Indie Film Distribution: A New Narrative

I am a Distributor turned Filmmaker. I have a finance degree and a law degree and I spent the first 22 years of my film career in Distribution. Then I got the bug to become creative. I have since made and successfully self distributed 7 feature films, 3 of which are presently airing on Netflix worldwide (FULL OUT / FULL OUT 2 — YOU GOT THIS! / KISS & CRY).

I provide consulting services to hundreds of indie filmmakers and the initial conversation usually goes like this:

Jeff to Filmmaker: “You need to think about distribution BEFORE you make your movie because it could affect the style of movie that you make.”

Filmmaker to Jeff: “First I need to focus on making a great movie and then I’ll worry about distribution.”

Jeff: “But what if you don’t get distribution?”

Filmmaker: “Haha, don’t worry, I’ll get distribution.”

Jeff: “I’m telling you, it’s not as easy as you may think to get distribution.”

Filmmaker: “Hey, I’m an artist. Let me do what I do best and that’s make a great movie. Then some business person will figure out how to get it distributed.”