*“Let’s build it,” said Sgt. Major Keith Craig, former Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Manager of Theatre Sales and Distribution, about the launch of his own film sales and distribution company, Porter + Craig Film and Media Distribution, which is launching in May 2023 with 50 films to theatres, broadcast networks and digital platforms.
“I was introduced to Jeff Porter by an associate. I was impressed with what Jeff was doing. I realized he is brilliant. Man, I was impressed. He was a producer’s rep. We talked about being the only African-American film distributor…in Hollywood,” said the Alabama native.
Porter had 15 years in the film production business and Keith Craig helped design sales and film distribution strategies for Disney for such projects as Black Panther, Lion King, Coco, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and “Captain Marvel” that racked in $50 billion domestically and $100 billion worldwide. His strategies were required to reach diverse audiences.
“I happen to arrive at the height of Hollywood…the Black Panther, an all-black case and black director,” said Sgt Major Craig about his Disney experience.
He was a veteran in the Army for over 30 years and through circumstances as an Intelligence and Logistic Non-Commissioned Officer (entertainment producer) he became responsible for the entertainment of the troops who were in remote places. That is how he gained the attention of Disney.
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Disney wanted to screen their films for the troops in war zones (Iraq, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, or Kuwait) and he took on the task. They became impressed with his skills in logistics in bringing the presentation together.
“In Hollywood, that’s what a producer does. I flew to Los Angeles and met the executives,” he said about the job offer from Disney. “I thought it was something I could excel in.”
After years of developing sales and distribution strategies that brought in $100 billion worldwide, Sgt. Major Craig plans to do the same at his Beverly Hills-based film and media company, but unlike Disney, he includes independent films. He distributes their own films with third-party content as well. They have guaranteed placement on digital platforms such as Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple tv, Vudu, and Roku. They also distribute to selected theaters, and on such networks as Starz, HBO, Showtime, CW, Hulu, and Netflix.
“We love what we do,” Sgt Major said as we closed our talk. www.PCFilmandMedia.com – www.KeithCraig.org
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations and Business Management Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is the Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com EVENTS: “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 24th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday, April 15, 2023, and to Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 11, 2023. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Industry Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $18,000 valued in cash, product and services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com, a 501 c3 organization, for more information or to RSVP for Zoom Access email info@ThePulseofEntertainment.com.
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