“Keep your face to the sunshine and you will never see the shadow.”— Helen Keller If you’re a savvy indie filmmaker, you’ll want to focus on getting your film listed on a few of the major digital platforms like iTunes, Amazon, Hulu, Fandango Now, Google Play, Sony Playstation, TubiTV, and Vudu. You’ll also want to […]
Booking a New York or Los Angeles Theater
“Some grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.”— Maya Angelou Peter Broderick, the well-regarded film consultant, wrote the following in his recent Distribution Bulletin: The dream of a national theatrical release still burns bright for most filmmakers. But the reality is that traditional releases with week-long runs have gotten much […]
Worldwide Film Distribution? Here’s How.
“Pain is temporary, film is forever.” — John Milius It’s the wish of every indie filmmaker: How can I get my film shown around the world? The big studios achieve this by spending millions. Indie filmmakers can only dream that it will happen. Cheers! Worldwide film distribution — even for the starvation-budget filmmaker — is now achievable […]
Film Distribution – The 50/50 Rule
The question I am most often asked by indie filmmakers is, “How can I get my film distributed?” I answer this question with another question: “In making your film, have you followed the 50/50 Rule, which is to allocate 50% of your budget to making your film and 50% of your budget to marketing your […]
The Publicist – Key to a Successful Film Launch
It’s hard for me to imagine how a film can be successfully launched without the services and expertise of a professional film publicist. It’s now so inexpensive to make films that there is a huge glut of them out there, all fighting for attention. An overwhelming deluge of content makes it hard for filmgoers to […]
There’s Life After the Theatrical Run
There was a time, not so long ago, when a film’s life ended with the theatrical run. Fortunately, that is no longer the case. A theatrical run is still vital, as it establishes the film’s credibility, generates buzz, and produces those important reviews. But today, a film’s life does not end with the theatrical run-it’s […]
Film Distribution – 10 Golden Rules
There are many, many books and articles written on how to successfully distribute a film. After 41 years in the exhibition and distribution business, I’ve compiled a list of 10 rules which I feel, if followed, will help you to successfully and economically launch your film: Rule #1. Open your film in a well-established theater […]
Streaming Is Becoming a Flood
Based on Consumer Reports’ most recent survey on streaming, “almost half of U.S. adults–47 percent—are watching programs streamed over the internet.” It’s easy to see why this is so: People can now watch movies on a TV, computer, smartphone, tablet, and cellphone. It’s inexpensive and it’s convenient. You can be sure that in the corridors […]
Film Distribution – Where’s the Hook?
Sheri Candler, a highly esteemed film writer and consultant, wrote the following in MovieMaker Magazine: “What’s your marketing hook? If you don’t know, you have some brainstorming to do. Hooks allow an audience to immediately recognize what is interesting about your story and decide whether they want to investigate further.” Thousands of independent films are […]
Determining the Real Cost of Making a Film
It’s quite common. To determine the cost of making a film, most filmmakers simply add up all the payments they’ve made to the writers, the crew, the actors, for equipment rentals, and for post production. This number, they conclude, is their cost. This kind of calculation is not only misleading—it’s also hugely inaccurate. What many […]