ASDO

What ASDO does

ASDO (legally Art School Dropouts, LLC) is an independent digital media group founded in 2016 and headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, operating as a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise under founder Joey Min with co-owner Stephanie Pham. The company produces weekly original narrative-driven martial arts action content including feature films, web series, short films, fight scenes, and sketches, distributed primarily through a YouTube channel (10k+ subscribers) and Patreon community, with a 30k+ Facebook following. Its underlying production technology centers on three proprietary methodologies: a pre-visualization (previz) workflow that uses storyboarding and concept videos to plan choreography before filming, a 'zero-budget fight scene methodology' developed across 20+ years of founder experience emphasizing safety and efficiency, and a VR-animated hybrid production technique used for the feature film 'Player Agency'.

ASDO operates as a multi-stream creator-business monetizing through five revenue channels: YouTube advertising revenue, recurring Patreon subscriptions ($variable tiers), one-time tutorial course sales (the 'Do As ASDO Do Fight Scene Bundle' priced at $265 for lifetime access, covering Fight Scene 101 and Gun-Fu 101 with over 30 videos and bonus content), merchandise sales through Creator Spring, and film distribution deals through AsianCrush/Amazon Prime Video and Terracotta Distribution. The customer base splits between martial arts/action film enthusiast consumers (primary audience for free and subscription content) and independent filmmakers (primary buyers of tutorial courses), with a secondary segment of action-film industry professionals and festivals engaging with the brand. The company is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas LLC, enabling tax-deductible donations and grants eligibility.

The company has demonstrated sustained creative-output momentum and brand development since 2015, accumulating 35+ awards primarily through the HBO UAS International Action Film Festival (winning multiple categories annually from 2015-2025, including Best Feature Film for 'Player Agency' in 2025), with supplemental recognition from the IndieFest Film Awards, Accolade Global Film Competition, Berlin Shorts Award, and London Movie Awards. Notable productions include the 'Yes, Auntie!' web series (2018 launch, 2019 Amazon Prime acquisition), 'Player Agency' (VR-animated feature), 'Takeout Takedown' (multiple 2024 wins), 'Prólogo' (multiple 2025 wins), and a pipeline including 'Nanny Nena's' in development. ASDO remains entirely bootstrapped with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment, operating as a founder-owned creative LLC.

Name

ASDO

Legal name

Art School Dropouts, LLC

Website

https://artschooldropouts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ASDO (Art School Dropouts) is an independent New Jersey digital media group producing martial arts action films, web series, and filmmaking tutorials. It serves martial arts film fans and indie filmmakers, monetizing through YouTube ads, Patreon, paid fight-scene courses, and film distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Video Content / Online Film Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creator Tools & Content Pipelines for Immersive Learning (VR lesson builders, 3D asset workflows) (EDAFAJAL), Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)

Keywords

• Martial arts films
• Filmmaking tutorials
• Action choreography
• Web series production
• Independent video content

Headquarters

HQ city

Cherry Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. YouTube Ad Revenue: Revenue generated from YouTube channel content through ad placements, views, and subscriber-based monetization.
2. Patreon Subscriptions: Monthly subscription revenue from Patreon supporters who receive exclusive content, behind-the-scenes materials, and direct community access in exchange for their support.
3. Tutorial Course Sales: One-time purchase of the 'Do As ASDO Do Fight Scene Bundle' priced at $265, including Fight Scene 101, Gun-Fu 101, and bonus content with lifetime access.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sales through Creator Spring platform offering merchandise related to ASDO's brand and content.
5. Film Distribution: Distribution deals for feature films and web series through platforms like Amazon Prime and Terracotta Distribution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ASDO is a digital media group that produces original martial arts action films, web series, and educational filmmaking tutorials. The company creates content centered on choreography, fight scenes, and practical filmmaking techniques, and distributes it primarily through YouTube, Patreon, and streaming platforms such as AsianCrush and Amazon Prime.

Product overview

ASDO (Art School Dropouts) is a certified minority-owned digital media group based in Cherry Hill, NJ that creates weekly original narrative-driven martial arts action content. The company operates two primary offerings: a YouTube channel publishing features, web series, shorts, and tutorials covering martial arts filmmaking; and the Do As ASDO Do Fight Scene Bundle, a paid tutorial course teaching indie filmmakers to create fight and action scenes on a budget. Content is distributed via YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Asiancrush, with revenue supported through Patreon subscriptions, merchandise sales, and Fractured Atlas fiscal sponsorship for tax-deductible donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Do As ASDO Do: A fight scene tutorial bundle created by Art School Dropouts to teach independent filmmakers how to create action and fight scenes on a budget.
• Fight Scene 101
• Gun-Fu 101

Products and services

• ASDO YouTube Channel
• ASDO Feature Films
• Fight Scene Tutorial Bundle

Quantifiable outcome

• Action short filmed in 4 hours using ASDO methodology
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• AsianCrush / Amazon Prime VideomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2019AsianCrush acquired and distributes ASDO's 'Yes, Auntie!' web series on Amazon Prime Video. This distribution deal made the martial arts comedy series available to a wider streaming audience through the AsianCrush channel on Amazon Prime.
• Museum of the Moving ImageminorOthers · 1 December 2018Museum of the Moving Image in New York hosted a screening of 'Yes, Auntie!: My Asian Auntie Season Two' in January 2019, providing theatrical exhibition for the ASDO production.
• Fractured AtlascoreOthersFractured Atlas is a non-profit arts service organization that provides fiscal sponsorship for Art School Dropouts. ASDO is described as 'a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas' and contributions are tax-deductible through Fractured Atlas. This enables ASDO to receive tax-deductible donations and grants as a fiscally sponsored project.
• PatreoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPatreon is a crowdsourcing platform used by ASDO to generate monthly subscription revenue from their community. Supporters receive exclusive rewards and content in exchange for their subscription, providing ASDO with a reliable recurring revenue stream and direct fan engagement.
• Terracotta DistributionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTerracotta Distribution distributes ASDO content internationally and conducted an interview with Joey Min about their filmmaking approach and storytelling philosophy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Action Movie Kid: YouTube creator producing action-comedy short content with a family audience. Comparable as a digital-first creator producing original action content, though primarily entertainment rather than education-focused.
• Peter McKinnon: Creator-led photography/filmmaking educator with courses, YouTube content, and merchandise. Comparable as a solo creator monetizing creative production knowledge across content, courses, and brand products.
• D4Darious: YouTube creator focused on filmmaking education and film analysis. Comparable as a solo creator monetizing filmmaking knowledge through digital channels, though with a broader genre focus than ASDO's martial arts niche.

Direct peers

• Film Riot: Long-running filmmaking tutorial channel offering paid courses on indie production techniques. Directly comparable as a creator-led education business monetizing filmmaking knowledge through online courses.
• RocketJump: Creator-led action/comedy production company known for high-quality short films and YouTube-first content. Comparable business model of producing original action content for digital audiences with adjacent educational/tutorial offerings.
• Corridor Digital: Creator-led YouTube production studio producing action, VFX, and stunt-driven short films with a sizable audience. Directly comparable as a digital-first creator group monetizing original action content through YouTube and brand deals.
• Indy Mogul: Filmmaking education platform producing tutorials and courses for independent filmmakers. Directly comparable in offering paid filmmaking instruction targeting budget-conscious indie creators.
• Wong Fu Productions: Asian-American creator-led media company producing original short films and web series with strong digital distribution. Comparable as a creator-driven media group focused on Asian-American narratives distributed via YouTube and streaming.

Regional players

• AsianCrush: Asian-focused streaming platform that distributes ASDO content and acquires Asian-diaspora films. Comparable as a distribution partner in the same content vertical, but operates as a platform rather than a creator/producer.

Others

• Fractured Atlas: Non-profit arts service organization providing fiscal sponsorship to independent artists and creators. ASDO is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas; comparable only as the fiscal infrastructure layer underlying ASDO's donation and grant capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLnCQ5MBWNZCujb4Jg1eGAl5bS3Am-W0Dk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artschooldropouts

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ASDO