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This is not an offer to sell securities. This overview is for informational purposes only and not intended for general solicitation. Investment in this project is only offered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws (Blue Sky Laws). All investments carry risk. Please consult with your legal and financial advisors before investing.
Be Your Dream is an intimate, vérité-style documentary that captures the story of John Garabedian—the maverick behind Open House Party, one of the most influential radio shows of the last four decades.
Blending rich archival material, candid interviews, and immersive cinéma vérité moments, the film follows John’s singular journey from radio-obsessed kid to groundbreaking broadcaster. With sheer passion and an unconventional DIY ethos, he built Open House Party from his home into a coast-to-coast sensation, airing in over 200 markets, launching hit records, and turning Saturday nights into a national ritual.
But as the tides of corporate consolidation and streaming began to reshape the industry, John faced a new battle—not just for his show, but for the soul of radio itself.
Be Your Dream is a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the enduring power of a human voice echoing across the airwaves—and the lives it touched on the other end.
Darren grew up in the small of town Atkinson, New Hampshire, just 40 minutes from Boston. At the age of 8, he turned the basement of his parents home into a working “film studio”. Using his friends and family he began to make home movies. At age 17, Darren worked as a professional magician and one day found himself invited to a party. Little did he know it was the house of John Garabedian and the Open House Party radio show. He became a regular at the studio and would entertain the celebrity guests that would come to John’s house. Now almost 30 years later, he is a veteran of the entertainment industry and holds credits as a producer, performer, consultant and director for television, film and thousands of live events around the world. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida where he owns and operates Rockwell Productions.
Jason Sirotin is a filmmaker, producer, and co-founder of ECG Productions. From 2001 to 2005, he was part of the pioneering team at XY.tv—John Garabedian’s bold and innovative cable network based in Boston.
But XY.tv was more than just a job. It was a launchpad—for Jason, and for his future ECG co-founders, Jason Marraccini and Trey Gregory. Under John’s mentorship, the three formed creative bonds that would shape the course of their careers and eventually lead to the founding of one of the Southeast’s leading production companies.
Nearly two decades later, Jason returns to where it all began—as co-director and co-producer of Be Your Dream, helping tell the story of the mentor who helped shape his own.
ECG Productions is a full-service film and video production company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 2007, we’ve built a reputation for taking bold creative risks, delivering impeccable craft, and telling stories that matter. Our ethos is simple: move mountains for clients, foster creative joy, and always—always—push the boundaries of what’s possible in visual storytelling.
With over 1,000 episodes of television, dozens of short films, and multiple acclaimed feature documentaries under our belt, ECG has become a trusted name in cinematic nonfiction. Our team of producers, directors, editors, and animators brings a combined 70+ years of industry experience to the table—translating passion into polished, powerful work.
Documentary Impact:
Our documentary slate is a testament to our belief in story-first filmmaking.
The Perfect Human Diet (2012), a deep dive into evolutionary nutrition and obesity, reached the #1 spot on iTunes in the “Documentary” category and has since been translated into multiple languages for global audiences.
Unconscious Therapy (2012), an award-winning short about trauma, therapy, and the search for healing, premiered at the 2013 Chicago International Movies and Music Festival and has screened at festivals nationwide to widespread acclaim.
Whether it’s feature-length documentaries or branded content with soul, we take projects from concept to completion with a focus on story, precision, and impact. We’re not just here to make videos—we’re here to make meaning.
At ECG, we don’t follow trends—we help create them.
We are raising $1.2 million to complete production and post-production.
Share Structure
• Total units: 1,202,256
• Investor pool: 902,256 shares (≈ 75 %)
• Core team: 300,000 shares (≈ 25 %)
Investment Terms
• Price: $1.33 per share
• Minimum subscription: $5 000 (~3 760 shares)
• Larger checks in $5 k increments
Distribution Waterfall
FIFO preferred return → 80/20 to investors until full recoupment → 50/50 thereafter
(Raise target: $1.2 M = 902,256 shares × $1.33)
Submit to top-tier festivals (Tribeca, SXSW, Hot Docs)
Pursue direct sale to a streaming platform or distributor
If not acquired: self-distribute across SVOD, AVOD, and FAST channels
Additional revenue via educational licensing and music-related fan bundles
Leveraging SimpSolutions AI-powered marketing, we’ll roll out:
40+ weekly content clips across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook
Nostalgia-fueled Open House Party moments
Never-before-seen celebrity interactions
Strategic drops timed with artist interviews and city-by-city shoots
Real-World Case Studies of Documentary Film Revenues
Type: Pop nostalgia documentary
Budget: ~$50,000 (self-funded)
Distribution: AVOD/SVOD via Netflix, then licensed to multiple platforms
ROI: Estimated 10x+ return for producers and backers
Key Insight: Fueled by nostalgia, strong digital marketing, and social media virality
Type: Archival/verité documentary about Val Kilmer
Budget: ~$2MM (acquired before full release)
Distribution: Bought by Amazon Studios for $4MM+
ROI: Strong pre-release acquisition for backers
Key Insight: Niche personal story, told with archive and interviews, gained mainstream traction through emotional depth and insider access
Type: Music + archival + interview-driven documentary on Amy Winehouse
Budget: ~$3.4MM
Box Office Gross: $23.7MM worldwide
ROI: 6-7x return on budget before streaming rights
Key Insight: High-profile music docs with strong emotional undercurrents and exclusive material can break out globally
Type: Music/archival/biographical
Budget: ~$1MM
Box Office Gross: $3.6MM
Streaming/TV Deals: Sony Pictures Classics, multiple global rights sold
Awards: Won Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
ROI: 3x+ theatrical, strong backend from awards and streaming
Type: Music industry docuseries
Budget: ~$5MM+ (4 episodes)
Sold To: HBO
Key Insight: High-level artist access + deep legacy narrative = valuable IP for premium networks
Break-even: $1.2MM → 100% ROI
Digital Sale (Hulu, Netflix, etc.): $2MM → ~166% ROI
Festival Pickup + Global Sale: $3.5MM → ~291% ROI
Festival + Streaming + Licensing: $5MM+ → 400%+ ROI
Modest budget, strong upside
Documentary success in music/pop nostalgia space
Streaming demand for library-style, bingeable doc content
Over five years, Darren has gathered dozens of interviews, rare archival materials, and original footage with John. With ECG now fully onboard, the team has completed the teaser trailer (featured at the top of this page) and is ready to begin full-scale production.
Upcoming shoots are planned in:
📍 Boston (where it all began)
📍 New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas
🎤 Interviews with high-profile artists, industry execs, and cultural influencers
Some of the biggest names in pop music got their break on Open House Party. We can’t reveal names yet—but we promise, you’ll recognize them.
Radio isn’t dead. But it’s no longer the cultural force it once was.
Be Your Dream is the definitive telling of a story too big, too loud, and too personal to fade away quietly.
It’s about the voice behind Open House Party—and the battle to keep the soul of radio alive when everyone else had moved on.
This is the first and only documentary with full access to John Garabedian’s archives, voice, and trust.
Trailer Complete
Fundraising Now Open
Production Begins at $500K raised
6-Month Shoot Window
Post-Production Begins Concurrently
Delivery Target: 12 Months from Full Funding
You’re not just investing in a film.
You’re investing in the untold story of one of the most influential media figures in modern pop culture—
and the last great era of radio.
Own a piece of it.
Be part of it.
Help us finish the story.
BE YOUR DREAM: The John Garabedian Story
Unlock a new level of creativity and experience a truly unique and enjoyable working environment with ECG Productions. Contact us today to bring your vision to life with our award-winning video production services.
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