THE CREATOR MANIFESTO
Start The Engine
The creator manifesto for a world that no longer works the way it used to.
Filmmakers. Creators. Entrepreneurs. Community builders. The walls between them have collapsed. Start The Engine is a roadmap for navigating the new creator economy and building a life around your work.
By Selina Ringel & Dan Levy Dagerman
GET THE BOOK“The path forward isn't finding a gatekeeper. It's becoming the engine yourself.”
“Dan and Selina have consistently pushed the boundaries of independent filmmaking, audience building and creator entrepreneurship with a healthy dose of hustle. Their willingness to experiment publicly while sharing what they learn is exactly the kind of innovation our industry needs.”
ABOUT START THE ENGINE
A SHORT FILM ABOUT THE BOOK.
THE STORY
Why This Book Exists
The old system promised a path: get discovered, get picked, get distributed. That system is gone.
After launching their feature film You, Me & Her into 250+ theaters nationwide — without a studio, without stars, without a traditional distributor — Selina Ringel and Dan Levy Dagerman realized the most valuable asset in the new economy isn't a deal. It's a direct connection to the people who care about your work.
Start The Engine is the field guide they wish they'd had — for the creators building what comes next.
It's not theory. It's the playbook they used — and are still using — to build films, books, courses, and a community without waiting for anyone's permission.
“The path forward isn't finding a gatekeeper. It's becoming the engine yourself.”
ON THE MOVE
The book lives where the work is happening.
- 01SUNSET BLVD. THE BILLBOARD. THE BOOK.
- 02THE COMMUNITY. THE MOVEMENT.
- 03ON SET. BUILDING IN PUBLIC.
- 04YOU, ME & HER PREMIERE. 250+ THEATERS. NO STUDIO.
- 05NO PERMISSION NEEDED.
FEATURED IN
The press is paying attention.
INDIEWIRE · FIELD GUIDES
You Don't Need Millions of YouTube Followers to Get Your Film Made
"The goal of Start The Engine is to help creators stop waiting for permission and start building momentum around the work that matters to them."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
About Selina
Selina Ringel is a Mexican-American filmmaker, author, producer, actress, and entrepreneur. A graduate of the AFI Conservatory, she has written, produced, and starred in her own feature films — including You, Me & Her, which released in 250+ theaters nationwide.
She built Be The Train from a personal philosophy into a growing ecosystem — books, courses, and community — for creators who refuse to wait for permission.
- AFI CONSERVATORY
- FEATURE FILMMAKER
- AUTHOR
- PRODUCER
- ACTRESS
- ENTREPRENEUR
- THEATRICAL RELEASES
- COMMUNITY BUILDER
ABOUT THE CO-AUTHOR
About Dan
Dan Levy Dagerman is a producer, distributor, and operator. An AFI Conservatory graduate, he led the release strategy for You, Me & Her — a 250+ theater nationwide rollout built on 20+ brand partners, 250 influencers, and direct audience relationships.
His work is the operational backbone of the Be The Train ecosystem.
- AFI CONSERVATORY
- PRODUCER
- DISTRIBUTION
- OPERATOR
- BRAND PARTNERSHIPS