The Silence After "Congrats, You're On Tubi"
- illadelstyles Entertainment
- Apr 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 3
Why I'm Starting the Future Filmmakers Collective in Philadelphia
I’m Jermaine Quick. Eq Philly. Donta Deisel. CEO of illadelStyles Entertainment LLC. I want to share something that no one told me when I began making films in junior high. Getting on Tubi and Roku doesn’t mean you’ve made it. Sometimes, it just means you’ve entered a quiet phase.
The Truth About “Making It” in 2026
My film Sugar is on Tubi and Roku. Heartless and Change The Beat are also on Tubi. Sugar has won 29 global awards and is represented by Lionheart Distribution in LA. Heartless runs through Filmhub. But after we launched, what happened? Silence. Then came a check.
And let me tell you, it was pennies. Literally. It’s a stark contrast to when I pressed DVDs for illadelstyles DVD Magazine and sold them hand-to-hand for $15 after a screening. That $15 felt real. It came from someone who looked me in the eye and said, “this mattered to me.”
Tubi pays $0.02 per hour watched, if you’re lucky. To match what 300 DVD sales brought in 2010, 25,000 people need to watch Sugar from start to finish. The world told us to “go digital.” We did. But they didn’t mention that the money flow changed too.
So Why Am I Telling You This?
I’m 53. I’ll be 54 on April 18th. I’ve been in this game since 1993 when I dropped F.A.T.A.L. and got local radio play. I started illadelStyles in 2001 after Temple’s P.A.C.E.P. program. I’ve written, directed, produced, and scored six films.
American Bully was featured on Fox 29. It also earned me a CITATION Award from Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. for community activism because that film tackled bullying. We took it into schools. Sugar addresses domestic violence, while Heartless deals with child abuse and mental health. These aren’t just movies; they’re tools. I’ve been using them in Philly for 23 years.
But here’s what I learned: Making the film is step 2. Step 1 is surviving the business. Step 3 is getting paid without selling your soul. Nobody teaches step 1 and 3. That’s why I’m starting the Future Filmmakers Collective.
Why Me? Why Philly? Why Now?
I’ve Lived Both Economies: I’ve sold DVDs out of my trunk, and I’ve received quarterly statements from Filmhub. I know what $47.18 for 8,000 watch hours feels like. I also know what $4,500 cash from a weekend screening feels like. You need both skills in 2026.
I’ve Built the Rooms You’re Trying to Get In: I’ve filmed Lupe Fiasco, Fat Joe, Kevin Hart, and Busta Rhymes through illadelstyles DVD Magazine. I’ve given over 200 actors and music artists their first big-screen shot across six films. I don’t gatekeep — I build doors.
I Know Philly Policy and Streets: From 2001-2004, I ran the Youth Community Outreach program at Mars Hill Baptist Church. Dobbin’s and Hartranft students received conflict resolution and life skills training. We were recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau and received $5,000/month from the School Board of Philadelphia. I know how to talk to Councilman Jones and the corner. You need both to succeed here.
I’m Still in the Game: I’m not a retired “back in my day” guy. I’m launching the Bounce to the Beat game show right now. My van is still wrapped as a moving billboard for Philly artists. I’m still working a 9-to-5 to fund this dream because I believe in it that much.
What the Future Filmmakers Collective Actually Is
This isn’t just a “come watch me talk” workshop. This is a film hub. A collective. We’re going to cover:
The Real Money Math: AVOD vs TVOD vs screening licenses vs grants vs brand deals. Learn how to read a Filmhub statement without crying.
The Philadelphia Pipeline: Discover how to get your film in front of Council, schools, and nonprofits — the people who cut checks for social-issue content. That CITATION Award didn’t come from Hollywood.
The Hybrid Model: Learn how to use Tubi for reach AND build your own list. You can still have the “DVD feeling” — direct access to your audience, no algorithm interference.
The Mental Game: Understand how to deal with the silence after “congrats,” how to keep creating when the checks are pennies, and how to want to bless people without going broke.
Who This Is For
If you’re in Philly, if you’ve got a camera, a phone, or just a story, this is for you. If you’re tired of YouTube tutorials that don’t discuss the business of film, you belong here. If you want a mentor who’s been denied, awarded, underpaid, and is still standing, join us.
If you want to create films like American Bully or Sugar for your generation — films that resonate both on Fox 29 and in the community — pull up.
This Is Personal for Me
I turn 54 next Saturday. I don’t want the next Jermaine Quick to wait until 54 to realize that “distribution” doesn’t mean “paid.” I want you to understand this at 24. My history matters because I’ve faced every loss and every win you’re about to encounter. The award from Councilman Jones proves you can create art AND impact policy right here in Philly.
illadelStyles wasn’t built with studio money. It was built with 9-to-5 earnings, community trust, and a lot of faith. That’s the blueprint. Now, I’m passing it on.
The Silence Doesn’t Have to Be Your Ending
It can be your classroom. Sign-ups for the Future Filmmakers Collective open next week at illadelstyles.net. We’re not waiting for Hollywood to notice Philly. We’re building our own hub.
— Jermaine Quick | Eq Philly | Donta Deisel | CEO, illadelStyles Entertainment LLC | illadelstyles@illadelstyles.net
P.S. If you’ve ever felt like your art is important but your finances are a mess, you’re not alone. I built this Collective for you. Let’s talk.
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