{"id":68228,"date":"2015-12-30T10:07:38","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T16:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=68228"},"modified":"2015-12-30T10:07:38","modified_gmt":"2015-12-30T16:07:38","slug":"how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 id=\"with-thousands-of-documentaries-being-produced-every-year-getting-theatrical-distribution-can-seem-like-a-pipe-dream-but-for-those-willing-to-take-the-right-steps-a-theatrical-release-may-very-well\">With thousands of documentaries being produced every year, getting theatrical distribution can seem like a pipe dream. But for those willing to take the right steps, a theatrical release may very well be in the cards for you.<\/h2>\n<p><em>Top Image: <a title=\"The Wolfpack\" href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt2415458\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">The Wolfpack<\/a> via <a title=\"Magnolia Pictures\" href=\"http:\/\/www.magpictures.com\/thewolfpack\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Magnolia Pictures<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s certainly no guarantee of ever having your film released in theaters \u2014 no matter how strong it may be. But there are a number of ways that you can drastically improve your odds of getting distribution, some of which come into play before you even shoot your first frame.<\/p>\n<p>Having worked on a number of <strong>documentaries<\/strong> (two of which have gone to theaters), I\u2019ve certainly picked up some tricks of the trade. Below are a few of the most critical takeaways that should be considered when <strong>producing or directing your next documentary<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-concept-is-everything\">1. Concept Is Everything<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-68968 size-full\" title=\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution: Concept\" src=\"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2015\/12\/jiro-documentary.jpg\" alt=\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution: Concept\" width=\"755\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/jiro-documentary.jpg 755w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/jiro-documentary.jpg?resize=300,159 300w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/jiro-documentary.jpg?resize=277,147 277w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/jiro-documentary.jpg?resize=359,190 359w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/jiro-documentary.jpg?resize=543,288 543w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/jiro-documentary.jpg?resize=560,297 560w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/jiro-documentary.jpg?resize=150,79 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px\" \/><em><a title=\"Jiro Dreams of Sushi\" href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt1772925\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Jiro Dreams of Sushi<\/a> via Magnolia Pictures<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It goes without saying that your concept is the number one determinant of whether or not your <strong>documentary<\/strong> will ever see the light of day. The most beautifully produced <strong>documentary<\/strong> which tells a story that is of little interest to the general public will be next to impossible to sell. Conversely, a poorly produced <strong>documentary<\/strong> that is \u201chigh concept\u201d will sell much more easily. That\u2019s certainly not to suggest that you ever skimp on production quality, but rather to illustrate the point that your subject matter will ultimately determine your films fate above all else.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Documentaries<\/strong> that tell the story of a single person with cultural significance (<em>Jiro Dreams of Sushi<\/em>) are among the most universally well received. Docs that deal with political subject matter, and especially those that have an investigative nature to them (<em><a title=\"Citizenfour\" href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt4044364\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Citizenfour<\/a><\/em>), are also extremely popular.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2-attach-the-right-producer\">2. Attach the Right Producer<\/h3>\n<p>I\u2019ve been a part of several <strong>documentaries<\/strong> that didn\u2019t have an attached producer (the director was working double duty) and two that had a dedicated producer. The latter two are the ones that got theatrical distribution. While you may believe you have the capacity to produce and direct your own doc, I would argue that you probably don\u2019t \u2014 at least, not when it comes to the distribution phase.<\/p>\n<p>Unless you\u2019re in a very unique position, you likely don\u2019t have the contacts or resources to facilitate a deal on your own. Attaching the right producer will go a very long way in ensuring your film actually gets seen by an audience. By the same token, never rush into an agreement with any producer. Make sure you\u2019re collaborating with someone that truly believes in your vision, and also understands how to navigate the various film markets, sales agents, and distribution companies to get you the best deal.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3-plan-and-schedule-wisely\">3. Plan and Schedule Wisely<\/h3>\n<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-68970 size-full\" title=\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution: Plan Wisely\" src=\"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ice-documentary.jpg\" alt=\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution: Plan Wisely\" width=\"755\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ice-documentary.jpg 755w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ice-documentary.jpg?resize=300,159 300w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ice-documentary.jpg?resize=277,147 277w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ice-documentary.jpg?resize=359,190 359w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ice-documentary.jpg?resize=543,288 543w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ice-documentary.jpg?resize=560,297 560w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ice-documentary.jpg?resize=150,79 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px\" \/>Image from <a title=\"Shutterstock\" href=\"http:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/pic-159404171\/stock-photo-camera-man-filming-an-iceberg-in-antarctica.html?src=R26F8uhvvPcCiwEaf_7N3A-1-0\" target=\"_blank\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Even with a great producer on board and a fantastic concept to work with, you\u2019ll always be fighting against the clock when creating an original <strong>documentary<\/strong>. I\u2019ve witnessed quite a few <strong>documentary<\/strong> filmmakers completely lose momentum with their films as a result of poor planning \u2014 and in the end, many of their films weren\u2019t even completed.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike narrative films, which need to adhere to a rigid schedule (to accommodate cast and crew), some <strong>documentary<\/strong> productions can get away without adhering to a concrete timeline\u2026 but that doesn\u2019t mean that simply working off the cuff is the best way to go.<\/p>\n<p>In an ideal world, you should be treating your <strong>documentary<\/strong> much in the same way as a narrative film. Create strict deadlines for production and post-production, even if they\u2019re self imposed. You\u2019ll thank yourself later when the film is actually completed and delivered on time. Your producer and investors will be even happier.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"4-content-always-trumps-quality\">4. Content Always Trumps Quality<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-68969 size-full\" title=\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution: Content is king\" src=\"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2015\/12\/citizenfour.jpg\" alt=\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution: Content is king\" width=\"755\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/citizenfour.jpg 755w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/citizenfour.jpg?resize=300,159 300w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/citizenfour.jpg?resize=277,147 277w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/citizenfour.jpg?resize=359,190 359w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/citizenfour.jpg?resize=543,288 543w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/citizenfour.jpg?resize=560,297 560w, https:\/\/vip-go.premiumbeat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/citizenfour.jpg?resize=150,79 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px\" \/><em>Citizenfour via <a title=\"HBO\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hbo.com\/movies\" target=\"_blank\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">HBO Films<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>In a best case scenario, you\u2019re able to create a <strong>documentary<\/strong> that\u2019s extremely rich in content and also shot and produced with a very high level of quality. Unfortunately, when reality sets in, shooting a <strong>documentary<\/strong> often comes with compromises. There are times when you may need to decide between capturing more (or better) content or less content that\u2019s of a higher aesthetic quality. When faced with this type of decision, <strong>always choose content. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the <strong>documentaries<\/strong> referenced above (<a title=\"Citizenfour\" href=\"https:\/\/citizenfourfilm.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><em>Citizenfour<\/em><\/a>) was somewhat poorly shot, albeit out of necessity, but the subject matter was so fantastic that it won an Oscar. On the other side of the spectrum, there are beautifully produced\u00a0<strong>documentary<\/strong> films that are shot on a RED or ALEXA that have very little to say and ultimately don\u2019t find an audience.<\/p>\n<p>Again, in an ideal scenario, you\u2019ll find a way to capture the best of both worlds. But if equipment, crew, or any other factors are going to prevent you from telling the story you want to tell, always find another way \u00a0\u2014 even if it means sacrificing quality.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Got any tips for documentary filmmakers?<\/strong> Share them in the comments below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With thousands of documentaries being produced every year, getting theatrical distribution can seem like a pipe dream. But for those willing to take the right steps, a \u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":68971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3843,79],"tags":[1523,754,536,43,472],"class_list":["post-class-post-68228","post-class-post","post-class-type-post","post-class-status-publish","post-class-format-standard","post-class-has-post-thumbnail","post-class-hentry","post-class-category-filmmaking-2","post-class-category-inspiration","post-class-tag-distribution","post-class-tag-documentary","post-class-tag-filmmaking","post-class-tag-tips","post-class-tag-video-production"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v18.5 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Theatrical distribution can seem like a pipe dream for most documentary filmmakers \u2014 unless you&#039;re willing to take the right steps.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Theatrical distribution can seem like a pipe dream for most documentary filmmakers \u2014 unless you&#039;re willing to take the right steps.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Beat: A Blog by PremiumBeat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/premiumbeat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-12-30T16:07:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2015\/12\/wolfpack.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"584\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Noam Kroll\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Premiumbeat\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Premiumbeat\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Noam Kroll\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Noam Kroll\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/733de77443ea4e1af0c1cada7a4975f3\"},\"headline\":\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-12-30T16:07:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":837,\"commentCount\":3,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/12\\\/wolfpack.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"distribution\",\"documentary\",\"filmmaking\",\"tips\",\"video production\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Filmmaking\",\"Inspiration\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2015\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/\",\"name\":\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/12\\\/wolfpack.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-12-30T16:07:38+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/733de77443ea4e1af0c1cada7a4975f3\"},\"description\":\"Theatrical distribution can seem like a pipe dream for most documentary filmmakers \u2014 unless you're willing to take the right steps.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/12\\\/wolfpack.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/12\\\/wolfpack.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":584},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Filmmaking\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/filmmaking-2\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Beat: A Blog by PremiumBeat\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/733de77443ea4e1af0c1cada7a4975f3\",\"name\":\"Noam Kroll\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/55d655025ecaea469368dae84b694979069612720868f6c897136200455ed311?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/55d655025ecaea469368dae84b694979069612720868f6c897136200455ed311?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/55d655025ecaea469368dae84b694979069612720868f6c897136200455ed311?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Noam Kroll\"},\"description\":\"Noam Kroll is an award-winning filmmaker based in LA. He is the owner of Creative Rebellion, a boutique production company. In a decade of work in the entertainment industry, Noam has completed over a hundred productions, broadcasts, and commercial works. His hands on directing approach often has him serving as cinematographer and editor on his own projects, many of which have screened and been awarded internationally.\u00a0 His diverse filmmaking background led him to develop many new and innovative techniques, which he regularly shares on his blog at noamkroll.com.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.premiumbeat.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/noamkroll\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution","description":"Theatrical distribution can seem like a pipe dream for most documentary filmmakers \u2014 unless you're willing to take the right steps.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution","og_description":"Theatrical distribution can seem like a pipe dream for most documentary filmmakers \u2014 unless you're willing to take the right steps.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/","og_site_name":"The Beat: A Blog by PremiumBeat","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/premiumbeat","article_published_time":"2015-12-30T16:07:38+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":584,"url":"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2015\/12\/wolfpack.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Noam Kroll","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Premiumbeat","twitter_site":"@Premiumbeat","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Noam Kroll","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/"},"author":{"name":"Noam Kroll","@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/733de77443ea4e1af0c1cada7a4975f3"},"headline":"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution","datePublished":"2015-12-30T16:07:38+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/"},"wordCount":837,"commentCount":3,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/wolfpack.jpg","keywords":["distribution","documentary","filmmaking","tips","video production"],"articleSection":["Filmmaking","Inspiration"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2015","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/","url":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/","name":"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/wolfpack.jpg","datePublished":"2015-12-30T16:07:38+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/733de77443ea4e1af0c1cada7a4975f3"},"description":"Theatrical distribution can seem like a pipe dream for most documentary filmmakers \u2014 unless you're willing to take the right steps.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/wolfpack.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/wolfpack.jpg","width":1000,"height":584},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/how-to-give-your-documentary-a-shot-at-theatrical-distribution\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Filmmaking","item":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/category\/filmmaking-2\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Give Your Documentary a Shot at Theatrical Distribution"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/","name":"The Beat: A Blog by PremiumBeat","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/733de77443ea4e1af0c1cada7a4975f3","name":"Noam Kroll","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55d655025ecaea469368dae84b694979069612720868f6c897136200455ed311?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55d655025ecaea469368dae84b694979069612720868f6c897136200455ed311?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55d655025ecaea469368dae84b694979069612720868f6c897136200455ed311?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Noam Kroll"},"description":"Noam Kroll is an award-winning filmmaker based in LA. He is the owner of Creative Rebellion, a boutique production company. In a decade of work in the entertainment industry, Noam has completed over a hundred productions, broadcasts, and commercial works. His hands on directing approach often has him serving as cinematographer and editor on his own projects, many of which have screened and been awarded internationally.\u00a0 His diverse filmmaking background led him to develop many new and innovative techniques, which he regularly shares on his blog at noamkroll.com.","url":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/author\/noamkroll\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pab9JK-hKs","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/wolfpack.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68228"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68967,"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68228\/revisions\/68967"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}