The Filmmaker’s Podcast #296: Distribution and filmmaking with Tello owner Christin Baker
Here’s the latest episode of the The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the ever-growing podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.
The Filmmaker’s Podcast #296: Distribution, streaming platforms and filmmaking with director, producer and Tello owner Christin Baker
Today, we’re back with a regular episode. And yet this episode couldn’t be any better as our host Giles Alderson welcomes producer/writer/director Christin Baker to the show. She is also the co-founder of the Emmy-nominated streaming platform Tello, which focuses on stories for the lesbian/queer community. Their 2017 series “Secs & EXECS” earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for Austin Powers actress Mindy Sterling. Also, in 2019, their series Riley Parra received two Emmy nominations for actresses Liz Vassey and Carolyn Ratteray. The SVOD platform has a wide library of the best LGBTQ+ women’s titles and thousands of paid subscribers. The majority of their million-dollar revenue goes back to filmmakers, enabling them to make more shows. Christin has been playing with video production and storytelling since she was 13 after her family got their first VHS camcorder. In 2016, she was awarded Best Director at the London Raindance Film Festival for her work on Maybelle, a series that follows the story of a 35-year old gay woman in the south after the death of her mother. Over the last four years, as an indie producer, she has made five features on SAG Ultra Low Budgets, but she believes the storytelling quality is as high as anything on Netflix. In her conversation with Giles, Christin chats about:
- finding investors
- crowdfunding
- turning a web series into a feature film
- setting up her streaming platform Tello
- making LGTBQ+ films
- directing feature films
- sales agents
- predatory distributors
- Cannes
Christin was very insightful about her process. This episode is an absolute masterclass in production and distribution – a must-hear for any filmmaker working in the independent world. So, sit back, relax and listen to our amazing chat with the fantastic Christin Baker.
Follow The Filmmakers Podcast on Twitter: @filmmakerspod | @gilesalderson and the official website