For US deals, what’s the difference between Aggregation and Distribution?
What distribution avenues do Distributors afford you in addition to the streaming platforms that Aggregators afford you? Is it just DVD sales and theatrical? Or is there something more that Distributors provide? Thanks.
I'm trying to wrap my head around why filmmakers would go with a distributor vs an aggregator, the latter being historically (recent anyway) transparent, and as for the former, I only hear horror stories. Which makes sense because filmmakers don't have leverage for a given distributor to be honest. As for an audit clause, has anyone ever really audited a distributor? I used to be an auditor and it's quite easy to pull the wool over people's eyes.
Thanks, Colette!
Hi Colette, where is this Clubhouse room with a US distributor answering detailed questions? Couldn't find. Thanks!
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Ramiro ("Ram") Hernandez A "distributor" in theory will actively seek venues for your production. An "aggregator" is a kind of service which doesn't really exist any more, being replaced by the "marketplace" sites. An "aggregator" would, for a fee, get your production placed on the various streaming services - at least those which are open and easy to get on. This allowed you to avoid many hours of sometimes byzantine processes required to ensure your film conformed to the different requirements of each platform. Tag, Distribber and most other aggregators went backrupt following NetFlix's defacto cutting off all indie content in 2017-2018, which was part of their deal when joining the MPA. In their place have popped up "marketplace" platforms, such as indierights and others, which essentially allow you to list your film in their catalog. Aggregators and marketplace platforms do not actively market or otherwise promote your film to anyone - despite their words to the contrary. You would choose a distributor rather than a marketplace or aggregator because, as I said, distributors actively market the film to various venues, and some have relationships which get it seen. Marketplace sites don't do that (though Filmhub has an algorithm which it uses to maximize it's own profits by boosting search results for films which have already sold). So you absolutely must do all the marketing if you to an aggregator or marketplace. In fact though, even going through a distributor, the new world really requires you to take charge of promotion.
Shadow, thank you the recent history lesson. I just got back in the game after a 5-year hiatus so I missed the Aggregators' rise and fall. It's apparent to me now that I really meant "marketplace" and not aggregator. I hope these stay and grow as it seems to be a good model and filmmakers are making $$. I don't see any real benefit for an Indy filmmaker to go with a distributor vs Marketplace like Filmhub. Except maybe for non US territories.
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Most aggregators charge flat fees where as distributors have % based business models.