GG Hawkins continues No Film School’s 2026 distribution experiment with filmmaker Pete Ohs, focusing on the release of Erupcja, his Warsaw-shot microbudget feature starring Charli XCX, Lena Góra, Will Madden, and Jeremy O. Harris. Pete breaks down how the movie was made, how its TIFF premiere led to a deal with One Two Special, and what he learned from theatrical touring, Q&As, VOD timing, marketing assets, fan edits, and the emotional sustainability of releasing independent films.
In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Pete Ohs discuss...
Making Erupcja in Warsaw, Poland, with Charli XCX and a small, experimental production model
How SAG’s Global Rule One affected the budget of an international indie production
Premiering at TIFF and navigating sales conversations with CAA and multiple distributors
Why Pete chose One Two Special based on alignment, communication, and “vibes”
Building a release around Q&As, theatrical events, and in-person audience engagement
Creating playful marketing assets, including a zine, a voicemail phone line, and fan-edit materials
Releasing trailer stems and encouraging remix culture around the film
How theatrical box office expectations were framed for a movie made under $100,000
The limits of relying on actors or stars to carry indie film promotion
Why filmmakers should treat Q&As as another form of storytelling
The idea of “regional filmmaking” and creating meaningful local releases
Finishing and releasing projects as part of sustaining a long-term filmmaking practice
Memorable Quotes:
“We went to Poland in August of 2024 for two weeks with half of an outline and shot the movie in order.”
“If the numbers were better or the percentages were better, but the vibe was worse. I would have been suffering.”
“The work doesn't end.”
“Treat it as practice for storytelling.”
Guests:
Pete Ohs
Resources:
Erupcja on IMDb
No Film School: How a Film Score Actually Gets Made (Step by Step) & Pete Ohs’ Distribution Experiment of 2026
No Film School: Pete Ohs' 2026 Distribution Experiment #1: 'OBEX'
No Film School: Pete Ohs Rethinks How We Make Movies
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