| Platform | Best For | Advance $ | |----------|----------|-----------| | Netflix | High-budget exposés with stars attached | $500k–$2M+ | | HBO / Max | Gritty, journalistic, music or film industry | $250k–$1M | | Hulu | True crime / industry scandal hybrids | $100k–$500k | | YouTube (free) | Niche topics (e.g., indie game dev, local theater) | Ad revenue / sponsors | | Theatrical qualifying run | Oscar consideration (e.g., Summer of Soul) | High risk, high prestige |
Festival strategy: Sundance (industry docs thrive here), SXSW (music industry), TIFF (film industry). girlsdoporn 22 years old e354 130216 work
Don't just document "what happened." Ask a provocative question. | Platform | Best For | Advance $
| Documentary | Key Tactic | Lesson | |-------------|------------|--------| | O.J.: Made in America (2016) | Industry context (NFL, Hollywood, TV news) | Entertainment is never just entertainment – it reflects race, class, and power. | | The Last Dance (2020) | Insider access + present-day interviews | The subject (Michael Jordan) controlling narrative can still yield great drama if you push back. | | Showbiz Kids (2020) | Anonymous testimony from former child actors | Blurring faces and altering voices protects sources in a small industry. | | Framing Britney Spears (2021) | Found footage + fan-led investigation | You don’t need the star’s participation; the paper trail (court docs, old interviews) is enough. | Don't just document "what happened