Thank you for putting into words, a lot of what I’ve been tracking internally for a while. If you have a great angel, story or IP, don’t try to get through gatekeepers for prestige. Plow ahead with free distribution that’s available TODAY.
Turn pain points into pivot points.
This is m first read from you, Alex. Won’t be the last!
Thanks so much for the kind words—I really appreciate you taking the time to read and respond. You're clearly tuned into the shift we’re all navigating. Love what you said about turning pain points into pivot points—that’s exactly the mindset that’s going to win here.
My & my writing partner's (amazing) manager just sent this to us. What's so great about the way you've written this, Alex, is how you have accurately captured the seismic change, but avoided doom-and-gloom, and created some actual, working procedures here. This essay is empowering in a way that very few things are. Thank you.
That means a lot—truly. I’m grateful it resonated with you and your partner. My aim was exactly that: to acknowledge the chaos without romanticizing the past or catastrophizing the future—and to offer something you can actually do with it. Appreciate you taking the time to say this.
this is greta news because I shot a 15k proof of concept in 2021 that got into 1 festival but when I released on youtube in 2024 (in conjunction with my book) I reached over 1 million views in 3 months. As i’m developing the full pitch for the TV show and thinking about non traditional distribution options, this is very exciting!
That’s fantastic news—and a perfect example of how the game has changed. One festival placement is great, but 1M+ views in three months? That’s undeniable traction. You’re building your own momentum, and that’s the real currency right now. Sounds like you’re in a powerful position to pitch from strength—and having that proof of concept already tested in the wild gives you options. Nontraditional distribution might not just be an alternative; it might be the best path. Excited to see where you take it. Keep in touch!
Absolutely—well said. Flexibility isn’t just a trait anymore, it’s a strategy. The folks who can adapt without losing their authentic voice are the ones carving out longevity. Appreciate you seeing that so clearly.🙏
Hell yes!!! With the massive rise and viewership of verticals it’s really time we rethink who the distributors are, who the platforms are, and how we build IP around that. This is fantastic!!!
Totally. The audience has moved—so the smartest play now is building stories that start where people are already watching. Appreciate the energy—this is exactly where the shift is happening.
Been working on my brand for documentary content for Substack & YouTube with this thinking. Time to lean into the prevailing winds—filmmakers need to pivot into being creators. That’s the sustainable path forward.
Truth bomb after truth bomb after truth bomb!
*Saves to notes* *F*ck I better get writing*
Thank you for this 🫡
Thank you for putting into words, a lot of what I’ve been tracking internally for a while. If you have a great angel, story or IP, don’t try to get through gatekeepers for prestige. Plow ahead with free distribution that’s available TODAY.
Turn pain points into pivot points.
This is m first read from you, Alex. Won’t be the last!
Hey Drew,
Thanks so much for the kind words—I really appreciate you taking the time to read and respond. You're clearly tuned into the shift we’re all navigating. Love what you said about turning pain points into pivot points—that’s exactly the mindset that’s going to win here.
Glad this piece resonated with you. More to come!
All best,
Alex
Absolutely. I’ve been a working DP for over a decade but always outside the Union world, so operating outside gate-kept systems is where I live!
Looking forward to connecting more, Alex!
My & my writing partner's (amazing) manager just sent this to us. What's so great about the way you've written this, Alex, is how you have accurately captured the seismic change, but avoided doom-and-gloom, and created some actual, working procedures here. This essay is empowering in a way that very few things are. Thank you.
That means a lot—truly. I’m grateful it resonated with you and your partner. My aim was exactly that: to acknowledge the chaos without romanticizing the past or catastrophizing the future—and to offer something you can actually do with it. Appreciate you taking the time to say this.
Yes, let Hollywood executives treat you like a client and pitch to you. Writer’s keep them employed they need to start acting like it.
😆So good! So true!
this is greta news because I shot a 15k proof of concept in 2021 that got into 1 festival but when I released on youtube in 2024 (in conjunction with my book) I reached over 1 million views in 3 months. As i’m developing the full pitch for the TV show and thinking about non traditional distribution options, this is very exciting!
That’s fantastic news—and a perfect example of how the game has changed. One festival placement is great, but 1M+ views in three months? That’s undeniable traction. You’re building your own momentum, and that’s the real currency right now. Sounds like you’re in a powerful position to pitch from strength—and having that proof of concept already tested in the wild gives you options. Nontraditional distribution might not just be an alternative; it might be the best path. Excited to see where you take it. Keep in touch!
I absolutely will! Here is the proof of concept if you want to check it out : https://youtu.be/NYr3n-tZgK8?si=35ciMX0JesfiQJ8Y
Brilliant advice. The model is always changing. Only the most flexible survive … and thrive! True of just about every creative field today.
Absolutely—well said. Flexibility isn’t just a trait anymore, it’s a strategy. The folks who can adapt without losing their authentic voice are the ones carving out longevity. Appreciate you seeing that so clearly.🙏
Bring on the new system. The old way was whack.
Exactly. Time to upgrade the operating system—not patch the old one. Thanks for calling the current system what it is.
Hell yes!!! With the massive rise and viewership of verticals it’s really time we rethink who the distributors are, who the platforms are, and how we build IP around that. This is fantastic!!!
Totally. The audience has moved—so the smartest play now is building stories that start where people are already watching. Appreciate the energy—this is exactly where the shift is happening.
Been working on my brand for documentary content for Substack & YouTube with this thinking. Time to lean into the prevailing winds—filmmakers need to pivot into being creators. That’s the sustainable path forward.
Always love your willingness to pivot, Brother. Thanks for the great comment.