In the shadowy wings of the Wilma Theater in Missoula, four people nervously pace. On the other side of the curtains sit around 500 members of the wildland fire community. These were the moments that preceded the premiere of my first feature documentary, the culmination of over 4 years of production and 17 years of passion for its subject.

You finished the documentary - now what? A practical, 5-step guide to self-distributing independent wildlife and environmental films, from someone who's done it both ways.