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In this virtual session, hear Gene Pao HBS '97 describe the inner workings as to how independent films are windowed, released, and promoted, as well as how independent film distribution strategies varies considerably from blockbuster films.  Topics include film selection criteria, theatrical booking, digital transaction release strategies, and how these decisions affect later revenue streams including Pay 1 licensing deals and digital streaming.



Gene Pao (HBS '97) is currently EVP, Strategy and Digital at Shout! Studios, an independent film and TV distributor, where he oversees overall company strategy, production, marketing, distribution, and digital operations.  Over the past several years, Shout has expanded its business to indie film distribution--having released a number new films this year including LINOLEUM (Jim Gaffigan), THE MAGIC FLUTE (F. Murray Abraham), WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? (Shazad Latif, Lily James, Emma Thompson), and hitting theaters on 9/29, THE KILL ROOM (Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Joe Manganiello).  Prior to Shout, Gene spent 12 years at Disney, Fox, and NBCU in cable distribution, digital media, and live sports broadcasting/livestreaming.  In 2022, Gene was named one of the Top 40 Most Important People In Streaming by Media Play News.

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Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is program director at 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit advocating for the 4-day workweek. His trilogy of books— SHORTER: Work Better, Smarter and Less— Here’s How (Public Affairs, 2020); REST: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less (Basic Books, 2016), and THE DISTRACTION ADDICTION (Little Brown, 2013)— shows how companies and individuals can better integrate rest, creativity, and focus into digital-age lives and work. Alex has been a consultant at Institute for the Future and Strategic Business Insights, and a visiting scholar at Microsoft Research Cambridge, Oxford University, Stanford University, and UC Berkeley. Alex received a Ph.D. in history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Kari Kim serves as Vice President, Animation Development for Nickelodeon, based in Nickelodeon’s Burbank, Calif. headquarters. Kim is responsible for all aspects of original series and shorts development from concept to pilot, including all creative and production. 

Prior to Nickelodeon, Kim was a development executive at King Features Syndicate, Inc., where she developed and produced content for many of the company’s properties, including CUPHEAD, POPEYE AND FLASH GORDON. Kim also worked as a development executive at pocket.watch, Vice President of Program Development at HLN, and was a founding member of the venture capital-funded production company, Worldwide Biggies. She has also held roles and produced content at Nickelodeon, Spike TV and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. 

Kim resides in Los Angeles with her family, but in her heart she’ll always be a Midwest kid from the suburbs of Detroit.

Sean Presant is an Emmy nominated and NAACP Image Award winning writer, producer, director, and showrunner whose work has taken him repeatedly around the globe, writing about everything from European Nazi occupations to penguin inventory in Antarctica. His first film, SUBURBAN MONOGAMY, won the Art Institute of Chicago's award for Best Independent Film Comedy, played Cannes, South by Southwest, and Deauville, and sold to Canal Plus. Writing and producing credits since include ALMOST PARADISE, INSTANT MOM (TVLand), WIPEOUT (ABC), HAPPILY DIVORCED (TVLand), THE WAYNE BRADY SHOW (ABC), PLANET SHEEN (Nickelodeon), TAB TIME (YouTube Kids) and the Dean Devlin sci-fi film THE DEAL.

A firm believer that stories can change the world, Sean runs the Save Santa’s Home movement, which introduces kids to the issues of climate change and environmental activism.


Loni Steele Sosthand is currently a Co-Producer going into her third season on THE SIMPSONS. Prior to that, she was partnered with Jim Hope as Consulting Producers on Nickelodeon's COUSINS FOR LIFE. Loni has written for various multi-cam family comedies including LAB RATS, DOG WITH A BLOG and BEST FRIENDS WHENEVER. Loni also co-created, co-wrote, and co-produced KATRINA, a half-hour dramedy pilot for The-N (Teen Nick), executive produced by Warrington Hudlin.  Loni is a graduate of Harvard University where she wrote a novel for her honors thesis.  In addition to her writing life, Loni lives in Santa Clarita with her husband, a Stunt Coordinator/Stuntman, her ten-year-old triplets, two dogs, and one very abused minivan.  

As VP of Moonladder, Tone oversees Development and Production of FableVision Studio’s original  animated and live-action broadcast properties. He has acted in the role of Writer, Director,  Showrunner and Executive Producer on several long and short form projects for Aardman Animation,  Sesame Studios, The Dodo, SuperProd, The Boston Pops, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SpinMaster, and  Guru Studios. Tone was Showrunner/Executive Producer of SpinMaster’s hit preschool series SAGO MINI FRIENDS (Apple+); he was Showrunner/Head Writer for Emmy-award winning series GO GO CORY CARSON (Netflix); Executive Story Consultant on PIKWIK PACK (Disney); and the Supervising Producer for the Emmy award-winning WONDER PETS! (Nick Jr.) During his eleven years at Walt Disney Feature  Animation, Tone contributed to blockbuster films including THE LION KING, POCAHONTAS, TARZAN, and TOY STORY, among others. He has produced animated projects for Mattel, Nickelodeon, PBS, and SyFy  Channel and has personally animated segments for SESAME STREET. Tone is a former advisory board  member of the Fred Rogers Center and the Co-Creator/Co-Executive producer of the CSA award winning series THE ADVENTURES OF NAPKIN MAN!