tHIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
Blank16 Studios was founded on a simple idea: cinema belongs everywhere. We believe stories shouldn’t be limited by the big screen or trapped behind a paywall. Instead, they should live where people already gather on YouTube, in their feeds, in the palm of their hand without ever sacrificing the quality and ambition of true cinema.
Our Story
Blank16 Studios was founded by Jonathan DaSilva, a cinematographer and gaffer who spent years living check to check while building a career in film. Jonathan created Blank16 as a home for stories that deserved the scope of cinema but the freedom of YouTube. A place where filmmakers could dream big without waiting for permission — and where audiences could experience true cinematic storytelling, for free, wherever they are.
Our Approach
Blank16 is built on timelines that put community at the heart of every project. Once production wraps, our features will go beyond the screen with limited theatrical runs in small, independently owned theaters. By splitting ticket revenue 50/50, we encourage participation and support local cinema while helping recoup production costs. Each release is paired with exclusive merch drops — limited runs inspired by the project — that directly fund both the film you just watched and the ones still to come.
For series, we create season-based drops: Blu-ray steelbooks, special-edition merch, or collectibles that help carry us into the next chapter. Every piece of merch has purpose — it fuels production, pays crew, and keeps our projects moving forward.
Our Promise
Everything we make eventually lands on YouTube. Always free. Always accessible. We never want anyone to feel forced to pay. Memberships and merch are optional, not required — and every dollar goes back into the people who make this possible. From gear to crew to production costs, the support of our community keeps Blank16 alive without putting stories behind a wall.