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HOW-TO, Techniques, & Best Practices Channel
5 Big Distribution Myths
By Stacey Parks
posted Jun 1, 2009, 12:55 |
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5 Big Distribution Myths: What Gets and What Doesn't Get Distribution?
Myth #1: Build It, and They
Will Come
There are a lot of myths about what
gets and doesn�t get distribution. One of the
biggest is that it�s either all about the art or
all about selling-out and going commercial.
If you believe that �build it, and they
will come� is a sure-fire way to distribution
gold, you may be in for a long, frustrating
road ahead. Yes, sorry for the heartbreaker.
Sadly, �build it, and they will come� is rarely
how things work out in the film world.
Distribution companies are calculated
businesses.
While some distribution companies may
appear more artistic minded then others,
in the end everyone has to pay the phone
and electricity bills. But, I�m also not saying
sell out and go commercial either. Let�s
face it, there�s a reason why they�re called
�starving artists�. If you�ve made it this far
you probably realize there needs to be a
balance between expressing your artistic
ability and making a living. Actually, there is
a way you can have them both. If you know
how to navigate the shark infested waters of
film distribution.
Myth #2: Genre Doesn�t
Matter If you think genre doesn�t matter, think
again. Now I know what you�re thinking.
You�re thinking I�m going to tell you that
only horror films get distribution. Wrong!
The thing about horror films is that it�s the
only genre that is not cast-dependent on
getting distribution. If you make a high
quality horror film, there is almost always a
market for it in US home video, as well as
several outlets abroad.
Genre does matter when it comes to
distribution! If you�re making a romantic
comedy or drama, you�ll need to have some
A-list cast in order to compete with all the
studio fare. Studios tend to make romantic
comedies and dramas, and they have the
dough to cast A-list stars. So why would a
distributor buy your romantic comedy or
drama if there is no way for them to sell it
amidst all the A-list competition?
Study the genre you�ll be working in to
find the common patterns or elements that
have made certain films more successful
than others. Is there a particular star
that comes up again and again? Is there
a particular distributor (home video or
otherwise) that distributes these films
successfully? Go after them!
Myth #3: You Don�t Need
to Think About Distribution
Until the Film is Done
I hear this question all time: When�s a
good time to start looking into distribution
for my film?
Answer: As early as possible!
In fact, pre-production is the ideal time
to start gearing up for distribution of your
soon-to-be finished product. Casting should
always be given serious consideration. So
many people throw relatives or friends in
as their actors. Most often the film winds
up suffering for it. Plus, using professional
actors saves you time and money in the end
because not only do they show up prepared,
but they actually show up to work. In
addition to casting, you can start building
your �campaign� during pre-production.
Got a website up yet? Go and build it.
Have an idea for artwork in your head? Hire
a designer to create it for you. What about
shooting method? Do distributors care
about what you shot your film on? You bet
they do! And it matters way more than most
filmmakers think. All these things drastically
improve your chances at distribution - and
you haven�t even started making the film
yet!
Myth #4: Creating a Buzz is
Expensive
�The best things in life are free,� so the
saying goes. Fortunately, such is the case
with creating a buzz for your film. Creating
a buzz for your film can make the difference
between getting distribution and not.
So how do you create buzz for your
film? Maybe the most obvious and popular
way these days is to create a MySpace page
for your movie. Many of you know the now
legendary story of Four-Eyed Monsters and
how two filmmakers who by creating buzz
and word-of-mouth advertising through
MySpace, secured distribution for their film
� even after being rejected once already by
every distributor in town. Once the film had
a buzz, the distributors wanted the film.
How�s that for having the distributors eating
out of the palm of your hand!
In addition to MySpace, you can also
create a blog. And definitely get your
website going and get a great trailer up once
you�re in post. People will always watch
a great trailer and it can do wonders for
spreading the word. The Internet has given
filmmakers tons of tools to start creating a
buzz for your film for no or little cost. Use
them! Whatever you do, the same rule
applies: It�s never too early to start creating
a buzz, and the earlier you start, the better
shot you have at a distribution deal later.
Myth #5: A Trailer is Just a
Trailer
That�s right. You heard it here first.
I�ve sold many, many films to distributors
all over the world based solely on a good
trailer. Isn�t that great news?
That means even if your film didn�t turn
out the way you wanted it to, the good
news is that you can make a great trailer,
and still have a shot at recouping some of
your investment money.
Which brings me to: The trailer is the
most important tool in marketing your
movie.
Do not take it lightly. Hire an
experienced editor to cut together a rockin�
trailer for you. �What does a rockin� trailer
look like,� you ask? Well, we�ve all seen
great movie trailers, but for a refresher
course, you can simply head on over to
www.apple.com/trailers. Apple hosts tons
of great trailers, from both studio films and
indies.
What better way to see what kind of
trailer you should be cutting then to watch
the great trailers for films that actually have
gotten distribution?
Learn from a former foreign sales
agent how to get distribution for your film
in �The Insiders Guide to Independent
Film Distribution� (Focal Press). Are you
worried that the film you�ve just made, or
the one you�re about to make isn�t going to
get distribution? Get the real inside scoop
on how hundreds of other filmmakers are
successfully distributing their films, and
making profits in the process. Go to http://
www.FilmSpecific.com to register for free
distribution tips now.
This article may not be reprinted in print or internet publications without express permission of StudentFilmmakers.com.
Check out this article in the June 2008 print edition of StudentFilmmakers magazine, page 50.
To subscribe to StudentFilmmakers magazine and order back issues please go to
https://studentfilmmakersstore.com/collections/subscriptions
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