Is Traditional Movie Distribution Dead?

If you are subscribed to the filmmaking stuff podcast, you probably already know my thoughts on movie distribution. In a few years, I believe that VOD distribution will be the primary method by which movies will be seen and sold.

With this belief, there will come a day when there is no delineation between your TV and the internet – which means you’ll be able to upload your feature into popular marketplaces with the ease of uploading a movie to YouTube. And while your ability to tune into the iTunes or Amazon on-demand channel on your TV is not yet a reality, I believe that science fiction will become science fact sooner than we think. And this innovation, no matter how subtle, will put the last nail in the coffin for traditional distribution.

So we may as well get ready for the new world of distribution right now…

Here is what Modern MovieMakers can do to prepare for their filmmaking future:

Even now, traditional DVD distribution is deteriorating. And with the rise of VOD marketplaces, old-timers are trying like crazy to make sure that traditional, global territories remain safeguarded by pre-existing, DVD territorial bounds. The problem with trying to fit  VOD into the same “box” as DVD is, video on demand marketplaces are bound by the internet, which doesn’t have boundaries.  This is potentially bad for traditional distribution. But it’s great for modern moviemakers. Why?

You no longer have to worry about preserving the old ways of doing things, including asking some 3rd party to give you permission to sell your movie.

With all these changes in distribution, as a filmmaker, getting you movie seen and selling is still one of the biggest challenges you face. That’s why I created my latest product: How To Sell Your Movie. This step-by-step action guide shows you how to market and sell your movie in popular marketplaces such as Amazon and iTunes. Additionally, I show you how I lost around $100,000 dollars with our first feature and how you can avoid my mistakes.

While creating community around your title, building buzz and increasing your fan base is both challenging and fun, a lot of filmmakers have no idea how to get started. In this regard, one of your first steps is to determine if your movie is ready for the marketplace. (Do you have all your paperwork and errors and omissions insurance? Are you ready to get your movie seen and potentially selling?)  If so, I am announcing a new service. OK. I actually wrote about this service a few months ago. But now it’s a bit more refined. So if you have a movie collecting dust on some bookshelf, and the title is currently not selling, listen up:

Aside from my How To Sell Your Movie Action Guide, I have also created a business relationship with Distribber. [In full disclosure, I receive compensation from the company for movies I get into the system. So conduct your independent research.] With all of that said, I first found out about distribber when I was trying to find a way to get my movie onto iTunes.

In addition to iTunes, distribber allows you to get your movie seen and selling in most of the popular VOD marketplaces, without the middle-man (and the creative accounting that typically goes with traditional deals). And distribber stays current with emerging VOD marketplaces. For example, if some new iTunes competitor emerge, you can rest assured that the Distribber folks are already out there, working to make the pipeline available to filmmakers.

But the best part is compensation. Unlike deals with a traditional distribution company,  distribber is transparent. While the other folks take a huge chunk of your ongoing, back-end profits, distribber merely charges a one-time, upfront fee. Once in the system, filmmakers are then able see their earnings from all market pipelines and withdraw money as needed. Additionally, filmmakers aren’t locked into some outrageous, exclusive contract. So if you want out, you can get out!

My referral link is: www.MovieSalesTool.com – But if you don’t like the idea of me doing business like this, then check out the basic link: www.distribber.com – but do check them out.