Filmmaking / Directing : Let's talk virtual theatrical distribution! by Amanda Toney

Amanda Toney

Let's talk virtual theatrical distribution!

Kristin Harris from Good Deed Entertainment was great today on her Stage 32 webinar! What did you learn and what are your thoughts about this new distribution model of Virtual Theatrical?

https://www.stage32.com/webinars/New-Independent-Film-Distribution-Model...

Angela Green

Does Good Deeds Entertainment finance the P&A for a film release, or does the film maker/producer have to finding financing on their own?

Kristin Harris

If we are picking up a film for traditional release, we fund the P&A, though we do occasionally entertain service model releases, wherein the P&A is filmmaker funded, but it isn't our primary business.

Robert Brooks

Are you finding it more profitable/beneficial to do digital releases via virtual theater options or directly to digital distribution platforms such as Apple, Vudu, Amazon, etc? Are the theater chains offering any type of incentive to use their platform for distribution versus going direct to the digital platforms?

Kristin Harris

Right now the theaters are just trying to adapt and diversify to survive vs worrying about incentives, unfortunately. We are, however, definitely seeing revenues up across the board on digital platforms at the moment, but much more so for titles that have had theatrical exposure vs direct to digital.

Robert Brooks

interesting. Does that suggest that a film being connected via a virtual theatrical chain has a certain level of improved credibility vs being released directly to a digital platform? Or is it too early to say?

Robert Brooks

Great presentation by the way- thank you for the insight

Kristin Harris

Robert Brooks I don't know about 'credibility', but given that there are no other viable options at the moment, virtual theatrical is being treated the same as a traditional theatrical in the eyes of platforms, partners, etc - at least in my experience.

Robert Brooks

That makes sense. Thank you for clarifying. I know its a new space for the industry so really interested in getting an idea of how it is being viewed from both b2c and b2b perspectives. Your feedback has been very helpful- plus I'm originally from Columbus- I heard you mention Akron, so its always great to see another Ohioan in the business :) Thank you again!

Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg

Robert Brooks Our platform Fact TV - ODG is definitely creating a virtual theatre premieres for most of our releases. Starting with the Sin 13 series, the event to be announced shortly. This cannot, to my mind have any necessary connection to traditional theatrical in terms of the players involved. The industry has just plain lost control of that space and it may never return, or at least not return in the same guise.

Robert Brooks

Thanks Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg . Appreciate your insight on this!

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