Distribution

In an industry dominated by blockbuster franchises, it’s easy to forget that nearly 94% of films are produced independently. These films bring raw creativity to the screen—unfiltered, diverse, and often deeply personal. Behind every independent film, there’s a story not just of artistic ambition but of resilience, resourcefulness, and sometimes sheer survival. This article explores why so many filmmakers choose the independent path, how they sustain themselves amidst challenges, and why big stud...

Happy Tuesday, Stage 32ers! As many of you already know, Stage 32 Certification has been bringing new film commissions, institutes, colleges, streamers, and other organizations into the mix as we support film and television workforce development worldwide. This week we’re welcoming The El Paso Film & Creative Industries Commission to Stage 32 Certification! The El Paso Film & Creative Industries Commission and Stage 32 are excited to partner to bring Certification opportunities to creative p...

Media Platforms 101 New technology and platforms pop up every time you open your phone or a tab in your browser. With updated and additional software, media and social platforms, apps, algorithms, and search engine optimization rules, it’s hard to keep up. When it comes to marketing, these are common attitudes: Newbie: “I just need to get my book on Facebook, and I’ll be rich.” Arm crosser: “I don’t do social media. I tried Facebook once. It didn’t work.” Seasoned platform user: “You c...

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! Today officially kicks off the 2024 American Film Market!  Every November, the entire global film industry converges for AFM, the premier film acquisition, development, and networking event where more than $1 Billion in distribution and film financing deals are closed each year on completed films and those in every stage of development. More business-oriented than any other motion picture event, thousands of professionals from all corners of our industry come to...

We’ve all heard the stories. Paranormal Activity, a film with a budget slightly less than a used Honda, made $193 million worldwide and launched a profitable franchise. That film’s progenitor, The Blair Witch Project, had a $60K budget and turned out a $250 million box office haul. The most profitable films from 2010 to 2015 were all horror films. 10. The Last Exorcism ($68M gross vs. $1.8M production budget) 9. Annabelle ($257M vs. $6.5M) 8. Chernobyl Diaries ($37M vs. $1M) 7. Ins...

I know it’s thrilling when you’re in the midst of creating something. However, many put off working with publicity, even for consultation, because many think it’s going to be really expensive. To be sure, a full-scale publicity campaign can get quite expensive—depending on several factors. However, consulting with publicity in a limited capacity can be a smart investment to help you figure out your specific publicity strategy without making a total commitment until you’re ready. Which in the lon...

Happy Thursday, Stage 32 Community! I hope that the last month has been joyful and productive for you all! Our Stage 32 Education Team has certainly been hard at work to bring incredible education opportunities and resources to this fantastic community. This September, you'll have the chance to learn from knowledgeable industry executives, award-winning writers, producers, directors, cinematographers, actors, consultants, assistant directors, authors, distributors, financiers, and representa...

Let’s discuss a misconception about film publicity as it relates to your festival run—you do not need to wait until you’ve heard back from your top festival premiere choice to start conversations with a publicist. Being proactive and taking the time to choose your festival publicist early can be a game-changer for your film's journey through the festival circuit. Whether you’re crafting a feature film destined for Sundance or a short masterpiece targeting Tribeca, being proactive about your p...

A client recently asked me about the value of submitting a short film to a local film festival. After my recent romp at the 20th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival here in Los Angeles, I had to dish on the deets! My not-so-short answer was the stuff of epic emails, and so, I figured best to expand on it as a blog! In fact, it's particularly timely because my epic proof-of-concept short film, "Sanctuary" (Instagram: @SanctuarytheShortFilm ) just announced its premiere at the 9th Annual Silicon Beac...

Hello Creative Army! Over the past 13 years, we here at Stage 32 have been thrilled to be recognized throughout the industry as the leaders in online film craft and business education. We are honored to be partnered with some of the most prestigious film festivals and markets in the world including the American Film Market and the Cannes Film Festival Marché du film to name a few. Now, for the 9th year in a row, we are thrilled to be joining forces with one of the few Oscar-qualifying short...