Crafty Table: What NOT to Say to Your Distributor
- Gato Scatena
- Sep 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 12
Let’s skip the small talk. If you’re working with a distributor—or about to—there are a handful of things you can say or do that will tank the relationship before it even starts. And no, this isn’t about ego. It’s about trust, professionalism, and giving your film the best possible shot.
1. Don’t Act Like They Owe You
Here’s the reality: if a distributor is giving you an MG, they’re paying you. Even in a revenue-share deal, they’re risking their own money to market, deliver, and place your film. What they are not is a producer—they’re not in the business of bankrolling high-risk bets. So don’t walk in acting like your distributor “owes” you or should shoulder all the risk. Treat them as a partner, not a service provider you’re “hiring.”
2. Don’t Bash Past Partners Without Cause
It’s fine to share what went wrong before, but launching into a tirade about how “all distributors are crooks” or “my last guy screwed me” is a red flag. The good distributors know the bad actors exist—but they also want to know you can be a partner, not a problem. Keep it factual, not emotional.
3. Don’t Demand a Netflix Deal
Every distributor hears it: “Can you get me on Netflix?” The answer, 99.9% of the time, is no. Netflix Originals dominate Netflix, and their Pay 1 licensing department is that much less picky. When they do acquire indies, it’s through carefully curated pipelines and only when a film checks very specific boxes. Better questions: “Where do you see this film realistically landing?” or “Which AVOD/SVOD accounts are you strongest with right now?”
4. Don’t Hide Problems
Bad audio mix? Rights clearance issues? Uncleared music? Hiding these and hoping no one notices until delivery is the surest way to sour the relationship. A good distributor can sometimes help fix these problems, but only if they know about them upfront. Surprises cost money—and they’ll come out of your share.
