Consulting for independent filmmakers
Two people got a film into 20+ festivals, onto 15+ platforms, and raised $50,000 for cancer research.
No studio. No staff. No money to start with. Making a film is hard, and it's hardest when you're a small team with limited resources. So we've spent a decade building strategies that get small projects punching far above their budget.
Where are you stuck?
Production & Post Support
“I'm about to shoot and the budget scares me.”
- Budget & production approach reviews
- Vendor & crew recommendations
- Locations & permitting
- On-site support
- Finishing: colour, mix, DCP, subtitles and QC
Creative Direction & Edit Reviews
“I have footage but I don't have a film.”
- Pitch reviews & pitch strategy
- Script or story arc reviews
- Transcript & interview footage reviews
- Work sample reviews
- Rough cut reviews
Audience & Distribution
“I have a film and nobody's seen it.”
- Distribution roadmap creation
- Festival strategy
- Marketing & creative campaign ideas per audience segment
- Social media strategy & partnerships
- Leveraging existing partnerships at the right moment
Case Study
JessZilla: the TL;DR of what we managed with a team of two.
- 20+
- Top-tier festivals worldwide
- 15+
- VOD & AVOD platforms, 10+ countries
- $50K
- Raised for DIPG/DMG research
- 2
- People on the team
Festival & Awards
- In competition at IDFA, Big Sky, DOC NYC, Atlanta and Hot Springs
- Best Picture, Best Director, Best Documentary Feature at Fargo Film Festival
- Special Jury Mention, Documentary Feature, Atlanta Film Festival
- Outstanding Documentary Feature, Ridgefield Film Festival
- Best Cinematography, Flickers Rhode Island International
- Selected for the inaugural Popcorn List and the American Film Showcase
- Nominated at Slamdance Indie Awards, Shine Global's Resilience Awards, FilmThreat's AwardThis! and Next Generation Indie Film Awards
Distribution & Reach
- Mainstream distribution through Monkey Wrench Films, covering VOD and AVOD on 15+ platforms across 10+ countries
- Educational distribution through festivals and school screenings, several for an additional screening fee
- Organic social posts from Mike Tyson, Laila Ali, Claressa Shields, Gervonta Davis and Edgar Berlanga
- Children across the country wrote letters to Jesselyn after seeing the film
Impact & Partnerships
- Named fund with CURE Childhood Cancer and the World Boxing Council, raising over $50,000 for two DIPG/DMG research projects
- Funded research identified the enzyme PHGDH that these tumours rely on. A new drug blocked it, tumours shrank, treated mice lived significantly longer
- The WBC's “Gray in May” belt presented at Inoue vs. Cardenas in Las Vegas for Brain Cancer Awareness Month
- Pedro flown to Bangkok, honoured with the WBC's “Bravest Man on Earth” award
- An ATHENTOR × WBC boxing club taking shape in Thailand in Jesselyn's name
And again, on a short film series
Puzzle People
Acquired and distributed by Switchboard Magazine, then extended into a series through a creative distribution partnership with the Hello, Puzzlers! podcast, fiscally sponsored through Film Independent.
- Festival run at 25+ festivals
- Hot Springs Audience Award · Aspen Shorts Jury Award
- Berkshire International FF “Next Great Filmmaker” Award
- Telly Award Silver Winner · 1.4 Awards Finalist
- Project Unlonely Jury Award · Vimeo Staff Pick
- Licensing fees from REFRAME at Vimeo, Video Consortium and 41 North
- Over 15,000 views across the series
How it works
Meet and greet
A complimentary 30-minute call. Tell us where the project is and what's in your way. No pitch deck required.
We scope it
We'll tell you honestly what we think you actually need, which is sometimes less than you came in asking for.
Hourly, as you go
We charge hourly rather than demanding a large fee up front or making you commit to a block of hours before you're comfortable with us.
Book a consultation
The first 30 minutes are free. Let's see if we're a fit.
Tell us about your film: where it is, what's stuck, and what you're hoping to get out of it.
Or reach us straight at ben@chickenwingpictures.com.