#18: Building Angel, Disrupting Hollywood, and Surviving $60M Disney Lawsuit

Overview

This episode features Neal Harmon, CEO and co-founder of Angel, a groundbreaking entertainment company that empowers audiences to greenlight and shape content. Neal shares his journey from a dairy farm in Idaho to disrupting Hollywood with hits like The Chosen, Sound of Freedom, and Dry Bar Comedy. He discusses the resilience required to survive a $62M Disney lawsuit, the challenges of parting ways with The Chosen, and how Angel’s community-driven model is reshaping the media landscape.

Notable Quotes

- Don't give up. You've never failed until you quit. As long as you keep going, you will succeed. Period. – Neal Harmon, on resilience.

- We’re not smarter than the audience. The Guild is the ultimate decision-maker, and that’s why our content resonates. – Neal Harmon, on Angel’s audience-driven model.

- The pain of parting ways with The Chosen was harder than the Disney lawsuit. It’s one thing to fight an enemy; it’s another to lose your best friends. – Neal Harmon, on navigating personal and professional challenges.

🎭 Redefining Entertainment with Clean Comedy and Purpose

- Angel’s Dry Bar Comedy has redefined stand-up by creating funny for everyone content, proving that clean comedy can thrive in a market dominated by edgier material.

- Neal emphasized that Angel’s projects aim to amplify light, offering content that is excellent, principled, and family-friendly.

- Hits like Sound of Freedom and The Chosen demonstrate the demand for uplifting, meaningful stories that resonate globally.

📊 Audience-Driven Content Creation

- Angel flips the traditional Hollywood model by giving its 1.5M Angel Guild members the power to greenlight projects. Guild members vote, provide feedback, and even influence scripts and edits.

- This model has led to Angel achieving a 93% average audience score, far surpassing traditional studios like Netflix and Disney.

- Neal highlighted the importance of listening to the audience early, citing that audience scores have a high correlation with box office success, unlike critic reviews.

⚖️ Surviving the Disney Lawsuit and Crowdfunding Resilience

- Angel faced a $62M lawsuit from Disney over its early VidAngel service, which allowed users to filter content. Neal described the lawsuit as a crucible that tested their resolve.

- Tens of thousands of customers donated to support Angel, and the company raised $11M in just five days through crowdfunding.

- Neal credited their survival to community support, faith, and a refusal to quit, even when Disney threatened to sue him personally.

💔 The Painful Split with *The Chosen*

- Neal described the separation from The Chosen as more emotionally taxing than the Disney lawsuit. While the split was amicably resolved, it strained relationships with close collaborators.

- Despite the challenges, the experience pushed Angel to diversify its portfolio, reducing reliance on The Chosen and strengthening its community-driven model.

- Neal reflected on the lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of resilience and focusing on the company’s broader mission to amplify light.

🚀 Scaling Angel and the Future of Media

- Angel is preparing to go public under the ticker AMGX, with plans to scale its Guild to 5M members and beyond.

- Neal outlined a vision for Angel to become a $10B+ company while maintaining its commitment to audience-driven decision-making.

- The company’s innovative approach blends Silicon Valley’s iterative culture with Hollywood’s storytelling magic, creating a unique model for the future of entertainment.