There are times when people from different industries are in the same battle. In this case, it's independent filmmakers and independent podcasters. Both "indies" struggle against the dominance of large, legacy players in their industry.
In podcasting, indie podcasters like The Life Shift, Bippity Boppity Business, and 6 Degrees Of Cats battle against the financial war chest of Amazon, Apple, iHeart, SiriusXM, Spotify and a few other audio giants.
In filmmaking, indie filmmakers do battle with film companies whose logos are emblazoned on movies you see in theaters or on streaming TV. Indie filmmakers are shut out of many distribution channels.
Over the past six months, Distribution Advocates researched, developed, and interviewed over a dozen of filmmakers, industry insiders, expert historians, and activist thought-leaders for its new podcast, Distribution Advocates Presents. The first episodes dropped on January 31, 2024, on Spotify, Amazon Music, this Substack, and other TBA platforms.
Distribution Advocates announced: "Spurred by our work as filmmakers in narrative change, we chase the myths and realities of our own field of independent filmmaking in search of a more just and equitable ecosystem. The stories featured in our podcast are usually whispered in dark corners at industry cocktail parties—but for the industry to shift, we must openly question some of our deepest-held beliefs about how independent films get made and released, and who profits from them."
What's the podcast about?
Distribution Advocates Presents demystifies the world of independent film distribution with honest insider stories. How can we better understand what’s happening to the ecosystem and start to create more equitable distribution systems moving forward?
Hosted by Avril Speaks, filmmaker and co-founder of Distribution Advocates, this series of conversations examines concerning practices in the industry and explores innovative and sustainable solutions.
Speaks is an honest broker as a podcast host. She's clear, concise, and anxious to explain the arcane world of film distribution to listeners like you and me who basically have little idea how films get distributed.
In the first episode, Avril Speaks discusses sales agents in film distribution. Maybe it's just me, but I have no idea what a sales agent in film distribution does, or that they even existed until I heard this podcast.
In this maiden voyage, Speaks helps listeners get up to speed on the film distribution industry. Speaks and her guests demystify the role of sales agents, and explore one filmmaker’s journey in finding distribution without one.
With Speaks as our capable guide, we learn what sales agents do, and why they matter. In the episode, host Speaks talks with a number of sources, including Pat Murphy, Orly Ravid, Alece Oxendine, Set Hernandez, Abby Sun, Efuru Flowers, and Kaila Sarah Hier.
In the episode, guest / indie filmmaker and community organizer Set Hernandez says, "They made me feel like a toy in a toy shop where they grab, inspect and decide, 'You know what. I don't want this toy'"
This is a critically important podcast because it points out a troubling reality. In any art form or media format, it's always the distribution that is the pinch point. Want to have your art displayed? You need a gallery. Want to have your film seen? You need a film distributor. Want to release a podcast? You can, but how can it get enough visibility to survive? Podcast networks. Want to publish a book? You can self-publish, but how can you distinguish yourself from the traffic jam of other such books? You need a publisher or a marketer.
Check out this episode and the entire series of Distribution Advocates Presents. Future episodes include film festivals, awards, exhibitions, and, of course, film school.
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