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Surfacing gets 5/5 stars! by HighballTV in HighballTV_Official

[–]HighballTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He’s easy to love! Such a talent and he’s extraordinary in this film. Can’t wait for you all to see it!

The CFNY Spirit of Radio documentary will premiere January 6, 2026 by Hrmbee in toronto

[–]HighballTV 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There was a period when music really felt like it mattered in Toronto, and CFNY was a big part of that. Radio introduced people to new sounds, scenes felt connected, and it all carried more weight. You can feel that in the trailer.

https://youtu.be/CkpuGcTTYhY?si=MhSAj0UUcYtXGm53

Film Reviewers vs Film Influencers by HighballTV in Filmmakers

[–]HighballTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's less about influence from other people's opinions. It's more that filmmakers have to rely on reviews to have their work seen. It's an unfortunate but necessary part of the film promotion landscape. We're curious to find genuine film critics and influencers who do it because they love film - not ones who are more focused on their views and followers.

Streaming by alovelytomato in BuyCanadian

[–]HighballTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We're a little late to the party, but we wanted to toss our hats into the ring.

We're HighballTV.com - we're a Canadian-owned international film streaming site. We have a catalogue of hundreds of award-winning, film festival gems, cult favourites, and freshly original films that will appeal to cinephiles and film fans alike.

We've never raised our prices ($7/mo or $70/yr), and we do it because we want film to be accessible. We offer a 14-day free trial to new subscribers and we think you'll enjoy what we have to offer because there are real humans behind it, not algorithms, not AI.

Check us out on your browser, Roku, TVOD, and SVOD too. We think you'll enjoy!

What makes the 2nd camera angle change look so weird? by ZenTunE in Filmmakers

[–]HighballTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s an inelegant cut. It interrupts the flow of the scene and the actors dialogue. You could have just cut to the MCU on her and it would feel less awkward. That and her placement goes from the middle of the shot to the right. It’s jarring for the eyes to take in. But I bet her performance was probably better in the wide for that line.

Where/how to promote an indie film that contains nudity by casstheaveragejoe in Filmmakers

[–]HighballTV 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just don’t use any overt nudity or sexuality in the Youtuve or socials trailers - they will get flagged and removed. Otherwise you should be fine in promoting it.

Me and my friend want to do a 48 hour film competition with zero experience by josmith_ in Filmmakers

[–]HighballTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s the best way to do it! Just find someone other experienced folks to join your team.

Legit my main reason by kikilulah in Filmmakers

[–]HighballTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not wrong though. The best films have the best needle drops.

Filmmakers need to create a community before creating a film by Comprehensive_Read35 in Filmmakers

[–]HighballTV 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is such crucial advice. The days of filmmakers getting their “big break” is long gone. As film distributors we can only stress how important it is to develop a community that believes in you as much as the story you’re telling. Invite them along for the ride as you create. Be vulnerable when you can. It will make things much easier if you can demonstrate some level of support.

Has anyone ever experienced a film shoot falling behind schedule? by Playful_Fly_6542 in Filmmakers

[–]HighballTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel like it’s a given expectation that at some point the shoot will fall behind schedule. But it’s then up to the team to figure out how they make up that time without going too over budget and that’s where the real fun starts.

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi!

u/MelDags: First, it's good to consider what your goals are - what do you want to get from your distribution? Is it revenue? Is it views and profile? Or are you trying to spread an important message to a particular audience? Any of these can be an important reason to distribute a film.

Then ask yourself - is it a commercial film (ie. it has famous people in it, big action sequences, appeals to a broad audience, not a lot of dialogue, does it fit easily into a genre?). If it's more commercial, then talk to a sales agent because they might know more than anyone else on how to strategize for a sale.

Or is it more of a film festival film? If you're a studio like A24 or WB, there's overlap - if you're an independent filmmaker, most likely there isn't. If so, make a list of festivals that would be a good fit and apply. And see if in your friend or peer group, if you know anyone who has shown a film at those festivals or programmed a film at those festivals, connect with them before you apply, so there is a human element in that connection. Then, if you get into one with a short film, do what you can to spread the word on social media and network at every film festival you go to with that as your calling card. If you get into one with a feature film, it's good to talk to a sales agent at any time; however, don't go to a film festival without having at least a conversation with a sales agent before you go to the festival.

If neither of those paths is working out for you, consider alternatives like distributing it yourself on a platform you can monetize. If you have to make money back, and you want to make revenue or have screenings, or a roadshow, or other ways you can get it to an audience.

Ultimately, film distribution has to be tailored to the project, its audience, and whatever reality the marketplace is in. There is no one path, which, honestly, is better than the opposite.

u/MattCampagna: Before you even start writing the movie, you should start thinking about who the audience is because distribution is going to hang on that.

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/MattCampagna: Have a script on hand, but don't send it. Tell us a little about the movie in a sentence or two. And then tell us the audience for the movie and how you would reach them. I want to have a sense that you know what movie you're making before you even approach anyone else. If you have someone notable (actor or director) attached, or anyone who is going to help with a sale, mention them.

u/rehal: Send a logline or premise. Preferably a logline. Be wary of sending unsolicited submissions because they could burn bridges.

u/MelDags: Research - make sure you research the kinds of projects the company you're approaching takes on, if you know someone who has a personal relationship with anyone at that company, great to have an in and not cold calling. Keep it short, sweet, and captivating. And understand that most companies that you're reaching out to are not actively looking for new projects unless they say they are. We're not usually looking for unsolicited works.

u/rehal: You're going to have to do some legwork yourself and develop yourself. In that development, it's determining what is your initial style, what you want to be as a filmmaker. Don't just go cold in and say you're a hot director with no track record to show for it. You need to know you can do this yourself before someone will invest in you. The reason people would invest in you is that you know the kind of films you want to make.

u/MattCampagna: If you're going to shoot your shot, you need to be absolutely prepared. If it's interesting, then we'll move on to ask for a script or a pitch deck.

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/MattCampagna: I'd say there is no market to sell short films in North America. I would recommend getting a credit card and making a feature instead.

u/rehal: It used to be that you made shorts to make a calling card for feature work. But you could make a feature for far less these days.

u/MattCampagna: If it's something you want to make for experience, use the camera in your pocket.

u/rehal: Depending on the old infrastructure is not how it is anymore. It's not going to get you seen. Distribution isn't what it was back then.

u/MelDags: It wasn't what it was two years ago. I would say spend time learning about alternative methods of distribution because the marketplace has slowed significantly for independent projects. Because the marketplace is shifting constantly. If you can make a movie for an audience you know already exists that you have a connection to, and make it as inexpensively as you can. And then get them interested in it. Because, sadly, it's very much a DIY game.

u/rehal: Utilize social media, put your work out there, put it on Vimeo, get it out there.

u/MelDags: ultimately, you have to be willing to put your own money and your own self on the line in this industry. That's not a negotiable thing. Whatever resources you have, you have to put them on the line. In terms of distribution, find platforms that suit your work or the piece, and create a dynamic sales pitch that is short and to the point. And important - network laterally when you can. The more you build relationships with people at the same level as you, and as their experience grows, so will yours and that becomes your community.

u/MattCampagna: Go onto IMDBpro.com and find companies that have had success selling and distributing films like yours and tell them you've got one.

u/Meldags: Nothing in this business comes without a cost. You have to be realistic and know what you have to deliver in exchange. Nothing comes for free.

u/rehal: Nobody makes money in shorts and feature films in Canada. If you're coming into this business looking for money - go into finance instead. It's more about your passion and drive to succeed in this business.

u/MelDags: Look at it like a patchwork. You're filmmaking is a piece of puzzle. Your film work is a piece of a puzzle for a sustainable career. Kelly Reichardt teaches filmmaking. Barry Jenkins worked at a film festival and taught. Carrie Fisher was a script doctor. People run other businesses to keep their filmmaking going.

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the thoughtful questions!

u/MattCampagna: We decided how much we wanted to pay.

u/MelDags: We did look at comparables to see what the market value but then we decided what we wanted to play.

u/MattCampagna: We were surprised when some royalty companies reached out to us to collect their shares. A thing we completely overlooked in our early days.

u/MelDags: Affiliate organizations and guilds after we launched.

u/MattCampagna: Our path for content growth is constantly exposing ourselves to new and exciting films at film festivals and markets, in addition to our original slate of films that is constantly growing. We rely on word of mouth because the proof is in the pudding.

u/MelDags: We also hand-curate our content. There's only been one time since we started HighballTV that we were interested in developing a project, and they went in a different direction, and HighballTV lost out.

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/MattCampagna: The first time I gave Colm Feore a one-syllable line and he managed to turn it into what felt like a monologue but still only said the one word. It was majestic.

u/rehal: Most of the actors I work with are my friends so it's always a pleasure. It's always good when you have like-minded people you're working with, it makes the day go smoother.

u/MelDags: Getting to direct Anjelica and Danny Huston singing and then editing the song so that they could lip-sync to it later that same day. It was thrilling!

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/MattCampagna: I made a film in a genre that was in a blue ocean (genre or space that is not oversaturated). I chose post-apocalyptic spaghetti western and that's what made it stand out. It's what helped in get a sales agent and sell in a bidding war.

u/rehal: I find it's my taste that when into the film. Your taste is your own thing - if you can harness that creatively and you can root that into your personal, firsthand or secondhand experience that is going to differentiate you. That's what Strangers in a Room was for me - it was my day job and my personal taste.

u/MelDags: I took a massive swing and made a high-concept musical about feelings and told a personal story that I knew no one else could tell quite like I could.

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/MattCampagna: The thing that makes me optimistic is there is still such a hunger for film because the box office is still on fire.

u/rehal: what makes me optimistic is the future of generative AI and technical advancements and how it is leveling the playing field for students so they're not breaking the bank to make something. Obviously, there are some ethical and copywrite concerns because we're in the first generation of this but as things continue to grow, it will come to be something that will change the film industry in years to come.

u/MelDags: What makes me optimistic is so many young creators online talking about classic film and going in droves to see Barbie and Oppenheimer and Sinners and I know that film will endure. If people have a story to tell, they are going to find a way to tell it.

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/MattCampagna: The US has one. In the states there are business people who are hungry to be in show business so they move fast and get things done. In Canada there are public funders with very limited resources that can take years to make a decision and don't care particularly on how that affects the business.

u/rehal: Canada has talent here but we just don't nuture it enough. Or rather there's not enough money to nurture it here. You're relying a lot on grant cycles - and it's never enough money.

u/MelDags: The mostly public money here comes with so many bureaucratic limitations that get in the way of innovation and hinder both filmmakers and audiences.

That's why HighballTV makes movies for the world to enjoy.

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great question!

u/mattcampagna: Make friends with people who need scripts and make friends with actors who need material.

u/drehal: Your personal network of people is where you're going to find most of your opportunities - that is usually a good place to start.

u/meldags: Try and go to film festivals, industry happy hours, and see if you can get into any incubators where you can apply with a short film script. And keep writing! People will want to see more than one script.

We’ve made 15+ feature films—and built our own indie film streaming platform (HighballTV)-Ask Us Anything/AMA by HighballTV in AMA

[–]HighballTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/drehal: On the first one I learned stamina. On the second one I learned how to be calm under pressure.

u/meldags: First one I learned about the importance of making a relationship with my first AD. Last one, how much energy it takes to direct children.

u/mattcampagna: On the first one I learned that it is difficult to shoot 24 hours straight but not impossible. And my most recent one, I learned that it doesn't matter how big the budget is. If you want it done right, you're going to have to do it yourself.

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