At STORYSMART®, we’ve built a reputation for helping clients transform their personal histories from disorganized “blobs” of information into polished copyright-protected storytelling source materials so they can make the most of their story. 

Using a blend of high-end documentary filmmaking and museum-level digital archival services, we specialize in helping people tell their stories while they're still very much alive to guide the process.  Our service is designed to help them shape their own narrative while maintaining control of their IP. 

In some respects, our core service would fit neatly in what studio executives would describe as the pre-production phase. 

It is designed to get all the source materials together in advance of storytelling.   Most importantly, it is about preserving and developing a solid foundation in story IP.  World building and character development with a focus on bullet-proof exclusive intellectual property.     

It is the kind of thing Hollywood agents and entertainment lawyers do for their clients. 

But with A Steak Guerrilla in St. Louis: The Dr. Arturo M. Taca Story , we’re charting new territory. This time, we’re not just helping someone prepare to tell their story—we’re taking the lead in the telling by producing an independently financed documentary about a remarkable man who passed away more than 27 years ago.  He isn't here to lead the effort. 

This project represents a logical evolution for STORYSMART®: developing a hybrid model that blends independent filmmaking with family collaboration, allowing us to control the intellectual property (IP) while inviting Hollywood creatives to share in the equity. 

In a sense, pun intended, we are flipping the script a bit. 

We seek to pioneer a new way of bringing true stories to the screen, and we’re excited to share this journey with you while honestly admitting we are not entirely sure it will actually work.  Our goal is to develop a truly collective collaborative model that grows the pie and benefits all involved. 

Rejecting exploitation and aligning roles to play to everyone's strength to forge a new path for true stories to the make it the screen.

From Chaos to Cinema: Our Mission at STORYSMART®

In our core business, we guide clients through the overwhelming “blob” phase of their personal histories—where ideas and materials are scattered and disorganized—getting them to a refined collection of copyright protected storytelling source materials that ensures they are fully ready for filmmaking, publishing, and much more. 

It is meaningful and rewarding work that makes a real difference for our clients.   

We work with individuals and families who are passionate about preserving their legacies, helping them turn their stories into lasting works of art they own. This approach ensures that our clients retain creative control and ownership over their narratives so they can make the most of their story.  We put them in the driver's seat of the professional storytelling process like an agent might do for a celebrity.   

Whether it’s producing a feature documentary, writing a best selling memoir, or simply conducting a cinematic interview, the result is a legacy project that captures the essence of their life and experiences for future generations. It’s a process that centers around our clients’ involvement, their voice, and their vision. In many respects it mirrors the best practice pre-production research process deployed by the greatest documentary filmmakers like Ken Burns.   It is tailored for an elite level of clients that demand excellence every step of the way, but it isn't for everyone. 

Why is that?   It is a significant investment.    The client pays us  on fee-for-service basis.  It is a work for hire.  They pay us to do the work and they own it as though they did it themselves.  This model is ideal for client's who expect to remain in the drivers seat.  We essentially act as a ghostwriting service, but with a cinematic spin on that idea. 

What sets A Steak Guerrilla apart is that this isn’t a high-end fee-for-service project.  It isn't for a public figure, an organization or a high-net-worth highly accomplished individual.  The biggest difference is huge to us.  We are not being paid to do it.  

We are investing  our own time and our own money to bring the story to the screen.    We are taking the risk and taking control of the process.   We are essentially functioning as an independent filmmaker or studio.  Same as any other.   But not entirely.

We are offering our former client the opportunity to invest in order to be a joint venture partner in the project.  If they invest in the project, they join us in controlling the process. Or if they don't want to invest, we will own the film ourselves as independent filmmakers.

This is a STORYSMART®-led initiative where we’re not only producing the film in collaboration with great filmmakers but also developing new intellectual property in collaboration with Dr. Arturo M. Taca’s family.  We are working to raise the money to make it happen.   We are taking on the risk and leading the project, while our former client becomes an active participant advising us along the way. 

This marks a significant evolution in how we operate, highlighting our ability to innovate and adapt in the world of storytelling. Our goal is to develop a new way that democratizes access to great storytelling, while also making it a win-win-win for all involved. 

A Hybrid Approach to Filmmaking

Our work on A Steak Guerrilla represents an innovative middle ground between independent production where the filmmaker owns it all and the traditional work-for-hire models where the client owns it all.

It’s a hybrid approach that brings together the best of both worlds:

- Independent Control: By leading the fundraising and production efforts, we - as a collective team -  retain control over the creative direction and the IP, ensuring the story is told with integrity and impact.

- Collaborative Partnerships: We’re working hand-in-hand with Dr. Taca’s family to honor his legacy while also inviting Hollywood creatives to contribute their talents with an equity stake in the project. 

This model is breaking new ground in the film industry, demonstrating how filmmakers, families, and creatives can work together in a collaborative collective to bring untold stories to life.

Assuming Dr. Taca's family invests in the project, they join us as equity parters. If they don't invest money, but simply provide access to the story, we will make sure they share in the profits.   

It is a win-win approach that ensures all parties have a vested interest in the project’s success while maintaining creative alignment and authenticity.

Why This Story Matters Now

Dr. Arturo M. Taca’s story is one of resilience, heroism, and humanity —a story that still resonates deeply today. More than 27 years after his passing, A Steak Guerrilla aims to shine a light on his remarkable story. 

For the Filipino community and the global diaspora, it’s a chance to celebrate a shared history of resilience and pride that might otherwise be lost to history. 

For broader audiences, it’s an opportunity to learn about an unsung hero whose story deserves to be part of the global narrative.

At STORYSMART®, we believe stories like this are more important than ever. In an era where historical narratives are often simplified or overlooked, A Steak Guerrilla seeks to provide depth, context, and emotional resonance. It’s a film that not only preserves history but also inspires future generations.

What to Expect from the Steak Guerrilla Documentary

The Steak Guerrilla documentary will be a deeply moving exploration of Dr. Arturo M. Taca’s life and legacy, told through a combination of expert interviews, animated reenactments, and never-before-seen archival materials. 

Key elements of the film will include:

- Firsthand Accounts: Through interviews with family members, historians, and those familiar with his life, the film will provide an intimate look at Dr. Taca’s courageous actions and their lasting impact.

- Archival Materials: Using photographs, documents, and his unpublished personal memoir, the documentary will reconstruct the historical context in vivid detail, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the era.

- Animated Reenactments:   To bring critical moments of Dr. Taca’s story to life, we will incorporate carefully crafted reenactments that highlight key events, including his covert efforts to aid guerrilla fighters.

- Global Perspective:   The film will explore the broader implications of Dr. Taca’s work, connecting his story to the larger narrative of Filipino resilience and the shared sacrifice to restore democracy to the Philippines.

With this rich tapestry of storytelling techniques, Steak Guerrilla will honor the past while engaging contemporary audiences with its universal themes of courage, humanity, and the enduring contribution of one man’s actions.

A Vision for the Future of Storytelling

With A Steak Guerrilla , we’re proving that stories can be brought to the screen in a way that benefits everyone involved:

- Families retain a say in how their legacies are shared.

- Creatives receive a stake in the project, ensuring alignment and investment in its success and any derivative storytelling that results from their work.

- Audiences gain access to stories that inspire, educate, and connect across cultures and generations.

This isn’t just about one film. It’s about creating a sustainable, collaborative model for storytelling that empowers families, filmmakers, and creatives to work together in new ways.   For us, it is about providing Storytelling For ALL™ and Filmmaking For ALL™

By bridging the gap between traditional work-for-hire services and fully independent productions, STORYSMART® is pioneering a model that ensures all stakeholders have a voice and a share in the project’s outcome. 

This hybrid approach is not only innovative but also necessary.  As the storytelling landscape evolves, so too must the ways in which we approach collaboration, ownership, and equity. A Steak Guerrilla is a blueprint for what’s possible when filmmakers and families work together to honor the past while shaping the future of storytelling.

Help Us Bring  A Steak Guerrilla to Life

We’re thrilled to embark on this journey and invite you to join us in bringing A Steak Guerrilla to life. Follow the project’s progress on Facebook, LinkedIn, and at steakguerrilla.com . 

Together, we can ensure that Dr. Taca’s legacy—and countless other untold stories—live on for generations to come.

Stay tuned for updates and thank you for supporting this bold new vision for storytelling. 

Whether through engagement, financial support, or simply sharing the story with others, you can play a part in helping us redefine how remarkable true stories are brought to the screen.

About STORYSMART®

Nothing is more enduring than a beautiful film that brings a story alive on screen and in our hearts. Great stories demand nothing less than cinematic Hollywood storytelling.

STORYSMART® specializes in helping mission-driven organizations and public figures make the most of their story using a proprietary approach that blends Hollywood cinematic storytelling with museum-like collection curation and story-focused brand licensing.

STORYSMART® redefines Hollywood production by partnering with clients to develop their story into a film, allowing them to control their IP rights and benefit financially as their story is produced by the best filmmakers and storytellers.