Maika Monroe has a bad day in The Stranger trailer

For artists and creatives in the industry, the right to own one’s work has been a decades-long struggle. From the creation of United Artists in 1919, to Paul Newman, Barbra Streisand, and Sidney Poitier establishing First Artists in 1969, and to Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas founding American Zoetrope, artists have strived to find ways to navigate this industry while maintaining copyright ownership and creative integrity. Copyright ownership allows the artist to continue to advocate for projects we’ve poured our blood, sweat, and tears into when others, such as studios and distributors, have moved on. It keeps the work alive in the face of a “market” that is focused on making as much money as possible and sacrificing quality artistic storytelling. That’s my job as an artist, as all artists know, to fight for the life of my work.

So when Jeffrey Katzenberg offered copyright ownership as one of the perks of doing a Quibi TV series with The Stranger, I couldn’t resist. At the time, Quibi allowed artists to co-own the copyright to our work, and this right – which I wasn’t able to secure for any of my other projects – has allowed me the freedom to “self distribute” in the vein of indie filmmakers and advocate to find alternate ways to showcase my TV series. Filmmakers and creators who are able to tell stories that may not survive a fickle marketplace must have alternate ways to get our work out in a world that’s hungry for it. And, the world is hungry for good material.

I did not let The Killing die, even when they tried to kill it twice. I bring that same determination and perseverance to The Stranger. Although the courageous and cool Quibi experiment didn’t work, I know my film is important to get out there. It’s a story about justified female rage and vengeance in this current moment where we as women have so much to be angry about. A fitting story for today’s world.

So, here I am today presenting my creation, my owned work, into a newly re-cut feature film: The Stranger, premiering April 15, exclusively on Hulu.