About the Founder
Shayla Riggle · Film sales, distribution, financing & industry education
Creative ambition. Commercial experience.
Shayla Riggle founded The Eii to help entertainment professionals connect creative work with the business knowledge needed to move it forward. Her experience spans film sales, acquisitions, distribution, financing, and industry education, supported by three decades of work in entertainment.
She developed her sales and acquisitions experience at Echelon Studios before founding The Hudson Sterling Firm. Across her distribution and sales work, she has sold 8,000 films in 80 countries and raised $10 million in financing for independent filmmakers. Her background also includes managing GENRE TV, a Roku channel.
Bringing the business of film into the working room
Shayla developed the curriculum for and facilitated the CFVA Producer Accelerator. She has taught seminars and served on panels covering film sales, distribution, and film investing, bringing practical industry experience to creators working through consequential project decisions.
At The Eii, that experience informs a hands-on approach: understand the project, identify the work that matters now, and give filmmakers the tools and guidance to make progress.
Education, leadership, and arts advocacy
Shayla serves on the board of Women in Film & Media Colorado. She also founded Riggle Me That Production, a nonprofit supporting access to arts education, resources, and opportunity.
A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she brings the perspective of an actor, writer, and producer alongside her commercial experience. Her work connects storytelling, professional development, and a commitment to helping independent filmmakers build sustainable careers.