In April of this year, alongside Patrick Jones and his writing partner Kyle, David Smith and I conducted a comparative, hands-on review of Call Sheet Media. To provide balance and insight into the broader landscape of entertainment development platforms, we now turn our attention to Voyage Media—a company that positions itself as a gateway for storytellers seeking industry access and creative mentorship. Both Voyage Media and Call Sheet Media aim to bridge the gap between aspiring creators and Hollywood, but their models, execution, and outcomes reveal stark differences.
Overview: What Is Voyage Media?
Voyage Media markets itself as an incubator for creative projects in film, television, and podcasting. The company claims to connect storytellers with producers, providing mentorship and development guidance to transform ideas into viable entertainment products. While this sounds promising, a closer look at their structure, signup experience, and overall focus suggests a company more oriented toward high-volume client onboarding—particularly for podcast production—than consistent film and television dealmaking.
Corporate Profile
Voyage Media is headquartered at 4223 Glencoe Avenue, Suite B119, in Marina Del Rey, California, situated within the Villa Marina Marketplace Mall. As of 2023, the company reported a modest net income of just $22,747. Voyage has historically turned to crowdfunding platforms like WeFunder to raise operating capital, which underscores its dependence on external funding sources. The company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
The Signup Experience
Patrick and Kyle engaged with Voyage Media after clicking on an ad link via Facebook. Following a relatively lengthy application form, they were surprised to receive an acceptance notification within minutes—prompting the question: how thoroughly could an application have been reviewed in such a short time?
The introductory session they signed up for turned out to be a large Zoom meeting with roughly 45 participants, rather than the expected one-on-one conversation. Nat Mundel, introduced as the company’s founder, led the call. After an hour-long presentation, participants were prompted to pay $397 for a personal consultation with a producer. About two thirds of the attendees left the meeting at that point, while several others opted to pay.
Kyle, wary of what appeared to be an aggressive upsell funnel, declined to proceed. Independent research suggested that the $397 fee was often followed by a much larger pitch—typically around $4,000, though some reported being asked to pay up to $20,000—for further script development services. The experience raised serious concerns about transparency and ethical business practices.
Program Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Industry Access: Voyage offers connections to producers and professionals, especially in the podcasting space.
- Mentorship: Clients are paired with industry veterans who provide feedback and development insight.
- Creative Structuring: According to some Trustpilot reviews, Voyage supports marketing and narrative development of projects.
- Positive Internal Culture: Some Glassdoor reviews highlight a collaborative work environment with room for advancement.
Cons:
- High-Volume Model: Voyage accepts a large number of clients, leading to diluted resources and reduced individual attention.
- Questionable ROI: There is a consistent pattern of clients paying thousands of dollars with no tangible project advancement or industry traction.
- Sales Funnel Concerns: Reports indicate a recurring upsell cycle with fees ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars.
- Misaligned Expectations: Creators are often left disappointed due to a mismatch between what is marketed and what is realistically achievable through the program.
- Primary Focus on Podcasts: While marketed as a film and television incubator, Voyage’s portfolio is heavily weighted toward podcast production.
Online Testimonials
- Sensitive-Divide-554: “They asked for $5,000 to develop my book. Then offered a $10 Amazon gift card if I left a positive review and didn’t mention price.”
- razorman5485: “I spent about $3,500. My project went nowhere. I should’ve found a literary agent instead.”
- castingpath: “Wasted $5,500. Meanwhile, another friend spent under $200 at LA Valley College, got repped by an agent, and had meetings at major studios.”
- Andrew James Gregor: “Send us money and we’ll make your novel into a film.” Only your $700 (roughly) will be gone and they’ll let you know that a particular producer thinks your story is GREAT and could even win an Oscar. To do so, just send another $20K to have a screen writer turn it into a script”
Conclusion
Voyage Media offers a polished front and promises of access to Hollywood. However, the company’s actual business model appears to prioritize high-volume onboarding and upselling over the long-term success of individual creators. While some participants may find value in the mentorship or use it as a learning experience, the costs can be significant—and the return on that investment remains questionable.
Creators considering Voyage Media should proceed with caution, conduct thorough research, and weigh alternative pathways. While the dream of breaking into Hollywood is real, it deserves a roadmap that prioritizes transparency, merit, and meaningful industry connections, not just a marketing pipeline.