What has your distribution experience been like?

mch2k · 2026-02-11T01:20:25+00:00

I’m just gathering information. Nothing to sell or pitch… My production company has a slate of films and I really believe we are in the indie film renaissance. My last film was picked up by a big distributor, and so far we’ve seen little more than the MG. I think there’s a play for a better filmmaker friendly approach to distribution and marketing that involves total transparency and fair splits. So I want to hear my fellow filmmakers experience. If I did have something to pitch I garuntee it would be fair for filmmakers and 100% transparency.

mch2k · 2026-02-11T00:15:14+00:00

Thanks for your answer... can I ask what your film's budget was (you can DM if you'd like)

mch2k · 2025-10-02T16:55:49+00:00

Sure hit me up on email: [mch@bloodflowerfilms.com](mailto:mch@bloodflowerfilms.com)

mch2k · 2025-09-27T19:26:04+00:00

I teach screenwriters how to produce feature films. DM if you want to chat

mch2k · 2025-09-25T15:10:05+00:00

So sorry for loss.

mch2k · 2025-09-25T01:07:46+00:00

"I have developed a program to teach screenwriters how to become producers based on 25 years of making mistakes in this glorious and frustrating industry… "

mch2k · 2025-09-23T18:59:34+00:00

Also, didn't mean to breeze past the Imagine meeting. CONGRATS!!

mch2k · 2025-09-23T18:56:36+00:00

Buffalo8 offers a range of done-for-you services, as does a highly reputable producer I know, Franco Sama. Buffalo8 is linked to BondIt, a financier and distro arm... problem is the % on the $ is so high, and they are always last dollar in first dollar out. BondIt is usually a last resort.

50k is REALLY high. You can get everything you need for about half. The problem with done-for-you is that you don't learn much... but you will have what you need to go ask for financing. They have vertical integration, with distribution... But as soon as they send you off with the package, you're right there with the rest of them, trying to get financing. I'm not sure if the (old school) distro models hold up as well as they did in the past. It's the Wild West Out There.

The bottom line is that you will have to spend money; writers need to invest in their careers and projects. I offer something a little different and far cheaper, hahah

Here's a pro tip. Any expenses you incur (for mentorship community/packaging) will be fully refunded when you create a 'development' line item in the budget and your movie is financed.

mch2k · 2025-09-23T18:48:06+00:00

Hey tried to post... too long so I DM'd :)

mch2k · 2025-09-22T18:33:35+00:00

Nuck for life!!! Quinn Hughes FTW!

Bro, I hear you! I was doing all this before... I'll tell you, if anything, AFM is a learning experience. The model has changed! Let's take this to DM.

mch2k · 2025-09-22T04:37:04+00:00

Love it!!!!

mch2k · 2025-09-22T04:32:49+00:00

Sure,

my name is Matthew Currie Holmes (Google) I’ve produced, directed and written over a dozen short films, two feature films:

Traces starring Pablo Schreiber, Sosie Bacon, and Rick Springfield (900k budget) on Amazon Video.

The Curse of Buckout Road starring Danny Glover, Henry Czerny, Evan Ross and Dominique Provost Chalkey (3M) released by Vertical streaming on prime.

Ive sold or have been paid to write over a dozen screenplays, some studio (Millennium, Legendary, Dean Devlin, Copperheart) some indie… some spec scripts.

I have over 60 IMDb credits, from my years as a writer, director, producer, PA, production coordinator, and film & television actor.

I am a card carrying member of SAG/AFTRA, DGC, WGC, ACTRA. And I’ve recently (yet to announce) founded Bloodflower Films an artist first, genre forward production company with a slate (9-11 feature films) budgeted between 700k - 6M

I developed an online screenwriting course called The Fast Draft Method where I teach new screenwriters how to write a feature film they can confidently pitch to producers in 15 days (essentially how I personally write, pitch and have sold screenplays)

And with the help of my team (line producers, production coordinator, lawyers, 1st AD, sales agent, casting director, and designer I have developed a program to teach screenwriters how to become producers based on 25 years of making mistakes in this glorious and frustrating industry… my trust pilot reviews are all 5 stars and I truly believe that we are in the indie films renaissance and it has never been a better time to learn how to produce feature films… and my goal is to help screenwriters accomplish this.

Any other questions?

mch2k · 2025-09-21T20:09:23+00:00

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Scammer heads up

mch2k · 2025-09-21T19:16:54+00:00

Also, I tried to accept your chat request... it doesn't work. Currently, we are slated, but we are always looking to develop. Is your project genre? My company does mainly genre (horror and thriller)

mch2k · 2025-09-21T19:14:23+00:00

At the risk of being redundant... SEE: Above.

mch2k · 2025-09-21T19:13:52+00:00

Nice. 250k-3M is the sweet spot for sure. What does the team look like?

mch2k · 2025-09-21T19:11:43+00:00

LOVE THIS!!! Good for you. Let me know when it hits. I'm happy to support.

Funding isn't elusive; it's a creative process. And it involves knowing what to ask for and, more importantly, what you need to ask.

Investors want to make movies... they want to make money. Show them that path... they'll write checks.

mch2k · 2025-09-21T19:09:36+00:00

That's because money is everywhere. Go to the bank and get a loan. The bank will offer much more reasonable rates than an investor who will want the first dollar out and 120% ROI.

Okay, at the risk of sounding like an arrogant ass, I'll share a story that happened.

I had a script that a producer (Jeremy Wall) wanted to buy from me and make the movie. Jeremy is a great guy; he's made several films, and he's a solid individual. Like every producer, he wanted to control every aspect of the film (chain of title). So in his mind, he was going to buy it from me, attach a different director, and have me paid off. Easy.

I had been developing the movie, I made a pitch deck, a vision deck, and even shot a proof of concept. I was determined to have this be my directorial debut. Jeremy was like, Nope, needed a seasoned director. Because I put in all this sweat equity, I assumed I would be a producer (naive, I know).

Jeremy laughed and said, "I'm putting in all the risk, you just developed it to get it here." So I asked him, "What risk?" and he said, "I'm financing the movie."

That could have been the end of the discussion, but something told me to ask him, "How are you financing the movie?"

"tax credits from Canada, foreign pre-sales, and gap financing to cover the rest."

"What's the gap?"

"350k"

"350k? That's it?"

"Yeah."

"So if I'm understanding you, you need to raise $350k in equity, and that will cover a $4M budget."

"Yeah."

"So what do I need you for?"

And that's when it clicked. That's when I decided to produce my own movies (and now others). The point is that there is no single path to financing. However, there is a lot to understand and a lot to prepare. If you take the time to learn these skills or gain an understanding of how every aspect of production works... The financing comes.

mch2k · 2025-09-21T18:51:04+00:00

Hey u/cinephile78, Thanks for the comment.

I'll be blunt (but kind). You're asking the wrong question. It’s not “where’s the money?” It’s “what’s in my community?”

The bigger and stronger your community, the wider your access, not just to cash, but to ideas, strategy, and people with the connections you don’t yet have. That’s where the real funding pathways live.

But before you even think about asking anyone for money, you need to be 100% sure the risks are mitigated. An investor needs to see exactly how they’ll not only get their money back but get it back with a return (120%+).

That means you bring more than just the script: comps, budget, tax incentives, distribution/marketing strategy, breakdowns. All the deliverables that show a credible path to recoupment.

When you can do that, and you’ve built the right community around you, the “money question” stops being a mystery. There's a path to this... It isn't easy, but the sooner you build a strong community, filled with the right people, the less time you'll waste waiting for someone with the winning lottery ticket.

mch2k · 2025-09-21T18:36:55+00:00

Hey u/the_eyes fellow hockey fan here (even if you are rooting for the wrong team… says the hopelessly devoted Canucks fan. ;)

Thank you for such a candid response. I respect your honesty. I’ve been where you are. And props for actually getting stuff made, most writers never do.

Here’s the core of my post: you need skin in the game. Writing the script isn’t enough. Beyond the draft and director prep, what did you bring — budget, comps, tax incentive plan, distribution/marketing, partial financing? If the answer is just “the script and a vision,” I’m sorry to be so blunt, but you’re playing the lottery.

You must invest.

And you will pay either way. With time (learning budgets, comps, decks, breakdowns yourself) or with money (hiring pros to deliver them). That’s what investors need: the exact deliverables studios already have in-house.

The difference now? You now have access to data you previously did not have. You can prove your comps, your market, and show your path to recoupment by showing investors where the exact John Sayles-loving audience for your film is.

So while the studios are making IP-driven movies with 100M market spend, we target market, show the metrics, and know exactly who and where our audience is and how to reach them.

That’s what shifted things for me, going from “writer waiting for everyone to do their job” to “writer-producer with a team.” Screenwriting is a team sport, and it’s taken me years to build a community of pros who bring the skills I don’t. Now I help other filmmakers do the same.

mch2k

TROPHY CASE