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SELLING YOUR PROJECT: ​Studio-Level Thinking for Independent Creators, A 3-Part Series

Business of Creating Institute · September 15, 2026

This event is a panel and workshop hosted by the Business of Creating Institute, Once Upon A Time, and LA Film School on September 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. Industry marketing executives will discuss making pitch sizzles, ripomatics, trailers, posters, and key art, and how market research and studio decision-making shape asset strategy. The session emphasizes practical, studio-level approaches for independent creators to craft marketing assets and retain influence over visual identity. Tickets cost $25 and include a Q&A and networking.

Business of Creating Institute

Part 2: The Art & Science Behind Creating Captivating Trailers and Posters

Join the Business of Creating Institute x Once Upon A Time x LA Film School for a candid, practical conversation on how indie creators can master the art of marketing their own work. From early pitch sizzles and ripomatics to release trailers, posters, and key art, learning to think like a studio is crucial for getting your project noticed, funded, and sold. Discover how to build high-impact assets that capture attention, translate your story into immediate marketability, and strategically position your project in today’s competitive marketplace.

Topics will include:

- How filmmakers can craft pitch sizzles, ripomatics, and concept trailers that sell - Designing key art and posters that instantly communicate tone, genre, and audience appeal - Thinking like a Studio: Turning your narrative vision into a strategic marketing plan - How market research, data, and studio decision-making shape asset strategy and buyer perception - How creators, showrunners, and producers can maintain influence over their project’s visual identity And more

PANELISTS:

Mark D’Anna, Senior Vice President and Creative Director at Once Upon a Time Marketing Agency Erica Repowitz, Director, International Creative Advertising at The Walt Disney Studios Erin McDonough, SVP of Global Strategy and Insights at Paramount Pictures Alex Kostich, VP of Creative Marketing Strategy at IFC Michael Fisk, Producer of Pangram Entertainment, frmr Studio Marketing Exec. and Co-Founder of Business of Creating Institute

MODERATOR:

Jennifer Mangan: Writer/Producer, Beautiful Day Productions and Co-Founder of Business of Creating Institute

DATE: Tuesday 15 September 2026 TIME: 7:00-8:30 pm (including Q & A) with networking afterwards LOCATION: Los Angeles Film School COST: ​$25 RSVP: givebutter.com/the-art-science-behind-creating-captivating-trailers-and-posters-jkxq6o

GAC Perspective

As AI tools accelerate asset production and enable rapid A/B testing, independent creators who adopt studio-style, data-informed asset strategies are likely to gain measurable advantages in visibility and buyer negotiations; conversely, maintaining coherent visual identity may require explicit governance as automated workflows scale.