StoryTellers, if you're trying to get your project in front of the right audience, influencers and content creators could be a great resource. Your first step should be to watch every video a creator has made. You want to understand their voice, their audience, and whether they genuinely fit your project. When you reach out, show them you know their work and give them a reason to partner with you (early access or an exclusive screener). Treat them like critics, and seek out their genuine opinion rather than buying a paid endorsement. When you evaluate them, read the comments on their videos; engagement (bookmarks, shares, real conversation) matters infinitely more than raw views, especially where AI is inflating numbers with undifferentiated content. As you explore partnerships, seek those that will net a win-win deal, and go into every meeting with the thought of building relationships first. Drop in the comments if you have thought about partnering with influencers and content creators.

Most indie filmmakers rush into producing their projects. They don't think about what comes afterwards. Like distribution and marketing. But pros know that these two decisions are key to your film's success. StoryTellers, the average commercially successful independent film spends 240% of its production budget on marketing. Anora cost $6M to make and $18M to market. But Hundreds of Beavers was made for $150K and spent just $2,500 on Letterboxd, because its 30 million cinephiles generate organic word-of-mouth that money can't buy. Use Letterboxd as a research tool; find comparable films, read reviews, build lists in your project's vibe, and grow a following before you launch. It is a public data source that teaches you who your audience is before you spend a dollar. You also need to examine who owns your funding. Donors shift interests. Private equity demands quick returns and uses a slate model that assumes most projects will fail. The countermove is becoming a public benefit corporation, which gives you the legal backbone to prioritize mission alongside profit from day one. Build your audience strategically, protect your funding structure, and treat marketing as a core decision, not an afterthought. StoryTellers, if you are planning on producing your own project, have you considered distribution and marketing? If so, what are your plans? Drop it in the comments.

Over the last month, Screenwriting Staffing has posted several jobs specifically for vertical screenwriters. Most of these are listed under their premium services at $25 a month. If you are looking for a way to get into verticals, this is a good path. If you're not ready to sign up, join their free newsletter. They send out a list of jobs several times a week. Some don't require you to sign up for the premium service. RECENT JOB POSTINGS PAID VERTICAL DRAMA WRITER WANTED. An experienced writer is needed for a male-oriented fantasy vertical series featuring hidden identity, supernatural powers, and an underdog’s rise. The concept, full synopsis, and initial episode outlines are provided. The writer will complete the remaining outlines and full screenplay within 2–3 weeks, ideally by August 24. Vertical drama or short-form experience is required. ​VERTICAL SERIES WRITER WANTED. Seeking a screenwriter to help develop two vertical series about four Black adults in their twenties who meet through a support group. They share a difficult truth: their parents deny or minimize the painful experiences they remember from childhood.

Kpop just proved that short verticals work.

The blank page will still be there Monday. The scene you're stuck on won't solve itself because you stared at it for six hours today. Creativity isn't a faucet you can leave running. It needs refilling. Read something unrelated. Take a walk without your phone. Sit with your own thoughts instead of your characters'. The best ideas often arrive when you stop demanding them. Drop in the comments how you're planning to rest today.