Over the last couple of weeks, I took an inventory of my scripts that have not gone through the festival market. They include First Report (a two-part film), First Launch, Serpentine and In Mind We Trust, the sequel to Justice Is Mind. Although each of those scripts is well-vetted from sharing with a variety of readers, they were “gathering dust” so to speak. Now it’s time to bring them out into the light one at a time. Although First Report would be the most logical from a First Signal sequel point of view, that story is a two-part film that sits between events in First Signal and First Launch.

Having selected First Launch as the next project I submit to the festival market, the first thing I needed to do was reread the script for a host of matters from spelling, grammar, plot points, etc. etc. Of course, one could be editing a script forever. But at one point you just need to stop and say to yourself “good enough.” I also took the time to update my Final Draft screenwriting software with the latest version.

I’ve been working in Final Draft since I wrote my first screenplay in 2006 (First World). In my view, it simply is the best screenwriting software on the market. Although I don’t use all the functions, it’s nice to know they are there if I need them. While there are other types of screenwriting software to choose from, I’ve heard from too many screenwriters about the limitations they face when they go into production. Yes, we all need to watch our budgets and save where we can. But sometimes you just need to bite the proverbial bullet.  To quote from the movie North by Northwest, “Roger, pay the two dollars.”

As for dollars, this past weekend First Signal’s distributor released their 2023 3^rd quarter newsletter and payment report. I’m pleased to say that First Signal is still going strong with Amazon and Tubi as the primary revenue drivers.

I learned from Indie Rights report that there are over 2,000 AVOD channels. That’s an incredible number of platforms vying for time-constrained eyeballs. I also learned that since First Signal was in production in 2019 Tubi has well overtaken Amazon as the primary platform. However, from a First Signal POV, both of those platforms have generally performed equally from a revenue standpoint. Another platform that has been particularly supportive of First Signal has been YouTube. Not only has that platform grown since 2019, but the audience seems to truly understand and appreciate what the story stands for (unlike those on IMDb).

This all being said, Indie Rights newsletter stressed the following to filmmakers—quality and marketing. I could not agree more with those two points. I’d rather wait to produce a quality film than rush something just for the sake of filming (I see the latter too many times). But it’s marketing efforts that not only propel a project forward but enable (hopefully) a financial return. With thousands of films being produced every year, just placing them on a platform with the hopes they will find an audience may have had a chance in the early days of streaming, but that’s no longer the case. To this day, I continue to market First Signal and will soon be expanding its social media presence to target new audiences. I’ve also decided to revisit Justice Is Mind with a new social media campaign akin to what’s working with First Signal.

Next platform.