Distribution

Just spoke to Mark, he's super excited!

I am very excited for this webinar. I'm looking forward to answering your questions tomorrow!

Thank you Mark for a wonderful webinar and for everyone who attended! That was so informative :)

Excellent. Always a pleasure working with Stage 32.

Thank you Mark! If anyone is interested in other education from Mark here is a link to a webinar he taught: How to Plan Your Film Release Window & Strategy: VOD, SVOD, AVOD, Broadcast

Taught by Mark Padilla https://www.stage32.com/education/products/how-to-plan-your-film-release...

Matthew Wade, thank you so much for sharing your experience so openly. It’s incredibly encouraging to hear about real-world examples where self-distribution, betting on yourself, and protecting the integrity of your work actually paid off. You hit on something so important, creative ownership, and finding the right audience sometimes outweighs the allure of a big name distributor who might not understand the heart of the project. I think the future belongs to the filmmakers who are willing to build their own lanes and connect directly with their audiences in authentic ways.

Only top tier talent will do this, and not all will succeed. Not all movies are going to see a theatrical release which costs money. Back when Slumdog Millionaire was made, WB wanted to go straight to DVD with it. Danny Boyle, the director, asked if he could take it to Fox Searchlight. They allowed him. It was a theatrical release, won best picture in 2008. Tom Cruise fought hard to ensure Top Gun Maverick was released theatrically. Finally, just because it's an item in a contract doesn't mean the other side will accept it. Many times one side will say, "that's off the table," meaning it's not included.

Dwayne Williams Would be nice, but that clause would likely kill any deal for the vast majority of filmmakers. I frankly don't know of anyone who could even think of this, for the last couple decades, save a couple. Think about the repercussions though - how is anyone with brains going to agree to that given the thousand or so variables in whether the film might be any good or whether people will want to see it or not? Some proposals are only sensible in very specific instances.

Dwayne Williams, Entertainment Attorney Jackie Ward started a great conversation in the Producing Lounge, to share advice about building a strong foundation for your production and getting a greenlight. This may be a great question to ask her! You can find her post here: https://www.stage32.com/profile/1164177/lounge

Randall Scott White, thank you so much for taking the time to write such an in-depth and thoughtful post on this subject. You broke down the realities of modern distribution so clearly and provided genuinely actionable advice. It’s rare to see all of this information laid out so transparently, especially with such a grounded look at both the challenges and opportunities that filmmakers face today. This is incredibly valuable insight for anyone navigating their release strategy!

That's so awesome Michelle Alexandria.

Thank YOU Michelle for the incredible webinar, we are so lucky to have you and your knowledge !

Fantastic opportunity for people who don't know much about the sales and distribution process to learn how this part of the business works. I worked at sales agencies for 10 years but its oddly not a part o the process that isn't as openly talked about as it should, yet it is a key part of your film's life.

I totally agree Ashley Renee Smith

Having the chance to experience this success first-hand, living close to the area where the movie was shot, was truly inspiring. These stories are a boost of optimism!

I forgot the tag Sam Sokolow :)

Such a great post Chiara Torrisi. Sometimes we forget to reach out to our local market, who may be the most invested in seeing a local producer thrive. Local media, for sure, like to feature projects that have a local connection.

I totally agree Debbie Elicksen

Amanda Toney, this is such an interesting move and definitely one to watch for indie filmmakers and producers. Both Shout! Studios and Gravitas Ventures have built reputations around championing independent voices and niche content, so seeing them come together could open up some new opportunities in the distribution space.

It’ll be really interesting to see how this impacts their acquisition strategies moving forward.

An always useful reminder that content is king. As distrbution platforms expand and new ones launch, having content that you own - including indie films you make - is a great position to be in.

Gravitas has one of my films (almost ten years old at this point). I wonder if this will have any bearing on the financials for it.

This is completely awesome, Amanda Toney - and a real avenue for independent filmmakers that seems to only be gaining steam and greater accessibility. My question would be on final delivery of the film itself. What legal elements do fimmakers need locked up to distriibute themselves (clearances, licenses, crew & talent agreements, etc.) and what are the technical specs to actually screen in the theaters (is it digital files, resolution specs, etc.). That would allow indie filmmakers to know what to aim for right out of the gate so they don't need to redo things or chase those elements to take advantage of this business model. What a cool webinar and opportunity for the community - go Stage 32!!!

Amanda Toney that sounds cool, Amanda. I’d like to ask about straight download strategies for events, please.

That sounds so great Amanda Toney. This is just the type of content that makes this platform so special.

Oh certainly needed! Amanda Toney it's always admirable and welcoming seeing Stage 32 keeping ahead with industrial necessities and more!

Sounds worth checking out. My question would be about the chances for success if you don’t travel with the film, doing the roadshow thing. I think it sounds like fun to tour with your film — but only if you have no family responsibilities keeping you at home. Kind of a young person’s game, like a musician touring with an indie band.

Pluto is owned by Paramount, by the way.

Awesome development Debbie Elicksen!

Ewan Dunbar, Looking at similar films and studying who handled their sales and distribution is such a smart strategy, especially for indie filmmakers trying to build a realistic target list. The company credits section is a goldmine if you know where to look. Super helpful advice!

You're welcome, Ashley Renee Smith. Mubi showcases features and shorts. Maybe more. I haven't explored the streaming service that much yet.

You’re absolutely right, Mark Deuce, YouTube can be a great place to start, especially for getting your work seen quickly and building an audience. The challenge, though, is that discoverability can be tough. With so much content uploaded daily, standing out and appealing to the algorithm takes a really strategic approach.

Consistency, strong thumbnails, searchable titles, and clear audience targeting are key. It’s also important to think like a marketer: what makes your story clickable without losing its integrity? How can you position your content to speak directly to the niche you’re trying to reach?

YouTube rewards engagement, so building a community around your project through comments, behind-the-scenes content, and even short-form clips can help boost visibility and attract the right viewers.

It’s definitely not a “just upload and hope” kind of platform, but with the right plan, it can be a really powerful tool for niche storytellers.

No truer words were spoken Ashley Renee Smith. There is no such thing as one size fits all for every audience. Finding out where your audience lives is the first step into marketing.

Absolutely agree. One of the most powerful aspects of indie filmmaking is the freedom to tell niche, personal, or culturally specific stories. It’s not about mass appeal — it’s about deep connection. The key is clarity: knowing your audience, your message, and the unique emotional truth you’re bringing to the screen.