We chat to Amy Stein Simonds about her work as an entertainment lawyer, what production legal actually entails, how to budget for it, and the importance of a signed agreement policy on set.

About the Guest: Amy Stein Simonds is a partner in Pryor Cashman’s Media + Entertainment Group. Amy has provided production, finance, and distribution legal counsel for more than 100 studios, streaming platforms, and independently financed productions, mostly advising throughout the evolution of a project, from development all the way through exploitation.

Amy has been recognized as a top attorney among her peers, including in Variety’s “Hollywood New Leaders” and “Dealmakers Impact Report,” Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers. Before joining Pryor Cashman, Amy was an entertainment partner at another major New York City law firm. She started her career as an attorney at the boutique entertainment firm Gray Krauss Stratford Sandler Des Rochers LLP.

We chat to Amanda Freedman about producing the acclaimed ‘The Luckiest Man in America’, the “produced by” credit and what it means to be the only producer on a film, the role of film critics in the context of sales, the changing market and whether the film industry is still a boys' club (spoiler: it is).

About the Guest: Amanda Freedman is an LA-based, Toronto born independent producer. She graduated with an MA in media theory from the New School, and went on to do her MFA in AFI's producing program. Amanda produced the multi Indie Spirit Award nominated Argentine film, CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING SAINT. She most recently produced THE LUCKIEST MAN IN AMERICA, starring Paul Walter Hauser along with an ensemble cast that includes Walton Goggins, Maisie Williams, David Strathairn, Haley Bennett & Johnny Knoxville. The Luckiest Man in America had its premiere at TIFF and was released by IFC in April 2025.

Watch The Luckiest Man in America

Self distributing HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS broke the Hollywood system, and Kurt takes us behind closed doors. He walks us through the catalyst for the filmmaking team in deciding to take fate into their owns and distribute their own film, the marketing strategies and tools implemented, what lead to their success, and what they learned along the way.

About the Guest: Kurt Ravenwood, a producer and marketer from Wisconsin's Northwoods, is a founding partner and Executive Strategy Director at Milwaukee-based SRH. Under his leadership, SRH has collaborated with brands like the Green Bay Packers and Harley-Davidson.

SRH produced the independent film "Hundreds of Beavers," a black-and-white, dialogue-free comedy that became a cult hit. Faced with limited distribution offers, he and the SRH team implemented an innovative marketing strategy, including live events and engaging promotions, leading to widespread acclaim and coverage in major publications. Kurt's work exemplifies a blend of creativity and strategic insight, pushing the boundaries of traditional marketing and production.

Check out HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS and find a screening near you here.