They agreed on terms: no exclusive deals. No edits without unanimous consent. A plan emerged like a coral reef: a handful of curated screenings at independent cafés and art spaces; a launch event with a panel on making low-budget films; a modest crowdfunding campaign to cover distribution costs and a small honorarium for the crew. They’d release the film for free on their own microsite the weekend after the screenings, the same file they had made, unwatermarked and unabridged. If Filmyzilla claimed infringement, they would fight it—publicly, if necessary.