Indie Film Marketing Mistakes That Cost Us Views (and Dignity)
- Indie Film Podcast
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Ah, film marketing. The part of indie filmmaking everyone says is important, but no one wants to deal with—until it’s too late. In Episode 14 of Indie Film Podcast, your humble duo of scrappy filmmakers, Chuck and Victoria, take a brutally honest stroll through their biggest indie movie marketing missteps. From poorly timed YouTube ads to branding faux pas that made their posters look like afterthoughts, this episode is both hilarious and painfully relatable.
Ever made a film and then realized you have no clue how to get people to watch it? This one’s for you.
What Went Wrong (And What You Can Learn)
1. Starting Too Late
They started marketing after the film was done. Like, way after. Like, “Isn’t this already uploaded to YouTube?” after. The lesson? Start during the script phase. No, seriously.
2. Paying for Views Without a Plan
Chuck and LowerGentry Studios dropped money on YouTube ads for their web series, hoping for a viral snowball. They got 9,000 views… and about 4% of those viewers stuck around for episode two. Oof.
3. Mis-targeting Audiences
Turns out, people searching for “Canyon County” weren’t looking for a dramatic indie series—they just wanted hiking spots. Whoops. Know your audience and their intent.
4. Branding? What Branding?
Fonts were an afterthought. Colors? Nonexistent. Chuck the LowerGentry Studios team spent more time debating fonts than editing scenes—because they didn’t plan brand guidelines from the start. Let this be your warning.
5. Social Media Overload
Making a new account for every film? Don’t. Just... don’t. You’ll spend the rest of your life managing 42 barely-followed Instagram pages. Use one hub (like your production company) instead.
6. Email Lists Are Underrated
One thing they did get right? Building a newsletter list and giving exclusive content to subscribers. Bonus: it helped fund small projects and cover software costs. Indie gold.
Real Talk on Film Marketing Strategy
This episode is packed with more than just self-deprecating storytelling (though there’s plenty of that). Victoria also breaks down real strategies—from brand consistency to press releases—that can help your film actually get seen. There's also a rant about YouTube making you watch ads on your own movie. (Relatable, yes?)
They cover:
Why you should start building hype before you finish your script
How to use audience analytics (the non-creepy way, well, it's still a little creepy)
Partnering with local organizations to grow viewership
The power of exclusivity (press kits, screeners, sneak peeks!)
And why the Longlegs marketing campaign was a masterclass in horror/thriller genius
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever uploaded your passion project and then just kind of… hoped for the best, this episode is for you. Chuck and Victoria lay out the film marketing mistakes they’ve made—so you don’t have to.
So grab your coffee, your notebook, and your humility. Then hit play, learn a little, laugh a lot, and maybe rethink how you’re getting your next indie masterpiece into the world.
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