Given the changes in distribution, as a filmmaker, getting your movie seen and selling is no longer solely the responsibly of a 3rd party distributor. Once you have sharpened your hook and targeted your target audience, your next step is to set up shop in some of the many popular internet based marketplaces.
The Video On Demand Market
Your next step is to determine the appropriate video on demand marketplace for your movie. There are many options for this, including setting up your own internet storefront, joining other filmmakers on a platform or setting up shop in popular Video On Demand marketplaces. Since most VOD outlets do not require an exclusive deal, I recommend getting your movie selling in multiple markets, including iTunes and Amazon.
To do this, you have two options. You can approach each platform individually or you can work through a traditional distributor or a video aggregor. There are pros and cons to each movie distribution approach.
With a traditional distributor, you would only want to sign over your movie if the deal makes more sense than distributing your movie yourself. What makes a good deal? This is really up to you. But the metrics to look for are transparent marketing spends, the distributor’s ability to get you preferred placement in the platforms – and of course, a great track record.
If you go it alone, you will need to perform a lot of the heavy lifting yourself. You may have to pay upfront for encoding fees, Errors and Omissions Insurance and Closed Captioning to name a few. Later, when your title goes live, you will need to monitor your sales across all platforms.
For more information on how to market and sell your movie, visit www.HowToSellYourMovie.com
About Jason Brubaker
Jason Brubaker is a Hollywood based Independent Motion Picture Producer and an expert in Video On Demand distribution. He is focused on helping YOU make, market and sell movies more easily by growing your fan base, building buzz and creating community around your title. He is also available for speaking engagements.
Jason,
Thanks for the comment. I’m an independent filmmaker trying to get some work distributed. I’ll look into Hulu.
Are you a filmmaker as well?
michael
It has been my experience that Netflix does not always offer the best deals. Of course, if your movie has some traction (and demand is high) then you may be able to negotiate.
My preferences at this time are Hulu, Amazon and iTunes.
Awesome article Jason. Would like to get your opinion on netflix, red box and pay per view. Multiple forms of revenue are key.