FAQs:
How many people per film team can participate? 2
How long does the 6 Month Distribution Intensive run for? 6 months :)
What if I can’t attend a session? We will record all the sessions and you will have access to those recordings for six months after the Intensive is finished.
How can I use the private consultations? These will be spread out over the course of the 6 Month Intensive. Sessions will range between thirty minutes to an hour totaling up to three hours. These sessions will be booked according to mutual availability.
What stage does my project need to be in order to participate? Anywhere between a rough cut through a film festival release.
What experience level do I need to be? Any. You can be new to filmmaking or you can be an experienced professional who is daunted by today’s ever shifting marketplace.
Is the Intensive just for documentary filmmakers? No. While the landscape is tougher for fiction films (especially those without stars) - there is still a path to release and plenty to learn in the Distribution Intensive.
Is the Intensive a distributor? No. The Intensive teaches you how to navigate the distribution landscape and even take on certain aspects of distribution yourself.
Can I email Jon specific questions about my film during the 6 months? Each team can pose up to two brief project-specific questions for Jon to answer each month.
Why do I need to apply to the 6 Month Distribution Intensive? Don’t worry! The application is short. The application just helps us with intake to know more about your film so we can create the best possible synergy and chemistry between the teams in each cohort and align films at approximately the same stage with similar needs. In addition, each cohort is limited to no more than 10 teams. Once a cohort fills up, we will start building a new one.
How do I get more information before I commit? We will hold several information sessions before the beginning of each cohort so that you can ask questions and see if it is a good fit for you, your team and your film.
What topics will Jon or special guests cover? This will vary based on the needs of each cohort but will typically include:
Can I actively distribute while enrolled in the Distribution Intensive? We recommend participating in the Distribution Intensive prior to beginning distribution, but you can certainly join while part of your distribution efforts have begun if you are still actively planning other components of a release.
Will the Cohorts differ from each other? Before the start of each Intensive cohort, teams will fill out a survey as to the topics that are most pressing to them. Although the Intensive has a defined structure, each cohort will ultimately take on its own unique quality, shaped by the nature of the films, filmmakers and everyone’s collective interests.
How long does the 6 Month Distribution Intensive run for? 6 months :)
What if I can’t attend a session? We will record all the sessions and you will have access to those recordings for six months after the Intensive is finished.
How can I use the private consultations? These will be spread out over the course of the 6 Month Intensive. Sessions will range between thirty minutes to an hour totaling up to three hours. These sessions will be booked according to mutual availability.
What stage does my project need to be in order to participate? Anywhere between a rough cut through a film festival release.
What experience level do I need to be? Any. You can be new to filmmaking or you can be an experienced professional who is daunted by today’s ever shifting marketplace.
Is the Intensive just for documentary filmmakers? No. While the landscape is tougher for fiction films (especially those without stars) - there is still a path to release and plenty to learn in the Distribution Intensive.
Is the Intensive a distributor? No. The Intensive teaches you how to navigate the distribution landscape and even take on certain aspects of distribution yourself.
Can I email Jon specific questions about my film during the 6 months? Each team can pose up to two brief project-specific questions for Jon to answer each month.
Why do I need to apply to the 6 Month Distribution Intensive? Don’t worry! The application is short. The application just helps us with intake to know more about your film so we can create the best possible synergy and chemistry between the teams in each cohort and align films at approximately the same stage with similar needs. In addition, each cohort is limited to no more than 10 teams. Once a cohort fills up, we will start building a new one.
How do I get more information before I commit? We will hold several information sessions before the beginning of each cohort so that you can ask questions and see if it is a good fit for you, your team and your film.
What topics will Jon or special guests cover? This will vary based on the needs of each cohort but will typically include:
- Setting Distribution Goals
- All Rights vs Split Rights/Hybrid Distribution
- Marketing 101: PESO (Paid, Earned, Shared, Owned Media)
- Types of Audiences and How to Reach Them
- How to develop your email list
- Organic Social Media Best Practices
- Fundamentals of Paid Social Media
- Fundamentals of Impact and Outreach
- Creating Synergy Between Impact and Distribution
- Festivals 101
- Community Screenings and Theatrical 101
- VOD and Broadcast 101
- Publicity 101
- Educational Distribution 101
- Timing and Windowing Strategies
- Budgeting Basics - Where and How to Spend Money
- Building a Team
- Creating a Pitch Deck
Can I actively distribute while enrolled in the Distribution Intensive? We recommend participating in the Distribution Intensive prior to beginning distribution, but you can certainly join while part of your distribution efforts have begun if you are still actively planning other components of a release.
Will the Cohorts differ from each other? Before the start of each Intensive cohort, teams will fill out a survey as to the topics that are most pressing to them. Although the Intensive has a defined structure, each cohort will ultimately take on its own unique quality, shaped by the nature of the films, filmmakers and everyone’s collective interests.