“Inside the Arthouse,” the independent film digital series and video podcast hosted by Laemmle Theatres President Greg Laemmle and filmmaker Raphael Sbarge, has partnered with Chronicle Media, an AI-based audience simulation platform, to expand the show’s audience on YouTube.
Under the agreement, Chronicle will deploy its audience simulation platform to identify and engage high-value viewers for the series on YouTube, where it has nearly half a million subscribers. The company says it will simulate tens of thousands of audience segments and analyze viewer behaviors and interests to pinpoint audiences most likely to discover, watch and engage with the weekly series, with the goal of driving organic viewer acquisition and channel growth.
Launched in 2024, “Inside the Arthouse” features conversations between Laemmle and Sbarge and directors, actors, producers, and other voices in independent cinema. The series has produced 110 episodes to date, many filmed at the historic Laemmle Royal Theatre in Los Angeles, with others shot remotely or on location in New York and at film festivals. It grew out of Sbarge’s 2022 documentary “Only in Theaters,” about the Laemmle family’s effort to preserve its arthouse cinema chain. Guests have included Jim Jarmusch, Steve Buscemi, Amy Berg, Walter Salles and Atom Egoyan, among others. The show is produced by Sbarge and his Wishing Well Entertainment.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Chronicle’s platform to help viewers find ‘Inside the Arthouse’ and the greater conversation we’re having about independent film,” Sbarge said. “We have built an engaged audience, 5 million views on the YouTube channel, 500K subscribers, over 100 episodes, and these numbers tell us that audiences are seeking out filmmakers and stories that resonate beyond the mainstream.”
“They also tell us that there’s a real appetite for conversations about craft, perspective, and the kinds of films that challenge, unsettle, and stay with you,” Laemmle said.
Aaron Sisto, co-founder and CEO of Chronicle Media, said independent film has “some of the most passionate fans in the world” but that reaching those audiences is becoming more difficult. “We’re excited to partner with Greg and Raphael as Chronicle’s platform maps the cinephile universe to identify viewers who share an affinity for ‘Inside the Arthouse’ and bring them into its YouTube community and the greater conversation about indie film,” he said.
Chronicle Media was founded in 2025 and is backed by investors including Patron, Point72 Ventures, Z Ventures and Sands Capital. The company is based in San Francisco with offices in Los Angeles, New York and London.
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