Overview
Good Deed Entertainment (GDE) is an independent film studio based in Ashland, Ohio, that produces, finances, and distributes feature films and television content. Founded in 2012 by Scott Donley, the company moved from Los Angeles to Ashland in 2019 and employs approximately 10 people with annual revenue in the $1 million to $5 million range. GDE has released approximately 45 films in the US market and has 30 films available for worldwide distribution through its sales arm.
The company operates three divisions: GDE (main label for documentary and narrative films), Cranked Up Films (genre division for horror, sci-fi, and speculative fiction), and an international sales division launched in April 2023 at the Cannes market. GDE accepts finished feature submissions through its website, which is unusual in the independent distribution space where most companies require agent or festival introductions.
For filmmakers whose films do not attract A24 or NEON-level acquisition interest, GDE is a realistic and legitimate distribution partner. The company sits below prestige distributors in P&A commitment and awards campaign capacity, but above pure digital aggregators in curation, marketing support, and theatrical capability.
History
Scott Donley founded Good Deed Entertainment in 2012 in Los Angeles. The company relocated to Ashland, Ohio in 2019, bringing film production to Ohio while positioning itself between Cleveland and Columbus. GDE built its early catalog through selective acquisitions of documentary and narrative films with arthouse appeal.
The company launched Cranked Up Films as its genre subdivision, focusing on high-concept horror, thrillers, grounded sci-fi, and speculative fiction. In April 2023, GDE expanded into international sales at the Cannes market, led by EVP of Acquisitions Erik Donley, EVP of Production and Distribution Andy Myers, and Head of Sales Marco DiSilvio. This gave GDE the ability to sell territory rights at major markets including Cannes, AFM, and EFM, rather than relying solely on US distribution revenue.
Distribution Model
GDE operates a multi-platform distribution model spanning theatrical, VOD, and digital release. The company releases films across all media, often worldwide, through partnerships with major transactional platforms including Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home, and YouTube. For titles with theatrical potential, GDE handles platform releases in select US markets before expanding to digital.
The company's distribution approach is pragmatic rather than prestige-driven. GDE does not run large-scale awards campaigns or commit substantial P&A in the manner of A24 or NEON. Instead, the company focuses on targeted digital-first releases with selective theatrical engagements, keeping overhead low and relying on digital platform revenue as the primary recoupment mechanism. This model allows GDE to distribute a higher volume of titles than prestige-focused competitors: the company released 16 films in 2022 and set a target of 45 US releases in 2023.
For theatrical releases, GDE partners with regional cinemas and independent theaters rather than operating its own exhibition. The company's Ohio base gives it access to midwest regional cinema networks, though its distribution reach extends nationwide through digital platform partnerships.
Example Titles They've Released
GDE's catalog includes:
- Loving Vincent (2017) - the first fully oil-painted animated feature; received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and won 22 awards with 51 nominations including Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA recognition
- To Dust (2018) - Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award winner, 2020 Independent Spirit Award nominee
- Journey's End (2018) - Saul Dibb, WWI drama
- Storm Boy (2019) - Australian family drama
- Tell It to the Bees (2019) - starring Anna Paquin, TIFF premiere
- Firecrackers (2018) - TIFF premiere
- Lucky Grandma (2019) - Sasie Sealy
- Summertime (2020) - Sundance premiere
- Charlotte (2021) - animated biographical film about Charlotte Salomon
- Extra Ordinary (2019) - SXSW premiere, Cranked Up Films release starring Will Forte
- Coyote Lake (2019) - Cranked Up Films release starring Camila Mendes
Box office figures for GDE titles are not widely reported, as most releases follow a digital-first model with limited theatrical runs.
Deal Structure Reputation
GDE structures deals as a hybrid of minimum guarantee (MG) and revenue split. MGs from GDE are typically modest. For documentary and narrative films without major festival premieres, MGs may be minimal or structured as revenue-split deals without upfront advances. For films with stronger festival profiles or genre appeal (particularly through Cranked Up Films), MGs can reach low five figures.
The company's sales commission for international rights typically ranges from 20% to 25% of gross revenues. GDE does not publicly disclose standard deal terms, and specific MG figures have not been reported in trade publications (Deadline, Variety) for recent acquisitions.
Filmmakers should clarify how US distribution fees and international sales commissions interact in the recoupment structure when negotiating a deal that includes both US distribution and international sales through GDE's sales arm.
Typical Acquisition Profile
GDE acquires completed films in three primary categories: documentary films, narrative arthouse films, and genre films (through Cranked Up Films). The company looks for production quality, festival credentials, and commercial potential in submissions.
Unlike most independent distributors, GDE accepts finished feature submissions through its website. This open submission process makes GDE accessible to filmmakers without representation, though the company still evaluates submissions based on production quality, festival credentials, and commercial potential.
For genre filmmakers, Cranked Up Films is an acquisition target for completed horror and sci-fi films seeking US distribution, particularly films with festival credentials from Fantasia, SXSW, or other genre-focused festivals. Cranked Up also operates Cranked Up TV, a genre-focused streaming channel.
Recent Slate / Acquisition Activity
GDE's 2025-2026 slate includes:
- Blood & Rust (May 19, 2026) - action horror from Cranked Up Films, directed by Jeremy Herbert; vampires infest a dying Rust Belt town
- Caterpillar (November 7, 2025) - documentary directed by Liza Mandelup, acquired for worldwide rights; festival run included SXSW, DOC NYC, and Philadelphia Film Festival; opened at Firehouse: DCTV's Cinema for Documentary Film in New York
- An Open Door (August 2025) - documentary on Dr. Temple Grandin, directed by John Barnhardt, presented by Colorado State University; accepted into 72 festivals with 27 individual awards; streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube
- Looking Through Water (September 2025) - directed by Roberto Sneider, starring David Morse
- The Christmas Writer (2025) - holiday comedy
- Hungry (2025) - narrative feature
- A Good Enough Day (2024) - drama
- Earlybird (2024) - comedy feature directed by Martin Kaszubowski, acquired for worldwide rights
Cranked Up Films' recent genre releases include The Exorcism of Saint Patrick (2024, part of the Fresh Hell trilogy), Wolves Against the World (2024), Dead Teenagers (2024), God's Petting You (2024), and Foil (2024).
What Filmmakers Should Know
GDE occupies a specific tier in the US independent distribution landscape: below prestige distributors in P&A commitment and awards capacity, but above pure digital aggregators in curation, marketing support, and theatrical capability. For filmmakers whose films do not attract A24 or NEON-level acquisition interest, GDE is a realistic and legitimate distribution partner.
The company accepts finished feature submissions through its website, which is unusual in the independent distribution space. This open submission process makes GDE accessible to filmmakers without representation. The company still evaluates submissions based on production quality, festival credentials, and commercial potential.
The key trade-off: GDE's distribution model is primarily digital-first. Theatrical releases are selective and typically platform-style (limited screens in select markets). The bulk of revenue recoupment comes from transactional VOD and streaming platform licensing. For films targeting a traditional wide theatrical release, GDE is not the right partner. For films seeking a hybrid theatrical-digital release with a company that handles both US distribution and international sales, GDE is a practical option.
Watch: Trailers and Interviews
See Also
For how digital-first distribution models compare to theatrical-first models in revenue terms, see Streaming vs Theatrical Revenue. For how international sales divisions interact with US distribution deals, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model the revenue from a multi-platform release combining limited theatrical with VOD and streaming, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For understanding how distribution fees and P&A recoupment affect filmmaker receipts, see What Does a Distributor Keep?.
