Local filmmaker inks deal to distribute first film
Look for ‘Couch Party’ to be released on streaming platforms this summer
After months of waiting and countless meetings with different distribution companies, Nachela Knox, owner and founder of GoGetHer Productions, has signed a deal with Homestead Entertainment for her first feature film which was filmed here in Winston-Salem. The film, “Couch Party,” is scheduled to be released on streaming platforms this summer.
A little over a year ago we introduced you to Knox and her business, GoGetHer Productions, which offers a wide variety of services including directing, creative consultations, cinematography, writing, casting, and acting services. Knox, who is a native of Cornelius, North Carolina, started GoGetHer Productions after earning her degree in film from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
At the time we met, Knox was preparing to shoot her first feature film, “Coma Couch,” which has since been changed to “Couch Party.” The film, which Knox described as a “fantasy-comedy,” is about a young woman named Briella who flees to the small town of Maple Creek in hopes of escaping her abusive husband. However, she quickly realizes that her problems are just beginning when she’s gifted an old couch that has a unique kind of magic.
After finishing the final edit of the film in October, Knox spent the next eight months meeting with distribution companies trying to get a deal. To fund the cost of the film, Knox started a crowdfunding campaign and took out a loan for the rest of the costs. To cover the cost of the loan, Knox picked up two additional jobs. “Of course I have to pay my loan back, as well as keep up with my other bills … so for the past year I was literally working like three jobs,” said Knox when discussing her journey.
“I had my full-time job with United Healthcare, I picked up a part-time job with WalMart doing personal shopping, I was teaching classes in Greensboro. And I was the production manager for some productions going on in Atlanta and I picked up a few other clients … so it was a lot.”
Knox said she was always confident that the film would be picked up, but admits at times she did grow impatient waiting. “It got to the point where mentally I was like, I need people to see this film and I need it out right now,” she said.
“I’m the type of person where you can tell me something, but if I get to the point where I don’t believe what you’re saying then I’m going to have to go do it myself and that’s what I did.”
Knox said her producer had mentioned that they tried to get in contact with Homestead Entertainment. Homestead is one of the few Black-owned distribution companies in the country. According to their website, Homestead was founded “with the mission of distributing film, television and digital content, driven by and focused on people of color.”
Instead of waiting, Knox reached out to Homestead herself. “They saw the trailer and a deal was drawn up within the next two hours,” Knox said.
With the deal between GoGetHer Productions and Homestead Entertainment in place, “Couch Party” is scheduled to be released this summer on the streaming platform Tubi, before becoming available on Amazon Prime, Vudu, Peacock, and other streaming platforms.
Knox said signing the deal with Homestead was important because she wanted to show people that there are different ways to make it in the film industry. “I want to show people that now with independent film, there are ways to get your foot in the door and really make that a living,” Knox said.
“It’s people out here whose films have never been on Netflix, have never been on Hulu, but they make films every day and that’s what they do and that’s the end goal”.
Knox said she plans to host premier events here in Winston-Salem, as well as Charlotte and possibly in other states. Although she’s seen the film dozens of times, Knox said she can’t wait to see it in a theater with other people.
“I’ve got good reviews from the people who have seen it,” Knox said. “They all agree that it’s a good film, they laughed at it, so I can’t wait to experience that in a theater, laughing, because that’s when I know I’ve done my job.”
To learn more about Nachela Knox and GoGetHer Productions, visit https://www.gogetherproductions.com/. And be sure to read the story about Knox that was published in The Chronicle last year by clicking the link below.
https://wschronicle.com/young-director-fulfills-dream-to-have-her-own-production-company/.
