FILMMAKING STUFF Filmmaking Stuff provides resources for independent filmmakers. The website includes articles on how to take a story idea from script to screen, including articles on scriptwriting, producing, finance, shooting, editing, directing, marketing, distribution and how to build an audience. Filmmaking Stuff also has articles detailing how to make money making movies – including interviews with Hollywood Producers, Directors, writers and other filmmaking professionals.

Jason Brubaker

If you’re familiar with Jason Brubaker’s articles in Movie Maker Magazine, The Independent and Filmmaking Stuff, or if you have seen him speak, then you know he offers an optimistic and energetic perspective on modern independent filmmaking.

If you are a meeting planner or film festival coordinator, Jason Brubaker is available for speaking, workshops and panel discussions related to the following topics:

How to Market And Sell Your Movie: With an independent movie market saturated with movies, it’s not enough to simply make a movie and expect to get paid. Luckily Jason Brubaker is a producer with a background in internet marketing and digital self distribution. In an easy to follow, step-by-step presentation, Brubaker shows audiences how to market and distribute their movies on the internet for maximum profit, without a traditional distribution deal.

“Exceptionally sharp, focused and insightful, Jason Brubaker knows how to squeeze profits out of a film release.  When I have to deal with marketing – whether it’s getting a film released or setting up a panel discussion – Jason is on my team.  He knows how to do the job and he knows how to explain the process.”

-Norman Berns; Emmy-Award Winning Producer

Keynote speaking: Do you have event, such as a film festival, film club screening, or dinner where your audience would benefit from a no BS update about modern independent filmmaking, and how to prosper – Hollywood based independent producer Jason Brubaker is available for keynote presentation. (Both domestically and internationally.)

Film Festival Panel Discussions: If your regional festival would benefit from insights related to modern filmmaking, Jason Brubaker is happy to participate. His primary topic is Digital Self Distribution and how filmmakers can make a living making movies in this ever changing (and challenging) industry.

Weekend Filmmaking Workshops: Jason Brubaker conducts weekend workshops where he teaches industry networking, producing and how to market and sell your movie through new methods in Digital Self Distribution.

1 Day Workshops: In one day, Jason Brubaker covers topics, including how to meet prospective investors, or how to market and sell your movie through new methods of Digital Self Distribution.

If you would like more information on Jason’s topics or availability, please use the following form to contact us:

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As you probably know, there are several different types of movie producers in the industry. With all the different titles, sometimes trying to figure out who does what and why, can be a little confusing. Today, I’m going to provide an overview of the different types of movie producers and what they do.

Deal Making Producer
Often these folks work for a studio, a mid-level production company or a management company with a production arm. They find a script they like and work with the writer (or writers) to push the script through the development process. Then they work with agents, managers studio executives (or financial backers) as well as other industry professionals to get the movie packaged. In the development stage, often a Line Producer (or sometimes a 1st AD) is hired to complete an initial breakdown of the script. This information is then used to create a budget – a budget utilized to raise cash. And while this initial breakdown may be pretty comprehensive, you can rest assured a lot of changes will be made prior to production.

Line Producer AKA Unit Production Manager (title varies by project.)
Once the movie is packaged, then a Line Producer or Production Manager is hired on to oversee the nuts-and-bolts of production. Typically these folks have a vast amount of movie set experience and understand the world of physical production. Often, but not all the time, the Unit Production Manager who completed initial breakdown of the script will be hired to oversee the movie. These folks then hire on a 1st AD as well as many of the below-the-line crew.

Associate Producer
Often these credits are reserved for friends of the production, or perhaps someone who went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure the movie got made. For many indie folks, an Associate Producer credit can often be used en lieu of cash not available in the budget. It’s not the worst credit to have, for sure.

Executive Producer
This credit is a little crazy – it can go to physical producers with lots of clout, financial backers, studio executives or some heavy hitter in the industry who offered to make some calls for your movie.
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In order to make your movie now, my thinking is, it’s best to cultivate both a knack for deal making as well as an fundamental understanding of physical production. In all my meetings, it struck me that this hybrid set of skills does a lot to propel these folks into high ranking positions – with a long list of screen credits to show for it.

If you check out the stuff section of this website, you’ll see my recommendations for books and software. I tried to include a good mix of both physical producing as wells as materials aimed to help you sharpen your business fundamentals. If you find you are weak in either the physical side of production or the deal making side, or if you don’t feel like cultivating your own skills, I then recommend you partner with someone who embodies a complimentary set of skills.

Posted under Filmmaking

Whenever you’re working for someone, your actions and how you conduct yourself reflect upon your employer. Their reputation is your reputation. Mess up, and you mess them up.

This is especially true in the film business. If you’re lucky enough to work for a heavy hitter or someone doing something cool, you must absorb everything you can about their strategies for success. But you must also make sure that everything  you do, makes their lives easier.

If you make a mistake, and you will, fess up and move forward.

Posted under Filmmaking

Jason Brubaker (IMDB) is a Hollywood based Independent Motion Picture Producer and an expert in digital self-distribution. He is focused on helping you make, market and sell your movies more easily by growing your fan base, building buzz and creating community around your title. He is also available for speaking engagements.

Jason is a contributing author of The Independent’s Guide to Film Distributors, he is the founder of Filmmaking Stuff, a professional resource for independent filmmakers, and his articles on independent movie marketing, distribution and film production have been featured in The Independent, the New York Film Academy and Movie Maker Magazine.

Brubaker has has lectured on these subjects to filmmakers from around the globe through various filmmaking seminars, panel discussions and Workshops.

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If you have an movie, an event, a workshop or festival panel that would benefit from Brubaker’s contribution, he is available to travel both domestically and internationally. Please cotact below.

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