98: Nuno Bernardo: How to Build IP as an Independent Creator

How do you actually build IP as an independent creator? In this episode, Alex Stolz is joined by Nuno Bernardo, IP creator, producer and founder of beActive, whose work has explored how stories can move across platforms, formats and audiences long before it became widely discussed. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Nuno shares how his approach to IP developed, from early experiments in multi-platform storytelling to building projects that have travelled globally, been adapted across multiple territories, and sustained audiences over time. The conversation explores why IP isn’t defined by scale, but by audience connection, and why it’s ultimately the audience that determines whether something becomes IP. They also dive into practical ways creators can approach their work differently, from designing stories with expansion in mind, to testing ideas through smaller formats, building early traction, and using those signals to guide what comes next. Along the way, Nuno shares lessons from both successes and failures, including what happens when projects are over-planned without real audience engagement, and how independent creators can think more strategically about long-term value. A clear and practical conversation for anyone looking to move beyond one-off projects and build work that can grow, connect and endure. About Nuno Bernardo Nuno Bernardo is an Emmy-nominated transmedia architect and the founding of beActive Entertainment, a globally recognized IP studio. A true multidisciplinary creator, Nuno has spent over two decades pioneering the transition from digital-first content to international television formats, most notably with Sofia’s Diary - a groundbreaking cross-media phenomenon that grew from a Portuguese blog into a global property distributed by Sony Pictures Television across 30 countries, reaching over 500 million viewers, and sustaining a diverse revenue ecosystem of books, radio, and licensed products for over 20 years. Nuno’s expertise lies in the strategic construction of worlds that bridge the gap between Film, Television, Video Games, and Publishing. His track record includes the sci-fi franchise Collider, which integrated digital comics and mobile gaming into a feature film and TV series, and the Kids Emmy-nominated Beat Girl, which scaled from a Pinterest visual concept to a global series on Hulu. As a creator who successfully pivoted from project-based production to a sustainable IP ownership model, Nuno provides the blueprint for modern professionals to maintain creative control and build long-term asset value in a crowded global market. STORY FOUNDERS We’ve opened applications for a new programme from Future of Film. Story Founders is an 8-week accelerator designed to help storytellers build projects - and creative practices - that can endure. Applications are now open: 👉 https://futureoffilm.live/storyfounders/ If you’re working on a screen project - or know someone who is - we’d encourage you to take a look.