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
Y'all - I love seeing films in theaters, but if I have to risk life and limb to go out, IT AIN'T HAPPENIN'! LOL
So, what happens when a storm or fires or other EXTREME weather occurrences wreck an opening weekend? How do we as filmmakers, producers, and distributors mitigate this risk?
Would love to k...
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This one is worth unpacking. On an earnings call this week, AMC CEO Adam Aron openly praised Netflix and said the two companies “should be best of friends,” pointing to the success of recent collaborations like KPop Demon Hunters and the Stranger Things finale event, which drove serious admissions a...
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Paramount+ is making big changes, and distribution strategies are shifting alongside them.
According to a new piece from Deadline, Paramount+ will now greenlight and release series from outside studios, decoupling many of its originals from the CBS release pattern. This pivot allows for more flexibil...
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Between recent news, the merger stuff, and everything else, Paramount needs a redirect.
Ashley Renée Smith this is definitely interesting—if a network is willing to spend $1 million or more for the rights to a multi-season TV series, that certainly gets my attention....
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I’m pitching ideas and stuff to paramount pictures, paramount studios and paramount plus
There is no one-size fits all in media distribution. With social media, it's not a trend. You may not like some platforms, but if that's where your core audience lives, learn to love it.
The numbers don't lie. Every year, Sprout Social and other industry watchdogs create social demographic trends fo...
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You don't always have to see what others are doing in your industry. The best ideas can come from outside your own bubble.
Based on technology changes and current cultural/economic/political/global environments, the audience decides how, where, what, and when they want their products.
Deloitte publis...
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Today, getting your film onto VOD platforms is easier than ever—but turning that access into real revenue is a different story. With so many release options, pricing models, and platform categories, understanding how and when your film appears across windows can make the difference between a title t...
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were there technical difficulties? I haven't been able to get on live.
has this not been rescheduled yet?
Hello, Nicole Howard! We're still confirming the new date for this webinar.
Most probably it will be on March 5th at 12pm PT, but we'll keep you posted also on your email once confirmed, Thanks for yo...
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What’s an unusual way you’ve marketed/you’re marketing your short film, feature film, TV show, podcast, vertical series, and so on? Mascot costumes to promote your movie, interactive marketing campaign for your show, etc.
In today’s streaming-driven industry, great writing alone isn’t enough to get your script read. While talent is essential—and you already have that—access, alignment, and advocacy are what actually open doors. Most streaming executives don’t read unsolicited material; they respond to trusted relatio...
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I had an amazing afternoon with y'all! Thank you Sebastian, you are awesome. If I left anything out of the webinar and / or you have additional questions, hit me up! I'm here for YOU.
Whitney Davis & Sydney S - I appreciate you both :)...
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Vertical series are exploding across platforms and reshaping how content is created, financed, distributed, and monetized — and yet most writers are entering this space blind. Unlike traditional film and television, the vertical market operates on a completely different economic model, deal structur...
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I had a family emergency and missed the event. Was it recorded?
I’ve been diving deep into TikTok lately and realized it’s much more than just a "video platform." From a professional standpoint, it’s one of the best ways to archive knowledge and build real authori...
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Hi Neal!
I’m so sorry to hear about your family emergency - I hope everything is okay.
Yes, the webinar was recorded and you can access it anytime in your My Library section of your Stage 32 profile. I...
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Film festivals and film markets are powerful tools when used correctly, and career-ending traps when misunderstood. Many filmmakers spend years making a film only to submit blindly to festivals without a strategy, unintentionally aging their project out of distribution consideration. Others skip fes...
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Speaking to Wall Street analysts on the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Cinemark CEO Sean Gamble said theater owners have taken “some element of encouragement” from comments by Netflix management about theaters. At the same time, exhibitors remain wary of the messages due to “how contradicto...
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I agree with Sean Gamble, Pat Alexander. I hope Netflix releases more movies in theaters with longer windows! I'd love to watch some Netflix Originals in theaters....
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You may have seen my latest video in Instagram talking about this but I had five conversations this week with producers and distribution execs who are actively packaging and selling projects right now. A pattern emerged that I can't stop thinking about:
Companies can't just excel in one area anymore....
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Great question Geoffroy Faugerolas While I am certainly biased, for which I make no hesitations, I strongly always advise and utilize my own such advice - know what the project costs to make. Without...
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Geoffroy Faugerolas This has been evolving for the last decade. Vertical integration, IMO is inevitable as the studio-controlled distribution nets dissolve along with brick-and-mortar, physical distri...
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Geoffroy Faugerolas what really stands out in what you’re sharing is this tension: the money is there but attention is scarce. That’s a very different problem than we were dealing with even five or si...
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Ashley Renée Smith Exactly. And this is what it goes back to talent. Actors with a large following can make a different as we saw with IRON LUNGS: influencers can make an impact in a crowded space....
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We actually have a really awesome class coming up where we are breaking this down - how to think about your budget and what your distribution options are: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/a-...
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Karen "Kay" Ross Absolutely extreme weather is one of those unpredictable factors that can seriously impact box office performance, especially on key opening weekends.
The industry has developed a few...
Expand commentKaren "Kay" Ross Absolutely extreme weather is one of those unpredictable factors that can seriously impact box office performance, especially on key opening weekends.
The industry has developed a few ways to mitigate this risk:
Release Flexibility
Studios sometimes shift release dates when a major storm or wildfire threatens a region. With digital tracking and weather forecasting, they can move a film into a less risky weeken...
Expand commentRelease Flexibility
Studios sometimes shift release dates when a major storm or wildfire threatens a region. With digital tracking and weather forecasting, they can move a film into a less risky weekend.
Tiered Rollouts
Not every film opens wide in every market simultaneously anymore. Some films have regional phased releases so extreme weather in one area doesn’t tank an entire opening weekend.
Hybrid Strategies
Simultaneous or early streaming/VOD releases help offset weather-related dips in theatrical attendance. If people can’t safely go out, they can still engage with the film.
Data & Forecast Planning
Distributors now monitor weather forecasts closely before big launches. If severe conditions are likely in major markets (like NYC or LA), they may adjust marketing pushes, screenings, or even premiere dates.
Community Engagement & Safe Screening Options
Some theaters offer special weekday showings, discounted screenings, or enhanced comforts (like recliners or free refreshments) right after extreme weather events to bring audiences back in.
At the end of the day, filmmakers and producers can’t control the weather but they can build release strategies that aren’t fully dependent on one weekend’s box office numbers. Diversifying distribution pathways and working with distributors who understand regional variances goes a long way.
Growing up in CA & HI, I've never had to think about snow. This weather has been extremely disruptive to a big chunk of the country.. Hope everybody out there in the Northeast has been keeping safe and warm.