The eight modules
The working wisdom of the business, organized into eight modules. Module 1 is the operating system; the rest are the operating manual.
The Foundational Beliefs
Five mantras that organize the whole worldview. Internalize this module and the rest is the operating manual.
Calendar Craft
The release date is half the strategy. Wednesday opens, holiday weekends, distribution math, the summer corridor, spring breaks.
The Genre Playbooks
How animation, horror, faith-based, sports/music biopic, video game IP, and A24/specialty films actually behave.
Marketing & Exhibition Truths
Trailers, the room itself, micro-targeting, the critic-vs-audience gap, and PLF/IMAX premium math.
Distribution & Business Architecture
Windowing vindicated, the streamer-vs-theatrical thesis, and the Apple/Amazon/Netflix scoreboard.
The Awards Industrial Complex
ROI on awards is zero. The case for moving the Oscars to early January. The Casting Oscar redesigned.
Studio Portraits
Disney/Pixar, MGM and Amazon under its distribution chief, Netflix, A24, Lionsgate, WB.
Applied: the specialty release playbook
How to put all of it to work on a real specialty release. The pre-greenlight checklist, release-date checklist, and marketing checklist.