Filmmaking Stuff

Film Distribution Trends: Why Filmmakers Need to Pay Attention

Tom Malloy — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:36:32 +0000

Film distribution trends are always changing. If you've been in this business long enough, you've seen it happen over and over again. Years ...

Why Most Indie Films Fail to Find an Audience

Tom Malloy — Thu, 28 May 2026 18:49:25 +0000

One of the biggest challenges in indie film distribution isn't making the movie. It's getting people to watch it. I talk to filmmakers ...

Do Film Festival Laurels Actually Matter for Selling Your Movie?

Tom Malloy — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:16:32 +0000

Let me say something that may sound harsh: nobody cares about your film festival laurels. At least, not in the way most filmmakers ...

Why AVOD Is Where Indie Films Make Money Now

Tom Malloy — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:31:05 +0000

If you’re making independent films today, you need to understand one thing: AVOD is where indie films make money now. When we talk ...

Why Your Movie Trailer Matters More Than Your Movie

Tom Malloy — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:15:40 +0000

If you take nothing else from this, understand this: your movie trailer matters more than your movie when it comes to getting people ...

Why Most Indie Films Don’t Make Money (And How to Fix It)

Tom Malloy — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:06:59 +0000

Most indie films don’t make money. That’s just the truth. And it’s not because the filmmakers aren’t talented. It’s because they’re not thinking ...

The Mid-Budget Indie Film Problem No One Wants to Talk About

Tom Malloy — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:39:06 +0000

For years, there was a clear range in independent film budgets. Under $2 million was low budget. $3 to $8 million was mid-range. ...

What Sales Agents Do at Film Markets

Tom Malloy — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 19:35:08 +0000

If you’ve ever wondered what sales agents do at film markets, you’re not alone. A lot of filmmakers imagine deals happening instantly at ...

AI Video Creation: Turning Old Photos Into Video with Google Gemini

Jason Brubaker — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:50:36 +0000

I recently started playing around with Google Gemini's AI video generation tools. If you haven't experimented with AI video generation yet, it's both ...

What Is an Option Agreement? The Smart Way to Control a Screenplay Without Buying It

Tom Malloy — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:00:53 +0000

If you’re producing indie films, understanding an option agreement can save you thousands of dollars — and a lot of stress. Here’s the ...

Film Distribution Windowing Is Changing (And That’s Good News for Indie Filmmakers)

Tom Malloy — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 19:27:18 +0000

If you’re planning your release strategy right now, you need to understand film distribution windowing — because the old rules don’t really apply ...

What Makes a Film Marketable?

Tom Malloy — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 19:21:09 +0000

What makes a film marketable?It’s a simple question, but the answer is not simple at all. And here’s the frustrating part: you can ...

Film Rights Explained: What Filmmakers Need to Know Before Signing a Deal

Tom Malloy — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:35:43 +0000

When people talk about film distribution, one of the most confusing parts for filmmakers is film rights. And honestly, that confusion is where ...

Putting 2025 Behind Us and Creating a Film Business Turnaround in 2026

Tom Malloy — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 19:19:44 +0000

Let’s be honest—2025 is over. It didn’t go the way a lot of us hoped. And that’s okay. What matters now is what ...

Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail (And How to Set Real New Year Goals That Work)

Tom Malloy — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 19:28:43 +0000

Every January, the same thing happens. People make New Year’s resolutions, get excited for a few weeks, and then slowly fall off. The ...

How AVOD Filmmaking on YouTube Is Changing the Game

Tom Malloy — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:57:02 +0000

A lot of filmmakers are still thinking the old way—make a movie, put it on TVOD, hope people pay to rent it. But ...

When Things Fall Apart, Let It Play Out

Tom Malloy — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:56:47 +0000

I want to start with a simple idea that has helped me a lot over the years: when things fall apart, you don’t ...

How to Write the Right Pitch Email to a Film Distributor (Without Making the Usual Mistakes)

Tom Malloy — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:12:00 +0000

When you’re reaching out with a pitch email to a film distributor, you have one goal: get the acquisitions person to actually click ...

What Is a Real Film Package (and Why Most Filmmakers Get It Wrong)

Tom Malloy — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:02:59 +0000

If you’ve ever tried to get a movie off the ground, you’ve probably heard the phrase film package. And I can tell you ...

What Sales Agents Want in Your Finished Film

Tom Malloy — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 18:55:55 +0000

If you're wondering what sales agents look for in a finished film, you're not alone. Markets are always right around the corner. And ...

Producer vs Executive Producer: What Film Credits Really Mean

Tom Malloy — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:14:44 +0000

It amazes me how many people working in this business don’t actually understand how film credits work. Especially when it comes to the ...

What Film Festivals Actually Help Sell Your Movie

Tom Malloy — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:16:08 +0000

What film festivals actually improve the odds of selling your movie? If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’ve said again ...

Film Deliverables: What Distributors Really Want

Tom Malloy — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:37:54 +0000

When you finally sign a deal with a sales agent or distributor, you’ll get hit with a list of film deliverables. And sometimes, ...

Should You Work for Free on Film Sets?

Tom Malloy — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 19:16:35 +0000

If you’re starting out in the film industry, you’ve probably asked yourself if you should work for free on film sets? It’s a ...

The Truth About Minimum Guarantees in Film Distribution

Tom Malloy — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:25:53 +0000

When you’re making a movie, one of the big terms you’ll hear tossed around is minimum guarantees in film distribution. At first, it ...

What Sales Agents Do at Film Markets: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Tom Malloy — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:01:17 +0000

A lot of filmmakers don’t fully understand what sales agents do at film markets like AFM, Cannes, or the Berlin EFM. I hear ...

3 Pitch Deck Mistakes That Can Cost You Film Investors

Tom Malloy — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 21:47:05 +0000

When it comes to raising money for your film, the pitch deck is often the first thing a potential investor sees. It’s the ...

How to Pick the Right First Feature Film

Tom Malloy — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:51:19 +0000

If you’re a filmmaker wondering how to pick your first feature film, let me share a little truth with you: your first feature ...

The 3 Things Every Film Investor Wants

Tom Malloy — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 19:19:46 +0000

Over the years, I’ve pitched all kinds of film investors. Some deals ended up with money in the bank, and some didn’t. That’s ...

How to Get Your Indie Film Into a Major Film Festival

Tom Malloy — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 22:00:35 +0000

If you’ve ever dreamed of getting your indie film into Sundance, Toronto, Cannes, or South by Southwest, you already know it can feel ...

How to Choose the Right Film Festivals for Your Indie Film (Without Wasting Money)

Tom Malloy — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 18:10:03 +0000

Don’t Waste Money on the Wrong Film Festivals Let’s talk about something that costs indie filmmakers thousands every year submitting to film festivals ...

Understanding Minimum Guarantees (MGs) in Film Distribution

Tom Malloy — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:34:45 +0000

If you’re trying to get a sales agent or distributor to pick up your indie film, you’ve probably heard the term minimum guarantee, ...

Understanding the Film Investor Waterfall: How Money Flows Back to Your Investors

Tom Malloy — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:47:40 +0000

If you’re raising money for your movie, there’s one thing you absolutely need to have in your business plan—the film investor waterfall. It’s ...

The Psychology of Film Investors: What They Really Want to Hear

Tom Malloy — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 16:42:20 +0000

If you're pitching a movie to investors, you need to understand this: it's not just about the numbers. After years of raising money ...

What to Look for in a Film Distribution Agreement (Before You Sign)

Tom Malloy — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:02:02 +0000

So, you got the movie made. That alone is an incredible achievement—congrats. Now you’ve landed a film distribution agreement. Maybe it came from ...

How to Budget an Indie Film: What to Spend On and What to Skip

Tom Malloy — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:49:27 +0000

When you’re making an independent film, budgeting an indie film is one of the trickiest parts. Trust me — you want to make ...

How to Work With a Sales Agent Without Getting Burned

Tom Malloy — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 02:13:13 +0000

If you've been making movies long enough, you've definitely heard the horror stories—someone got “burned” by a sales agent or distributor. But let's ...

How to Sell Your Film Internationally: The Ultimate Guide

Tom Malloy — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:15:35 +0000

So you’ve made a movie, and now you want to sell your film internationally. It’s a smart move—expanding your film's reach to global ...

Warning: Is Your Film Production Budget A Liability Or Insanity?

Tom Malloy — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:09:00 +0000

Creating a realistic film production budget is vitally important in prepping your movie. But if you're looking to attract investors, allocating the money ...

Understanding Windowing: The 3 Types Of VOD Platforms

Tom Malloy — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:08:00 +0000

“Oh my gosh, we broke a window!” Hang around Hollywood long enough and you'll eventually hear some movie executive talk about how VOD ...

Who Else Wants a Film Production Checklist?

Tom Malloy — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 19:25:00 +0000

As a filmmaker, one of the toughest parts about making a movie is knowing where to start. The following film production checklist will give you an overview of the low budget, independent filmmaking process.

How To Create A Movie Marketing Plan (The Ultimate Guide)

Jason Brubaker — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:10:00 +0000

Want more people to see your movie? In this article, you'll get a twelve-week movie marketing plan so you can maximize your reach and sell your movie.

Get a Movie Made: 5 Things You Need To Know

Tom Malloy — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:45:00 +0000

In this filmmaking article, film finance expert Tom Malloy shares tactics on how to get a movie made, with the 5 essential strategies you need to succeed.

Make a Micro-Budget Blockbuster

Tom Malloy — Tue, 27 May 2025 20:39:39 +0000

Let’s clear something up right out of the gate: Micro-budget filmmaking does not mean $800,000. I can’t tell you how many times someone’s ...

What Filmmakers Need to Know About the Cannes Film Market 2025

Tom Malloy — Tue, 27 May 2025 18:30:57 +0000

I just got back from the Cannes Film Market 2025 (also known as the Marché du Film), and I want to share some ...

Filmmaking Success Mindset

Jason Brubaker — Sat, 17 May 2025 19:15:00 +0000

Getting your filmmaking work noticed requires persistence, tenacity, and an unyielding ability to overcome obstacles and keep going—especially when the path seems impossible ...

How To Sell Your Movie Idea (Without Movie Studio Connections)

Tom Malloy — Fri, 02 May 2025 19:46:00 +0000

Wondering how to sell your movie idea? In this filmmaking article, producer Jason Brubaker shares 3 tips on how to sell your movie idea.

How to Build a Film Career Without Living in LA or NYC

Tom Malloy — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 18:25:12 +0000

If you've ever wondered how to build a film career without living in LA or NYC, you're not alone. A lot of people ...

AI is Disrupting VFX – Are You Ready for It?

Tom Malloy — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:29:36 +0000

Let’s talk about AI in visual effects—because if you’re a filmmaker right now, you need to keep your eye on this evolving trend. ...

Why Kneecap Is One of the Best Movies

Tom Malloy — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:01:11 +0000

If there’s one movie that really stood out to me, it’s Kneecap. And honestly, I think it might just be the best movie ...

Get More VOD Sales with Better Reviews

Tom Malloy — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 17:38:19 +0000

If you’re an indie filmmaker trying to get your movie noticed, here’s something that might surprise you… Movie reviews boost visibility more than ...

Uncover the 7 Levels of Movie Producing for Ultimate Success

Tom Malloy — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:49:00 +0000

Do you ever feel stuck with your filmmaking? You've got dozens of movie ideas. You take the courses. You attend the festivals. You ...

EFM 2025: Key Trends and Insights

Tom Malloy — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 22:04:55 +0000

If you want to finance, sell, or distribute your film, the European Film Market (EFM) is a must-attend event. It’s one of the ...

Do You Make These Mistakes In Documentary Funding?

Guest Filmmaker — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:59:00 +0000

In this guest filmmaking article, documentary filmmaker Faith Fuller shares tips on how to avoid the top five mistakes made in documentary funding. Read this article and fund your documentary.

Are Dentists the Secret to Raising Money for Your Movie?

Tom Malloy — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:50:00 +0000

If you've been hustling to raise money for your film, chances are someone has told you, “Dentists are a great source of film ...

Pro Acting Tips to Take Your Performance to the Next Level

Tom Malloy — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:32:14 +0000

Want to Be a Great Actor? Never Stop Learning. Acting isn’t just about talent—it’s about always growing and leveling up. Even the best ...

How to Break Into The Movie Industry

Tom Malloy — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 20:59:00 +0000

If you’re wondering how to break into the film industry, you’re not alone. Nearly every successful filmmaker has started from nowhere. The problem is, there is a big catch 22 in the industry...

How To Fix Your Indie Film Budget Like A Boss

Tom Malloy — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 18:17:00 +0000

Creating and managing an indie film budget is one of the most critical steps in making a movie. If you’re new to filmmaking, ...

European Film Market Survival Guide

Tom Malloy — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 21:23:08 +0000

Table of Contents What Is the EFM? The European Film Market (EFM) is one of the largest film markets in the world, held ...

How To Get Movie Deals At (EFM)

Tom Malloy — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 21:08:26 +0000

The European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin is one of the biggest film markets for filmmakers worldwide. It happens alongside the Berlinale, one ...

I Done This: A Filmmaker’s Productivity Tool

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:43:00 +0000

Picture this! You're in the flow. Everything is going smoothly with your film project. And then BOOM! It's not. Life just got in ...

How To Make Your Own Film

Tom Malloy — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:04:09 +0000

If you want to know how to make your own film, aside from the technical stuff, the biggest lesson you have to learn is obvious...

How To Create a Film Website Fast

Jason Brubaker — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 23:23:24 +0000

In this filmmaking article, we share tips on how to create a film website so you can attract targeted traffic and sell your movie.

What Every Filmmaker Ought to Know About VOD Film Distribution

Tom Malloy — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 10:53:00 +0000

If you think you're in business of filmmaking, think again. Your real business as a filmmaker is to build an audience. Read this movie distribution article.

Help! I Cannot Finish my Screenplay

Tom Malloy — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 13:04:04 +0000

Okay, we've all been here. You reach a point in your writing where you think to yourself: “I cannot finish my screenplay!” You ...

Filmmaking Secret Revealed: What They Don’t Want You To Know

Tom Malloy — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 16:57:59 +0000

Wouldn't it be great if there was one big filmmaking secret? Something so incredible that if you applied it, you would accelerate your ...

The Easy Way To Get More Views On YouTube

Jason Brubaker — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:19:18 +0000

Getting more views on YouTube is a great way to promote your film projects and grow your audience. Want to turn your YouTube ...

Film Producing Career – How To Create A Vision For Success

Tom Malloy — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 22:58:51 +0000

If you're looking to grow a successful film-producing career, I can tell you that visualization is essential. I've used visualization to achieve many ...

5 Tactics To Improve Your Film Project

Tom Malloy — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 23:29:16 +0000

I've repeatedly said that the best way to attract investors is to improve your film project. These three words took me almost 20 ...

Get Distribution Before Your Film Is Finished

Tom Malloy — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 23:11:02 +0000

What if you could get distribution before your film is finished? While it's no secret that this could stack the deck in your ...

What If You Choose Filmmaking As Your Next Small Business?

Tom Malloy — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:12:12 +0000

Most filmmakers either they understand the studio business or they understand indie filmmaking. But what about filmmaking as your next small business?

The Smart Filmmaker’s Guide To Independent Film Financing

Jason Brubaker — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:21:13 +0000

Finding money to make your movie is challenging. In this filmmaking article, we explore 5 Tips On Independent Film Financing.

3 Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Your Film Distribution Deal

Tom Malloy — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:30:00 +0000

Landing a killer film distribution deal is about reducing risk and increasing the potential reward for a prospective distributor. The problem is that ...

Write or Acquire a Screenplay? Here’s How To Take Action!

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:21:55 +0000

Do you write or acquire a screenplay? Think about it. Screenwriting is the heavy lifting for your movie. Without a good script, you ...

How To Write A Screenplay First Draft Like A Boss

Tom Malloy — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 22:18:00 +0000

Many screenwriters fall into the trap of reaching the last page of their screenplay, writing “the end,” and immediately sending it out to ...

How NOT To Get Your Screenplay Read (For Smart Screenwriters)

Tom Malloy — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 19:58:45 +0000

A few years back I had the first draft of my first screenplay ever. Like a lot of folks who dream of Hollywood success, I was eager to share my work with the world. Problem was, I had no idea what I was doing. Through a friend of a friend, I was put in contact with an "entertainment attorney."

How to Navigate The American Film Market

Jason Brubaker — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 22:43:33 +0000

With the American Film Market coming up, many filmmakers are wondering how to navigate AFM and get the best distribution deal for their movies. Read more to find out...

How To Build A Powerful Hollywood Network

Tom Malloy — Sun, 19 May 2024 20:14:57 +0000

You're not alone if you're wondering how to network in the movie business. I have mentioned this many times in my filmmaking courses, ...

I Wrote A Screenplay, Now What?

Jason Brubaker — Mon, 13 May 2024 17:42:32 +0000

If you just wrote a screenplay, congratulations. You just completed one of the hardest things to do in Hollywood. And if you're like ...

How To Find Film Buyers So You Can Sell Your Film

Tom Malloy — Thu, 09 May 2024 12:39:06 +0000

TABLE OF CONTENTS How do you find film buyers ready to make a deal? That is the question. If you're like most film ...

5 Tips On How To Spot Hollywood Phonies

Tom Malloy — Tue, 07 May 2024 15:42:03 +0000

One of the big secrets of film finance is finding out how to smell BS. Here are 5 Tips to find out if your “Rich Guy” is real.

Theatrical Distribution: Five Lessons For Indie Filmmakers

Tom Malloy — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:46:12 +0000

Theatrical Distribution Theatrical distribution is a lofty goal for many filmmakers. You compete with major studios for movie screens. Marketing and promotion are ...

Warning: “Creating A Sizzle Reel” Is Hurting Your Career

Tom Malloy — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:51:22 +0000

When it comes to raising money for a film, many filmmakers create a sizzle reel, trailer, or a few scenes of their movie ...

How To Get Funding For Your Movie This Year

Tom Malloy — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:36:22 +0000

You're not alone if you want to get funding for your movie. I have raised over 25 Million dollars to produce multiple feature ...

How To Sell A Screenplay Without An Agent

Scott Kirkpatrick — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 13:57:00 +0000

Very few screenwriting books offer tactics on how to sell a screenplay without an agent. Something that will add credits to your IMDB, put ...

How To Increase Movie Production Value

Tom Malloy — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:27:54 +0000

All the neat-o tricks you use to increase the production value of your independent movie will be for nothing if you distract your audience and take them out of the movie. This article is geared towards the filmmaker who wants to increase the production value of their movie without crossing the line...

5 Simple Steps To Help You Sell Your Movie On The Internet

Jason Brubaker — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:58:40 +0000

With the release of the iPad, and the new NetFlix application, we now have clear indication that Video On Demand has arrived in a majorly portable way. And while many of you will argue that the iPad is not the most ideal way to watch a movie - few of us can argue that the future of movie delivery has arrived.

How To Find A Niche Audience For Your Film

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

If asked who your target audience is, you may be tempted to say, "My movie is appealing to everybody." And I'll say - Everybody is nobody...

Why VHS Is The NEW Filmmaking Standard

Jason Brubaker — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:50:00 +0000

In this filmmaking article, we review the revolutionary format VHS and share our opinion on why it is going to beat out Betamax.

The Top 3 Mistakes Filmmakers Make When Pitching Film Projects

Tom Malloy — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:02:56 +0000

Pitching film projects is an art form. I have taught entire seminars on pitching, and there is always room for improvement. Think about ...

How To Write A Logline For A Screenplay

Jason Brubaker — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 21:09:10 +0000

If you wrote a complicated, character driven script and you’re trying to figure out how to condense it into one log line, have a trusted friend read your script and then ask him or her tell you what it’s about.

We’ll Fix It In Post: The 5 Scariest Words on Any Film

Tom Malloy — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 21:08:40 +0000

There are always a few things that scare me during film production. I'm not talking about the “BOO” kind of haunted house spooky ...

Hire A Casting Director For Your Next Feature Film

Tom Malloy — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 21:06:49 +0000

Many filmmakers take the DIY approach to casting a film because the prospect of hiring casting directors is intimidating. Many indie producers feel ...

Making A Short Film: 5 Awesome Tactics For New Filmmakers

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 01:45:00 +0000

A short film is the rite of passage for many new filmmakers. If you have never made a short film, this article is for you.

How To Produce a TV Series That People Actually Watch

Tom Malloy — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 18:40:00 +0000

If you want to produce a TV series, there has never been a more exciting time for content creators. Nowadays, there are so ...

How To Sell A Movie To Netflix Like A Boss

Jason Brubaker — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:30:00 +0000

If you're like most film producers, you're likely trying to figure out how to sell a movie to Netflix. And this is for ...

Film Directing: Six BIG Lessons For Indie Filmmakers

Tom Malloy — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:43:00 +0000

TABLE OF CONTENTS After producing over a dozen films, I decided to add movie directing to my list of experiences. This decision resulted ...

How to Become The Screenwriter Hollywood Needs

Scott Kirkpatrick — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 13:55:00 +0000

If you want to get your script noticed in Hollywood—and your talents compensated for—then you cannot be just a ‘good’ screenwriter, you’ve gotta be great!

How To Find Your Movie Target Audience

Jason Brubaker — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:30:00 +0000

As a film producer, your ultimate goal is to tell engaging and entertaining stories and get paid for your work. But before you ...