 |
Future of Film PodcastFilm is changing. Audience behaviour, technology Author: Alex Stolz
Film is changing. Audience behaviour, technology and business models are reshaping how stories are told, distributed and experienced. The Future of Film Podcast explores these shifts through conversations with the people building what comes next. Hosted by Alex Stolz, the podcast features founders, filmmakers and industry leaders working across storytelling, media and technology. Together, these conversations examine how audiences are evolving, how value is created and captured, and what it means to build sustainable careers in a rapidly changing screen landscape. About Alex Stolz Alex Stolz is Founder of Future of Film and Head of Audience at usheru, working at the intersection of storytelling, audience and ownership. His background spans leading audience strategy at the BFI and developing data-driven approaches to audience growth across film and media. More at www.futureoffilm.live Language: en Genres: Business Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
102. Jeffrey Kohn: Why Filmmakers Need to ‘Own’ Their Audience
Thursday, 23 July, 2026
An audience is more than a follower count. For filmmakers and creators, building a direct relationship with the people who care about their work can be the foundation of a sustainable creative career. In this episode, Alex Stolz speaks with Jeffrey Kohn, founder and CEO of TopFan, about what filmmakers can learn from the creator economy—and why building an audience and “owning” that relationship are two very different things. Jeffrey explains why creators cannot afford to depend entirely on social platforms and algorithms for access to their fans. Instead, he argues for using those platforms as a point of discovery, while creating direct channels through which audiences can become part of a deeper and more enduring community. The conversation explores the power of superfans; why relatively small but highly engaged audiences can be more valuable than large follower counts; and how creators can turn moments of attention into long-term relationships. Alex and Jeffrey also discuss crowdfunding, audience participation and the ways a committed community can help creators finance projects, generate revenue and carry momentum from one story to the next. A practical conversation about moving beyond rented platforms, creating genuine connection and building an audience that can sustain your creative work over the long term. About Jeffrey Kohn Jeff Kohn is the founder and CEO of TopFan. Prior to TopFan, Jeff was a distinguished enterprise architect for Oracle, led global e-business operations for for Sun Microsystems, and space radiation analysis for NASAs Mission Control. At TopFan, Jeff focuses on solving the platform dependency problem in the creator economy. TopFan technology provides creators with a customized, white-labeled website and mobile app platform that unifies content, community and commerce into one place, and full ownership of their fan data. In turn, creators own their platform, and achieve long-term financial stability and equity in their business.
