From film festival strategies to theatrical to VOD to online options to finding and securing a sales agent the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on all things related to the distribution process
If I have a backer willing to back the Pilot episode of my sci-fi series, and I go ahead and shoot that would I then look for a distributor to sell the series to a channel who will come on board to shoot the balance or do they only take on fully completed series? I'm in my element producing but furt...
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Hey All - Interesting piece of advice here: My Indie film, Band on the Run, signed with a good mid-sized distribution company. They declined to distribute it internationally in the initial deal, but three months later, I mentioned I was going to do International myself through an aggregator, and the...
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Did they give an advance? A minimum guarantee?
no sir-- they did not....
Hi! I'm so happy to share the news that I've finished editing my latest short! All that's left is the coloring and the sound mix!!
Do you have any favorite fantasy or horror festivals?
To find out mor...
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Congratulations on finishing editing your short, Luis Dion-Dussault!
Maurice Vaughan thanks a lot!!!
You're welcome, Luis Dion-Dussault.
The Stage 32 August Open House is happening this Wednesday, and it’s completely free for any new or current Stage 32 members to attend! This is a fantastic opportunity for creatives to learn how to get the most out of the platform, ask questions live, and take part in a posting challenge where one w...
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The global streaming race is far from over. HBO Max has just launched in 12 new territories, pushing it past 90 markets worldwide. This latest wave includes Albania, Armenia, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, and Tajikistan.
New subscribers in these...
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Ashley Renée Smith I'm looking forward to seeing some of these come into my Crave/HBO listings soon.
Ashley Renée Smith That makes total sense. Global internet usage is around 72%. Northern Europe has about 97% penetration, and Western Europe around 90%, both slightly higher than North America at app...
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Hi. Has anyone had any luck distributing their short film??
Hi Don Zorbas - I highly recommend this Stage 32 webinar taught by Kate Reed Davies on how to monetize and get distribution for your short film - Kate's guidance on this is top notch! https://www.stag...
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Hey Don Zorbas Would love to connect on your experience and pain points with trying to do this? I'm currently trying to build out a way to make short film distribution more common....
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Plans seem to start this fall 2025 and fully integrate by Q1 2026. I've always like Hulu's position as a very independent minded streaming platform, where indie movies can get eyes and find audiences with ease. In being folded into the Disney behemoth, I'm sure many of the great indies to be discove...
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Wonder how that will impact the ad model and payouts for filmmakers?
The smart money's on it will be more ads and less money for filmmakers. Disney is not a generous company
ESPN and NAT GEO are tiles on Disney+ with their own libraries and such... I wonder if Hulu will end up it's own tile like that. And I get the strange bedfellows, Pat Alexander, but it wasn't long ago...
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HBO Max became Max which became HBO Max. Disney owns Hulu which owns Disney+ which Hulu is now becoming Disney+. I swear... anyone else need a scorecard to keep track of all the changes??
Branding and rebranding are nothing new, especially with tech companies. Through focus groups and stats on users, businesses are always trying to leverage which words resonate most with the public. Mi...
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Debbie - I always get a kick out of the Variety Illuminate newsletters that list the moving executives, it’s like the Dead Sea scroll
LMAO! Amanda Toney
Right? Ultimately, its HBO and Disney. As fresh as they want to be, its easier to leverage brand awareness than it is to build new brand awareness. New Coke anyone?? Put all the energy into fresh shows and movies and discovering new talent, not new streaming platform names IMHO.
We're living in the best of times when it comes to options for getting published. Whether it's film, music, or any other project, there are numerous channels that cater to that media for distribution.
First of all, you need a comprehensive plan. I always said to clients, know your audience right up...
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Great tips, Debbie Elicksen! I used to just write scripts and figure out a pitch plan later, but I come up with a plan when I outline a script now. And sometimes the plan changes....
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You have most definitely given me inspiration. I will definitely check out the video tomorrow. It is just a biit late here in Germany now.
Always great to see the fabulous advice and ideas that you bring, Debbie Elicksen. We live in the most exciting times ever to make your projects and get them out to yoru audience. Very cool....
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As the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) celebrates its milestone 50th edition, the National Film Board of Canada is launching {RE}DEFINED—a new initiative inviting next-generation creators (aged 30 and under) to explore Canadian and Indigenous identity through innovative short documentary...
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Another big change may be on the horizon in the world of media distribution. According to Deadline, Disney and Hearst are exploring the potential sale of A+E Global Media, which includes powerhouse brands like History, Lifetime, and A&E.
If this deal moves forward, it could signal another major shift...
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Traditional cable companies are struggling — worried about the streamers, I think. Not surprising about the possible sale of A+E. The real powerhouse is YouTube. Their viewership is as big as the majo...
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Not surprised Ashley Renée Smith that Disney is trying to up their game. I don't know about the US content, but it sucks wind in Canada. Absolutely not worth the subscription. Hardly any new content....
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A quote from that Deadline article captures my thoughts exactly:
“Cord cutting and a shift to streaming that accelerated during Covid have been steadily shrinking the audience for linear across the i...
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Interesting prospect. Perhaps looking to take advantage of the value while it remains intact. I would think with their libraries these will hold as lucrative assets that will find a streaming home (Paramount?).
Trying to get distribution is extremely difficult let alone if you haven't produced anything before, what can you do?
Phil Savage Depends on your attachments. If you have resources to create a film, but need production supervision or a development producer, contact me direct. I have 30+ years in industry and head the...
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If you have a strong social media presence, that community can also help get you started with premiers and viewings. Sometimes having a built-in audience helps sell a project for potential distribution.
I created the Ultimate Guide for Distribution after researching sooooo many, happy to send you a PDF for free. Took me a long time but I will share
Phil Savage Seriously, focus on the project first — Not Distribution. Distributors and just about everyone else want something they can sell. They want to make money. Perfect the product....
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Kenneth George TY Kenneth, not to worry, all is good there.
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Janice Foster It's obvious to be cautious.
2 people like this
So many scams prey on creatives. I get so many emails, texts, each day. On here, watch for people with NO BIOS. They say they are producers, financing films, etc.
Someone once said:
"Behind every great...
Expand commentSo many scams prey on creatives. I get so many emails, texts, each day. On here, watch for people with NO BIOS. They say they are producers, financing films, etc.
Someone once said:
"Behind every great fortune is a great crime".
Ever wonder why high budget films cost so much? I have asked that question many times.
1 person likes this
Jon Shallit While it might be tempting to label something we don’t fully understand as a scam, it isn’t necessarily one in the usual sense. Some forms of capital come at a very high cost, often involv...
Expand commentJon Shallit While it might be tempting to label something we don’t fully understand as a scam, it isn’t necessarily one in the usual sense. Some forms of capital come at a very high cost, often involving a significant loss of control or commercial interest in the project. It’s possible to find someone willing to finance a project, but they may require enough control to limit their own risk. She still needs to be cautious and carefully weigh her options before proceeding.
1 person likes this
Just my personal experiences. Maybe yours are different.
1 person likes this
Jon Shallit of course.