How a Wine-Infused Cold Email & Pool Parties Got 'Pools' Noticed
About this episode
Sam Hayes and Michael Vlamis discuss the making and unconventional release of the film Pools, highlighting unique marketing strategies and production challenges.
Writer-director Sam Hayes and actor-filmmaker Michael Vlamis break down the making and unconventional release of Pools, a coming-of-age film built around an overnight pool-hopping adventure. They discuss the logistical challenges of shooting underwater on an indie schedule, building an ensemble cast around specific actors, and why traditional distribution offers pushed the team toward a hands-on grassroots strategy. Sam explains how pool-party premieres, years of networking, and a wine-fueled cold email helped Pools find a new audience through the Letterboxd Video Store, while Michael compares the scrappy production of Pools with working on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. They also share lessons on preserving release momentum, budgeting for marketing, navigating film festivals, and finding an audience when streamers are not an option. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, Sam Hayes, and Michael Vlamis discuss... How the image of a glowing pool at night became the foundation for Pools Writing characters with specific actors like Michael Vlamis, Odessa A'zion, and Tyler Alvarez in mind Building chemistry within an ensemble cast on a limited indie prep schedule The…
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