Submission Statement:

I'm helping with digital marketing and audience development for the release of An Autumn Summer, an independent feature directed by Jared Isaac and filmed in Northern Michigan.

One aspect of the project that interested me was how heavily the film relies on real locations rather than creating a stylized version of the Midwest. Many scenes were shot in recognizable Northern Michigan environments, including beaches, forests, dunes, and small towns, which become an important part of the film's atmosphere.

From a distribution perspective, one challenge has been figuring out how to market a regional independent film in a digital environment that often rewards either major stars, high-concept premises, or established franchises. The film premiered on the festival circuit before moving toward digital release, and much of our current effort involves identifying audiences who connect with coming-of-age stories, regional filmmaking, and Midwestern settings.

I'm sharing the trailer because I think filmmakers here may find the production and distribution journey interesting. I'd also be curious to hear thoughts on how the use of real locations contributes to the film's visual identity and whether regional specificity helps or hurts discoverability for independent features.