Suppose it depends on what you mean by "big." If you mean, created his own short movie that went and won an Oscar... no, don't think we have many like that around here.

I personally think I've hit it as big as I planned on it (even moreso really). I have a job in the game industry that seems relatively secure for now and a neat book coming out.

Sounds like you're looking more for advice on how to get people to invest in your short film. Fraid that's a hard row to hoe and one I've not attempted, nor do I plan to. In the case of video games (and most commercial films), there isn't "one guy" who went and did all the work (although it can seem like it sometimes. ) My studio is relatively small and we have about 13 people, for example.