From film festival strategies to theatrical to VOD to online options to finding and securing a sales agent the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on all things related to the distribution process
This is my first time posting in the distribution lounge. I've just finished my third film. With my first two short films, I always intended to put them on YouTube. However, with my third film, it's bigger, bolder and (hopefully) better. I spent a lot of time, effort and money on this one, so I'd li...
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Would LOVE to hear peoples' thoughts on this...
https://www.indiewire.com/news/analysis/movies-on-streaming-not-in-theat......
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Most independent films make little to no money as it is. So, it's unlikely they'll get any theatrical deal. But, if one wants to spend the money for local / regional theater screenings (w/paid rentals...
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I've been involved with a project called M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction) for four years now. It was a Trump satire podcast that we turned into an animated web series pilot. The first episode placed in 27 contests and won three of them. We pitched it for a while, but unfortunately the market's...
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I imagine what you're calling "streaming sites" are the familiar names we already know.
Generally speaking they do not accept projects outside of their own eco system.
You would need to scale to 3+ million or more to get any interest from anyone
I would think you'd have to build your own audience in that scenario. There aren't tons of examples where that jumps from the web to network, especially as of late and in this market -- so I would focus on building your own thing and determining how to monetize it.
Good luck Suzanne Bronson!
Hey, All!
There's a new free 24-Hour Ask Me Anything happening from Wednesday 3/6 to Thursday 3/7 over in the Stage 32 Financing Lounge! David Zannoni, Producer, Founder of Zannoni Media, Consultant for Freeway Ent., & Stage 32 Thought Leader will be answering people's questions about "Understanding...
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David is the best! What a great opportunity to learn. I’m excited for this.
Specialty Box-office.
For those of you writing or producing a film that is rich in social content, it’s great to see that The Zone of Interest is making the most out of the educational market. Check this out:
“More than half the audience has been under 35 (through last weekend) thanks to avid young fa...
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Movies are changing, and people are also becoming more interested in conscious themes and characters that mix the absurd with real struggles and show how those things make us human. "Seeing Rachel," a...
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Sandra Isabel Correia that is also my hope, Sandra.
Geoff Hall POOR THINGS is a brilliant production and story wise. highly recommended!
Pat Savage thanks Pat. I’ll have to check that out.
Geoff Hall absolutely worth the watch!
There seems clear evidence for a kind of stuttering box-office recovery. I’m off to see Dune-2 this Friday with my son, so it will be interesting to see if the theatre is full. Personally, I can’t wait to see a story, where film meets spectacle on the big screen.
“All told, it’s likely that March’s t...
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Well, if last night at my local Vue Cinema is anything to go by, it will do a lot for the box-office recovery.
Geoff Hall I couldn't make it through the first one when it was on free streaming. I doubt that I will ever watch part two. Like Mad Max Fury Road, it was a big yawn fest for me. I had to go back to C...
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Debbie Elicksen oh dear, Debbie. Geoff puts on his sad face and drops his device on the sofa, never knowing how Captain America could be a turn on and Dune a turn off.
Plus, it has to be seen on the b...
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Geoff Hall I will still pass. :) But I do like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, if that counts for anything.
Debbie Elicksen nope! ;-)
Join filmmaker and distribution expert Jon Reiss for an enlightening two-part workshop designed to equip you with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence needed to navigate the disruptive currents of today's distribution landscape. This masterclass isn't just a course—it's a roadmap to success in...
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UNpopular opinion: I believe it is better to distribute a so-so film, than to languish in PERFECTIONland and continue to look at a stack of scripts on your hard drive or in the cloud — that never go anywhere. What’s your take on “produced” vs “perfect”?
Amanda Toney I love that. Sometimes our eyes are not the eyes of the general masses, who may like the thing we think is so so, and the thing we think is perfect, they ignore. Every social media influe...
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Ha, our most discussed topic. Thank you for sharing this, Fran Harris! You know how I feel. It's so easy for creatives to get stuck in the perfectionism cycle. I certainly struggle with it when it com...
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Perfection is impossible. Plus it's a team sport. The whole idea is to finish a project together and share it - it's entertainment. Entertainment is completely possible.
Totally agree with the spirit of responses here, that it's really important to finish something, get it out there and move on to the next one - to not languish in striving for the impossibility of per...
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I'm Dune geek for sure so I'm very excited to see this, and it also seems poised to give the box office a much needed boost...
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/dune-2-box-office-1235837478/
Can't wait to check this out in theaters! Gonna be absolutely massive
Need to rewatch the first one as a refresher. I also am not ashamed to say that I like David Lynch's version from the 80's!
Looking forward to seeing even more Asian content in cinema.
The Vietnam industry is in its infancy:
"But while there’s obviously no shortage of ambition in the Vietnamese film industry, producers and filmmakers all bring up the same issues — the industry is still in its early stages, investors are s...
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I want to go to Vietnam so bad. I was developing a project for a few years that we would have filmed there, but it never made it to greenlight. I love that their market is growing!
Very cool, I watched that Vietnamese martial arts film Furie (2019) a few years ago on Netflix and it was dope. More please
Pat Alexander Cool. I'll check that out.
Debbie Elicksen it’s all a sign of the growing global film market. I can’t wait to see what they produce, but yes, it’s a small market and it needs the confidence of investors to help it flourish. It...
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For the 9th straight year, Stage 32 is looking for the best short films for its Annual Short Film Program.
For the last 8 years, Stage 32 has screened its winning filmmakers’ films at some of the most prestigious festivals around the world, and for Stage 32’s stable of 1,000+ Stage 32 executives, an...
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Thanks for all the advice, Stephen Folker! Much appreciated
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Trey, aggregators are usually a last resort rather than a first. They deal in volume and simply put their films up on platforms. If you believe that your film doesn't have potential to, say, get picke...
Expand commentTrey, aggregators are usually a last resort rather than a first. They deal in volume and simply put their films up on platforms. If you believe that your film doesn't have potential to, say, get picked up by Starz or Showtime domestically, or garner an MG in any international territory, then perhaps that's your best route, although it's safe to assume you won't recoup your budget. However, if you realistically think there's some potential upside, it's definitely worth submitting to and chatting with other distribution & sales entities. You can expect there to be some expenses and market fees - as long as they are transparent with these and they are reasonably capped, that is actually standard industry procedure. You also want to ensure that there's no cross-collateralization. I think a 2-year term may be challenging; however, you can ask for performance minimums with the right to take your film back if they don't meet these in the first two years, for example. There are plenty of shady operations out there, but there are plenty of reputable ones as well. If you ask around, you can usually get the low-down. :)
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Thank you everyone for jumping in with great insights!
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Robert Deege Thank you so much for this! Very insightful and helpful
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Trey Alessio Keep us posted as to what direction you go! And if you go the route of a traditional distributor, reach out to other filmmakers who have had their works distributed by said company and as...
Expand commentTrey Alessio Keep us posted as to what direction you go! And if you go the route of a traditional distributor, reach out to other filmmakers who have had their works distributed by said company and ask if they've made money (or their budget back). And there are a couple of groups on Facebook where you'll find all the info you need about predatory companies. Best wishes to you!!