Case Study

You, Me & Her

What Happens When Independent Filmmakers Stop Waiting For Permission?

Watch The Film

Independent. National release. No permission required.

When we finished You, Me & Her, we faced a challenge familiar to many filmmakers:

No major studio.
No bankable stars.
No traditional distributor leading the charge.

So we decided to approach the release differently.

Instead of waiting for someone else to build an audience, we built one ourselves.

The Goal

Create a meaningful release that connected directly with audiences while retaining creative and financial control.

Rather than treating marketing as something that happens after the film is finished, we treated audience building as part of the filmmaking process itself.

By The Numbers

Theatrical Release

  • 250+ theaters nationwide
  • Sold-out event screenings across multiple cities
  • National theatrical rollout through Attend and The Fithian Group

Marketing Campaign

  • 250 influencer boxes shipped
  • 20+ brand partners
  • 5-trip Mexico giveaway campaign
  • Coverage in IndieWire, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and television outlets

Audience Reach

  • 3.09M Meta impressions
  • 226K Meta clicks
  • 3.66M YouTube impressions
  • 569K trailer views
  • 135K website visitors

Distribution Results

  • TVOD release on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and Fandango
  • Licensed by STARZ
  • Airline distribution through American Airlines, Qantas, and Jetstar
  • International representation through CardinalXD

What Worked

Community Beats Advertising

The most impactful moments weren’t traditional ads.

They were conversations, partnerships, screenings, influencers, podcasts, giveaways, and audience members sharing the film with friends.

Brands Want Stories

We secured partnerships with more than 20 brands by creating opportunities for genuine collaboration rather than simple sponsorship.

Events Create Momentum

Our strongest screenings became experiences.

Audiences didn’t just watch the film. They became part of the story surrounding it.

Ownership Creates Opportunity

By retaining our rights, we maintained flexibility to build additional opportunities around the film long after its theatrical release.

The Biggest Lesson

The audience relationship starts long before release day.

Modern filmmakers are no longer just creators.

They’re community builders, marketers, entrepreneurs, and storytellers.

The filmmakers who embrace all of those roles gain a significant advantage.

That realization became the foundation for Be The Train.

What’s Next?

The lessons from You, Me & Her helped inspire:

  • Be The Train
  • Creator Launch Lab
  • Start The Engine
  • Our ongoing work helping filmmakers build audiences before they need them

Because in today’s industry, the most valuable asset isn’t a distribution deal.

It’s a direct connection to the people who care about your work.

Press

VarietyDeadlineThe Hollywood ReporterIndieWire