebrity mentioned in the post.
The Shop With Us team may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. In addition, Us Weekly receives compensation from the manufacturer of the products we write about when you click on a link and then purchase the product featured in an article. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product or service is featured or recommended. Shop With Us operates independently from the advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback at ShopWithUs@usmagazine.com. Happy shopping!
This is branded content. Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Us Weekly is not endorsing the websites or products set forth below. The use of THC in any capacity may lead to health concerns and users should consult medical personnel before consumption. Local and
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Entertainment
STREAMING PREMIERE · JUNE 13, 2026

Laughter Meets Inspiration: Our Ladies Show Lands on The Roku Channel
A bold new sketch comedy series for women premieres June 13 across the U.S., U.K., and Canada — arriving on the back of a festival-winning run that has critics and audiences already paying attention.
It isn’t every day a brand-new comedy arrives already wearing a row of trophies. Our Ladies Show does. The seven-episode inspirational sketch comedy series — created, written by, and starring Christin Jezak — begins streaming on The Roku Channel on Friday, June 13, 2026, available free to viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
Produced in partnership with global media services leader Encompass Digital Media, the series sets out to do something rare in today’s streaming landscape: make women laugh out loud and leave them lifted. In a media moment crowded with noise and cynicism, Our Ladies Show is a deliberate counterweight — comedy with a conscience, built for women of every age and background.

A Show Built Around Real Life — and Real Laughs
Each of the seven episodes opens with a monologue from one of the cast members introducing the theme, then rolls into three or more sketches that hit the subject from every comedic angle. The series tackles the things women actually carry: holding grudges, comparison, beauty, patience, gift giving, the importance of community, and dealing with anxiety.
The comedy comes from a place of warmth rather than mockery — a “laugh at ourselves” spirit that runs through a gallery of unforgettable characters: a nosey neighbor, an overwhelmed mom, relentlessly optimistic flight attendants, beauty pageant winners past their prime, and a crew of unruly campers with a counselor who simply cannot hold it together.
Then the show does something most sketch series don’t. In the final segment of every episode, the cast gathers in a living-room setting and invites the audience in — sharing real inspiration drawn from the theme, the sketches, and their own personal stories. It’s the moment the laughter turns into something that stays with you.

The Women Behind the Show
Our Ladies Show brings together three performers with serious range:
- Christin Jezak — creator, writer, and star (Miracle at Manchester, Raising Hope, Jimmy Kimmel Live!)
- Hillary Hawkins — (Primal, Nick Jr.’s Play Along, Gullah Gullah Island)
- Sarah Hernandez — (Nefarious, Unplanned, House of Payne)
“In a world with so much division and depression, I hope women of all ages and backgrounds will watch this show, laugh, be reminded of how beautiful, unique, and loved they are, and remember how much we need each other.”— Christin Jezak, Creator & Star
Already a Festival Favorite
The series’ recurring long-form sketch, Neighborhood Watch, didn’t arrive quietly. Originally released as a web series and revamped for Our Ladies Show with new footage, sound, and music, it has been sweeping the festival circuit:
- 🏆 Best Webseries — 2026 New Media Film Festival (Los Angeles)
- 🏆 Best Web/TV Series — Paris Film Awards
- 🏆 Best Web Series — Dallas Movie Awards
- 🏅 Additional wins at the London Movie Awards, Florence Film Awards, and Hollywood Gold Awards
- 🎬 Official Selection — 2026 Harvard Divinity School Film Fest
- ⭐ Finalist — Houston Comedy Film Festival
- 📣 Three nominations — 2025 Content Christian Media Conference, including Best Actress in a TV and Web Series nods for both Christin Jezak and Sarah Hernandez
Where and When to Watch
Our Ladies Show premieres Friday, June 13, 2026, streaming on The Roku Channel — the home of premium and free entertainment — in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. All seven episodes deliver the series’ signature blend of sharp sketch comedy and genuine encouragement.

Watch the trailer now on your platform of choice:
For more information, visit www.ourladiesshow.com and follow @ourladiesshow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

About Christin Jezak
Christin Jezak has worked for over 15 years in the entertainment industry. She created and stars in Our Ladies Show and the award-winning web series Neighborhood Watch. She produced the EWTN TV program For the Sake of the Gospel and the all-women web series Ladies Keepin’ It Real, played Dr. Sam in Miracle at Manchester (starring Dean Cain, Daniel Roebuck, and Eddie McClintock), and voices Agnes in the podcast Confessions of a Catholic Single. She held a lead role in a short film for NTT Data directed by Academy Award–winning cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, has co-starred on Raising Hope, and appeared in Jimmy Kimmel sketches and a Grubhub Super Bowl commercial.

About The Roku Channel
Roku pioneered streaming on TV and is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico by hours streamed (Hypothesis Group, Dec. 2025). The Roku Channel is the home of premium and free entertainment, alongside Roku’s Howdy and Frndly TV services. Roku is headquartered in San Jose, California.
About Encompass Digital Media
Encompass Digital Media is a global managed services company — technology-driven, software-defined, and people-powered. Trusted by world-leading broadcasters, networks, sports rights-holders, and OTT platforms, it processes over 25,000 hours of content daily, serves 850 channels to 84 countries, distributes over 243,000 live events annually, and reaches 400 million radio listeners weekly worldwide. Learn more at www.encompass.tv.
Media & Interview Requests: To interview creator Christin Jezak or the cast, contact Christin at cjezak@p2ptheatre.com.
Entertainment
What Filmmakers Should Actually Steal From Euphoria

Most of the talk about Euphoria asks one question: was it realistic? That’s the wrong question if you make films. The better one is simpler. How did Sam Levinson get an audience to feel addiction from the inside? And what did it cost him to end the show the way he did?
Strip away the noise and Euphoria is a clinic in three choices: point of view, style, and the ending. Here’s what’s worth taking — and what isn’t.

1. Put the Camera Inside the Character
Most shows about drugs watch from across the room. Euphoria doesn’t. When Rue is high, the camera is high too. Walls breathe. Floors tilt. Time skips. You’re not watching her — you’re stuck inside her head.
That’s the lesson: point of view is a decision you make with the camera and the cut, not a mood you add later in color. Levinson builds it into the lens, the blocking, and the edit.
So before you shoot a scene through a character’s eyes, ask one thing on set: whose eyes is this lens standing in for? Then make every cut respect that.
2. Your Style Has to Mean Something
The glitter. The slow push-ins. The impossible club lighting. Euphoria‘s look got copied everywhere. That’s the trap.
The style worked because it carried weight. The beauty wasn’t decoration — it was the lie addiction tells you, the reason the next high looks worth it. The camera made self-destruction gorgeous on purpose.
The copies missed that. A thousand music videos took the look and left the meaning behind, and you can feel how hollow they are. So here’s the test: if your signature style could be swapped onto any other project and still “work,” it’s not a style. It’s a filter. Every choice should have a reason behind it.
3. The Ending Tells the Audience What It All Meant
When Euphoria ended for good in Season 3, Levinson killed Rue — an accidental, fentanyl-laced overdose. He called it “the honest ending,” saying he wanted to tell a true story about addiction and grief in a time when one mistake can be the last one. Reportedly, that wasn’t the original plan; the death of Angus Cloud, who played Fezco, changed the script.
Forget whether you agree with the choice. Study how it works. An ending is the last instruction you give your audience about how to read everything before it.
By ending on consequence instead of recovery, Levinson reframed seven years of beautiful chaos as a story about cost — not a celebration of it.
It’s also the show’s most debatable move, and that’s worth noticing too. A show that spent years making pain look beautiful had to fight to make that pain land as loss. Did it earn the ending, or enjoy the wreckage too long to stick it? Smart filmmakers will disagree — and that argument is exactly what a good ending is supposed to start.

What Not to Take
The neon grief is the most copied part. It’s also the least useful. Take the surface — the colors, the slow-mo, the trauma-as-texture — and you get the costume without the body.
The real craft is underneath. Commit your camera to a real point of view. Make every stylistic choice earn its place. Treat your ending as the point of the whole thing. Do that, and your work won’t look like Euphoria. It’ll do what Euphoria did.
This piece touches on addiction and substance use. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available through the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Entertainment
How a 22-Person Film Crew Each Walked Away With $300,000

In the spring of 2020, with Hollywood shut down and most film workers suddenly out of a job, Zendaya made a movie in a single house with a crew of 22. The film was Malcolm & Marie. What happened to that crew afterward is the part worth paying attention to — and it’s quietly become a blueprint indie filmmakers are borrowing five years later.
Instead of paying everyone the standard flat day rate and sending them home, Zendaya structured the production so the crew owned a piece of it. They received “points” — a share of the film’s revenue.
When Malcolm & Marie sold to Netflix for roughly $30 million, those points turned into real money. Because one point typically equals 1%, a single point on that sale was worth around $300,000.
For a crew used to being paid by the day, that’s a life-changing number.
The Math That Makes It Click
The reason points are so powerful is that their value scales with the film, not with your hours on set:
- At $30 million in revenue, 1% equals $300,000
- At $50 million, 1% equals $500,000
- At $100 million, 1% equals $1 million
Now hold that against traditional indie crew pay, which runs roughly $300 to $800 per day. A 20-day shoot totals somewhere between $6,000 and $16,000 — full stop, no upside, no matter how well the film does. The points model flips the entire logic: you stop getting paid for time and start getting paid for success.
This Isn’t New — It’s Just Newly Accessible
Backend deals are how the biggest names in Hollywood get rich. Robert Downey Jr. reportedly earned tens of millions from his Avengers: Endgame backend; Keanu Reeves made a fortune off The Matrix through profit participation. The leverage to demand that kind of deal has always belonged to A-list stars.
What changed with Malcolm & Marie is who got a seat at the table. Zendaya didn’t reserve the points for herself and a couple of producers — she extended them to the crew, the people she described as laying the tracks and doing the heavy lifting. That’s the shift indie filmmakers are now studying: ownership as something you share down the call sheet, not hoard at the top.
Why Indie Filmmakers Should Care
Independent films usually run on budgets between $50,000 and $500,000, where labor can eat up 40% to 60% of total costs. That creates a permanent squeeze: how do you attract genuinely skilled people without torching the budget before you’ve shot a frame?
Equity is the pressure valve. Offering ownership instead of higher upfront pay lets you reduce immediate production costs, attract more experienced collaborators, and — maybe most importantly — build a team that actually wants the film to win.

How to Apply It to Your Own Project
You don’t need a $30 million Netflix sale for this to work. Say your budget is $250,000 and your revenue goal is $500,000, making 1% worth $5,000. Instead of stretching cash thin across every line item, you might offer 1% to a cinematographer, 1% to an editor, and 1–2% to a producer. You preserve cash during production and hand your key people a real reason to overdeliver.
Ownership Changes How People Show Up
A stake rewires behavior. People who own a piece of the outcome stay sharper on set, pitch in on marketing and promotion without being asked, and stay invested long after wrap. That last part matters more than it sounds — a crew that’s financially tied to the film becomes part of its distribution engine, not just its production.
Read the Fine Print
Equity is not a salary, and it’s honest to say so. Malcolm & Marie worked because it sold to Netflix at a high price — that’s the upside scenario, not a guarantee. If a project underperforms, points can be worth little or nothing. So if you use this model, do it cleanly: define revenue participation explicitly in contracts, spell out recoupment structures so everyone knows who gets paid and in what order, and offer partial upfront payment where you can to balance the risk. The whole thing runs on trust, and trust runs on transparency.
The Bigger Picture
What Zendaya pulled off with a 22-person crew in one house pointed to something larger about how creative work gets valued. In an industry where funding is the hardest wall to climb, ownership has become its own currency. You may not control access to millions in financing — but you fully control how value gets shared on your set. And that, more often than not, is the difference between a film that stalls in development and one that actually gets made.
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