STOP WAITING + START CREATING
= MAKE YOUR OWN BREAK
Whatever Stage You Are At, we've got something for you.
Don’t wait for a door to open - build your own house!
Whether you're ready to dive into a production with expert hands-on support, want to build your skills through our workshops and masterclass, or are just starting with my book — every path leads to the same place: making your own break.
What Stage are you at? IDEA | DEVELOPMENT | PRODUCTION
How We can help: CONSULTING | WORKSHOPS | PRODUCTION SUPPORT
Hi, I'm Jennifer Lieberman — and I was an actor who got tired of waiting to be picked. Now I’m a multi-hyphenate actor/writer/producer and have control over my creative career.
I stopped waiting and started creating. I wrote and produced my own solo show, Year of the Slut, which went on to win the Audience Choice Award at the Frigid Festival in New York City. That show became my break — and eventually the #1 Amazon Bestselling novel Year of the What?, awarded the Gold Medal at the 2022 Global Book Awards for Coming-of-Age Books and the 2022 IPPY Bronze Medal for Romance/Erotica Ebooks, among several other international awards.
Creating my own productions taught me something I now teach: you don't need anyone to choose you — when you choose yourself. You just need the right tools.
I founded Make Your Own Break to give writers and performers exactly that — a practical roadmap to produce independent film and theatre with little to no resources. Since then, I've appeared in over 30 international stage productions, produced over 20+ independent film and theatre productions, and helped over 200 creatives make their own break through my workshops and consulting.
now a #1 Amazon Best Seller!
“Independent Theatre Production for the 21st Century is a clear, pragmatic, and quietly radical roadmap for artists who are done waiting to be chosen and ready to make their own work. Jennifer Lieberman translates the unruly chaos of “putting on a show” into an elegant, seven-step practice that begins with a precise goal and ends with real people in real life seats.”
-Anne D. Bogart
Film - From Idea to screen
Breaking into film as an independent creator can feel overwhelming — but it doesn't have to be. Jennifer brings almost two decades of hands-on production experience to every project, helping you navigate the complexity of independent filmmaking with confidence.
Whether you're developing a script, building a budget from scratch, or putting together a finance plan to attract investors, Jennifer provides the kind of seasoned, practical support that turns creative vision into professional reality. No guesswork. No wasted time. Just a clear path from idea to screen.
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Structural Analysis: Evaluate narrative arc, pacing, act breaks to ensure a cohesive & compelling structure.
Character Arc Optimization: Character motivations, backstories, and emotional growth.
Format Compliance: Ensure script meets professional industry format standards.
Development Notes Integration: Synthesize feedback into actionable revision plans.
Logline & Synopsis Crafting: Distil complex narratives into high-concept marketing tools for pitching
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Detailed Line-Item Budgets: Comprehensive top-sheet and departmental budgets (Above-the-Line and Below-the-Line) tailored to specific funding tiers.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Evaluate "big ticket" items like locations or specialized equipment to determine impact on the final production value.
Labor Compliance: Calculate union (SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE) and non-union labor rates, including payroll taxes, fringes, and workers' compensation.
Contingency Planning: Establishing realistic rainy-day funds and insurance requirements to mitigate financial risks during principal photography.
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Stripboard & Breakdown Creation: Translate scripts into detailed production breakdowns to identify cast, crew, and equipment requirements per scene.
Day-Out-of-Days (DOOD) Reports: Track efficiency of talent and key asset usage to minimize "idle time" and reduce costs.
Shooting Schedule Optimization: Strategize order of scenes based on location moves, lighting/set-up requirements, and talent availability to maximize daily productivity.
Post-Production Timeline Mapping: Develop realistic schedules for editing, sound design, and color grading to ensure delivery deadlines are met.
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Funding Stack Development: Design a diversified finance plan that balances private equity, tax credits, and pre-sales.
Tax Incentive Optimization: Maximize local and international production rebates through strategic location selection and qualified spend analysis.
Equity & Debt Modelling: Define the split between investor equity and debt financing to ensure a clear path to recoupment.
ROI & Recoupment Projections: Create realistic "Waterfall" that illustrate the priority of payments to investors, talent, and production entities.
Pitch Deck Financial Integration: Translate complex spreadsheets into high-level, visual executive summaries for investor presentations.
SEC & Legal Compliance Oversight: Ensure all fundraising materials align with financial regulations and industry-standard transparency.
“Having produced and directed a wide variety of film and television productions, I can’t think of a better producer than Jennifer. I always have peace of mind when she is involved in a project because I know that she is able to tackle any sort of objective. In the high stress world of production she is able to make things happen and create something from absolutely nothing.”
-Dan Nastro, Emmy Nominated Director/Producer: Vevo, The NY Jets, META, AEW, WWE
TheatRE - From Page to stage
From early-stage dramaturgy and script development to casting, budgeting, fundraising, and opening night logistics, Jennifer knows firsthand what it takes to mount a show — on budget, on schedule, and without losing your mind in the process. She brings the structure and expertise so you can stay focused on what matters most: the art. Whether you're planning your first production or your fifteenth, MYOB helps you build something worth seeing.
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Structural Arc Analysis: Evaluate the narrative rhythm, act breaks, and scene transitions to ensure emotional momentum for a live audience.
Dialogue & Subtext Refinement: Sharpen character voices to ensure dialogue carries the necessary dramatic tension.
Staging Feasibility: Assess the script for "impossible" stage directions and providing creative solutions for practical execution in a live space.
New Work Development Strategy: Create a roadmap for taking a play from initial draft to "world premiere" status, including readings, showcase, workshop and festival circuit planning.
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Material Rights
Production & Creative Team, Cast, Technical Labour, Front of House
Marketing & Publicity
Rehearsal & Performance Venues
Sets, Props, Wardrobe, Equipment
Insurance
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Production Plan & Master Milestone Mapping: Establish a "backward-planned" timeline from Opening Night
Design & Concept Deadlines: Set firm dates for design approval (Hey Art, Scenic, Costume, Sound) to allow for fabrication lead times.
Casting & Staffing Timelines: Schedule hiring deadlines to ensure the full company is contracted before rehearsals begin.
Rehearsals, Staging & Blocking Phases: Structure the rehearsal weeks to transition from scene development to full-act run-throughs.
Load-In, Technical & Dress Rehearsals: Plan the high-intensity "Tech" days where all design elements are integrated with the live performance.
Showtime: Manage "call times," and "brush-up" rehearsals.
Strike & Load-Out Logistics: Creating a minute-by-minute schedule for dismantling the production safely and efficiently immediately following the final curtain, ensure stage/backstage returned to original condition within the contracted rental window.
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Crowdfunding/Crowdsourcing Plan
Sponsorship Packages
Fundraising Events
In Kind Goods/Services
“Jennifer Lieberman is a rare talent. Her unfailing drive and good old-fashioned, down-to-brass-tacks, get-it-done attitude is a winning combination for any creative endeavour. She is adept at wearing many hats — actress, writer, producer, teacher — creating her artistic well of dramatic resources, knowledge and skills. I would hire her again and again to work on any of my projects — regardless of how big or small — because her work and support of my artistry has been one of the secrets of my continuing success.”
-Robin Shaw, Writer/Director
WORKSHOPS
Online1-Hour Intro Session $49.99
10-Hour Live Intensive
Online or In Person $599.00
Includes 1 Hour Consultation
Online1-Hour Intro Session $49.99
10-Hour Live Intensive
Online or In Person $599.00
Includes 1 Hour Consultation
Email us at makeyourownbreak@gmail.com for more information & workshop dates.
What Our Clients Say
“I knew that Jennifer was adept at producing, but I honestly would have never imagined that she was THIS good, especially that she does this in addition to her deep talents in writing, directing, and acting. I hired Jennifer to produce a sizzle reel for a new series I’m developing. She handled talent, props, schedules, locations, contracts, extras, still photography, vehicle rentals, table readings, casting, wardrobe and more than I can even put together here with ease. She is a superb talent and an extremely balanced pro to work with, highly recommended.”
-CJ Vanston, Grammy-Nominated Composer, Producer & Songwriter (A Mighty Wind, Best In Show)
“Jen is an efficient and high energy producer who can circumnavigate any challenge to meet the task at hand. Her excellent communication skills and exemplary work ethic have helped her to cement an elaborate network of dedicated industry professionals that she can draw from. Jen brings to the table an energy and a focused enthusiasm that is unmatched and as a result there is no producing challenge that is beyond the realm of what she can accomplish. She is a pleasure to work with.”
-Ronnie Smilovici, Writer/Director Northern Edge Media
“Not only is Jen a naturally gifted performer, she has worked hard to understand the business end of production and how it relates to both bottom line production budgets and what happens on the screen or stage. Jen knows creativity has certain requirements to work at its best, and she will make sure you’re not missing any chance at creating your best art if you are fortunate enough to have her help.”
-John Lordan, Writer/Director LordanArts Productions
“Jennifer Lieberman at Make Your Own Break is a Producer’s secret weapon! She dialed my theatrical budget and technical rider in a flash! She knows the industry and how to best present an artist’s needs so they can put their shining, best foot forward in the industry. Unapologetically. Professionally. Succinctly. She listened to my needs and adjusted in a flash. She is indeed the solution!!!”
​-Cindy Marianangel, Actor/Producer, Dietrich Play
“Jen Lieberman has been instrumental in helping me distill my goals into manageable parts and has raised important questions for me to consider as I move forward in the process of building my play’s audience and financing. Jen has a real eye for good work, and has been both extremely generous and shrewdly forthright in her approach. Not only does she have enormous passion and experience in what she does, what I have found to be the most surprising, has been her capacity to generate creative ideas in the development process. Ideas that have tested my own creative, professional, and personal resolve.”
-Paul Moore, Playwright “Egomaniac” Nominated for “Best New Playwright”, Hollywood Fringe Festival
“Taking Jennifer’s notes into consideration and adapting according to what she recommended to me, my script “Soulmates” has recently won the award of merit at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood. She has a high level of expertise and it’s a pleasure to have been working with her as her skill and her love for the art create greatness.“
-Philipp J. Caesar, Screenwriter “Soulmates” Winner “Award of Merit”, Los Angeles Cinema Festival
MEDIA & INterviews
Let’s work together
Great stories need the right people to tell them. If you're creating something that matters and you're looking for a producer, collaborator, or consultant who brings real craft, curiosity, and commitment to the work — Jennifer is interested.
Ready to take the next step? Schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to discuss your goals and map out your path to making your own break.