A curated guide to our best articles, webinars, and case studies on building a smarter film release strategy.
As you are probably aware by now – I am on a mission to help filmmakers connect with audiences. Besides releasing films and our Distribution Lab – one of the main ways that I do that is through this Substack – writing about distribution, holding webinars with new techniques and case studies and the occasional personal rant.
But Substack is a stream and unless you know to look for it – you won’t be aware of some of our previous posts that might be very helpful to you on your journey – so I decided to create this Start Here guide; a curated roadmap through some of our most useful posts, webinars, and case studies on film distribution.
The guide is organized in the rubric that I feel is most helpful for filmmakers engaging in this process. If you only have time for a few, I’ve starred the ones that I would suggest reading if you are new to my teachings.
Let me know in the comments below the burning topics that you want to know about!
Note – Nearly everything on my Substack is free – you don’t need to be a paid subscriber. As I wrote a year ago – I don’t want to be a rentier. However, creating the Substack and webinars does take time from several of our staff – and if you want to chip in – in a non-subscription way – I signed up with “Buy Me a Coffee” as an experiment (note-for me its Matcha). If you are so inclined, here is the button:
But Substack is a stream and unless you know to look for it – you won’t be aware of some of our previous posts that might be very helpful to you on your journey – so I decided to create this Start Here guide; a curated roadmap through some of our most useful posts, webinars, and case studies on film distribution.
The guide is organized in the rubric that I feel is most helpful for filmmakers engaging in this process. If you only have time for a few, I’ve starred the ones that I would suggest reading if you are new to my teachings.
Let me know in the comments below the burning topics that you want to know about!
Note – Nearly everything on my Substack is free – you don’t need to be a paid subscriber. As I wrote a year ago – I don’t want to be a rentier. However, creating the Substack and webinars does take time from several of our staff – and if you want to chip in – in a non-subscription way – I signed up with “Buy Me a Coffee” as an experiment (note-for me its Matcha). If you are so inclined, here is the button:
OVERALL STRATEGY – KEY CONCEPTS
- 8 Essential Elements To Create Your Distribution Strategy*******
- 15 Years/15 Essential Concepts/10 Minutes*******
- Think Outside The Box Office: A Manifesto
What is Your Goal?
MARKETING
Who is Your Audience?
- 4 Essential Questions About Your Audience (That too many filmmakers skip)-Pt 1*******
- Is there an audience for Indie Films? – Keri Putnam Study
How Do You Reach Your Audience – Marketing Overview
- Find The Marketing Mix That Is Right For Your Film*******
- 4 Essential Questions About Your Audience (That too many filmmakers skip)-Pt 2
- Butts in Seats
Shared Media
Partnerships and Impact
Organic Social
Working with Influencers
Earned Media
Paid Media
Note – I really need to get writing about Owned Media!
FUNDING FOR DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution Overview
Event Theatrical
- Beyond the Marquee: The Power of Event Theatrical
- Beyond the Marquee: The Power of Event Theatrical – Part 2
Film Festivals
- The Art and Strategy of Film Festivals with Sky Sitney
- Taking Control of Your Distribution Destiny – A Case Study
Direct to Fan Platforms
- New Platforms, New Potential: Meet the CEOs Behind Direct Distribution
- Film Drops in the PVOD Window with Christie Marchese
Digital Distribution
Note – this is an area to be developed in the coming months – but for now:
Merchandise
Working with Distributors
- How To Evaluate If a Distributor is Right For You
- 2025’s New Indie Distributors
- From Crisis to Opportunity: How Four Indie Distributors Are Forging New Paths
Windowing
Note – more coming here too:
CREATOR ECONOMY
CASE STUDIES
- The Librarians – Case Study
- Tales From the Lab: On Choosing Hybrid Distribution
- The Definitive Hundreds of Beavers Case Study In Your Inbox
- From Theatrical Underdog to Long-Tail Legacy (Big Sonia)
- Building Your Audience Before Your Release Replay (1946)
- Infinite Possibilities: What Eno’s Innovative Release Model Taught Us About Creating a Distribution Strategy That’s True to Your Film (Eno)
- No Time to Fail – Case Study
- Sabbath Queen – Case Study
- How Outdoor School Found Its Way: Reflections from the 8 Above Lab
ADVOCATING FOR OUR ECOSYSTEM:THE FUTURE FILM COALITION
- Doubling Down on Democracy – by Jon Reiss-8Above
- Future Film Coalition: Advocating for the Future of Independent Film
- Chokepoint Capitalism
MISCELLANEOUS RANTS/ABOUT MY JOURNEY
- “I fell in love with how a group of outsiders were taking media – music & film – into their own hands. “
- Distribution is Democracy/FilmStack Inspiration Post #81
- Self Distribution Does Not Exist
- Tragedy Of The Commons AI Edition – by Jon Reiss-8Above
- Yin and Yang of the AI Apocalypse – by Jon Reiss-8Above
LAST CALL ON THE 8 ABOVE DISTRIBUTION LAB
If you are looking for a six month immersive program to create a distribution and marketing plan with myself and a cohort of filmmakers: the next lab cohort starts first week of August. There are a couple of slots left. If interested sign up for one of our remaining info sessions. For more information click here. Or:
AT THE END OF THE LAB YOU WILL COME AWAY WITH:
- A new framework on how to approach distribution and marketing.
- A comprehensive distribution and marketing plan and budget for your film and the confidence to pitch and execute it.
- A community of filmmakers that you can rely on for support during the lab and into the future.
- Connections with a range of industry experts.
- Up to date knowledge about industry best practices.https://jonreiss.substack.com/p/your-film-distribution-roadmap-starts