How a Wine-Infused Cold Email & Pool Parties Got 'Pools' Noticed

Writer-director Sam Hayes and actor-filmmaker Michael Vlamis break down the making and unconventional release of Pools, a coming-of-age film built around an overnight pool-hopping adventure. They discuss the logistical challenges of shooting underwater on an indie schedule, building an ensemble cast around specific actors, and why traditional distribution offers pushed the team toward a hands-on grassroots strategy. Sam explains how pool-party premieres, years of networking, and a wine-fueled cold email helped Pools find a new audience through the Letterboxd Video Store, while Michael compares the scrappy production of Pools with working on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. They also share lessons on preserving release momentum, budgeting for marketing, navigating film festivals, and finding an audience when streamers are not an option.

In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, Sam Hayes, and Michael Vlamis discuss...

How the image of a glowing pool at night became the foundation for Pools

Writing characters with specific actors like Michael Vlamis, Odessa A'zion, and Tyler Alvarez in mind

Building chemistry within an ensemble cast on a limited indie prep schedule

The complications of filming overnight pool scenes and shooting underwater

How a breath coach helped Odessa A'zion increase her underwater breath hold from roughly 15 seconds to a minute and a half

Why Sam turned down disappointing traditional distribution offers and pursued a more hands-on service deal

Creating pool-party premieres that made screenings feel like events rather than another movie release

How Sam became a top 0.01% Partiful user while organizing approximately 25 promotional events

Why filmmakers need to actively build relationships with festival programmers, distributors, critics, and other members of the indie film community

The mistake of delaying Pools' TVOD release in hopes of benefiting from the attention around Odessa A'zion's other projects