EXCLUSIVE: Cinetic Media has hired longtime indie film marketing and publicity exec Ryan Werner, giving him the title of Senior Executive. Werner takes the post after working New York and building campaigns for indie films for the past 17 years. The move was confirmed by Cinetic founder John Sloss. He said that this doesn’t presage a further move into distribution by PDA, which does multi-platform releasing of a film per year (last year was the unauthorized Disney theme park-shot Escape From Tomorrow). Rather, Werner comes aboard to provide an extra set of services in a company designed to find ways for its clients and films to exploit a changing marketplace. Marketing savvy is just one part of that.
“Ryan is one of the most inspired and innovative marketing minds we have encountered,” Sloss said. “The distribution marketplace is mutating on a daily basis and increasingly allowing those making content to have a hands-on involvement in its distribution. Ryan expands dramatically the toolbox of advisory services we provide. Having sat across from Ryan for years and more recently on the same side of the table at PDA, I can’t think of a more appropriate and valuable addition to the Cinetic team.”
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Said Werner: “After spending most of my career working with traditional distribution companies, John and Dana have given me an incredible opportunity to continue doing what I love but in a new and exciting way that seems incredibly smart as the marketplace undergoes drastic change.” Werner has been a consultant since ending a seven year stint at IFC and before that worked for Magnolia Pictures, Wellspring, Palm Pictures, Shooting Gallery, and Sundance Channel. He has been involved in orchestrating campaigns for films that include Short Term 12, Is The Tall Man Too Happy?, Escape From Tomorrow, Cave Of Forgotten Dreams, Sleepwalk With Me, Tiny Furniture, Che and others.
