Ahh, see now that wasn't clear. So, yes, that works... but still, what was the point? I don't see how what shows in that post preview has anything to do with attention to detail, really.
I don't think a very basic wordpress site is likely to instill much confidence in people. While they've tried to position themselves a little differently in recent years, wordpress is primarily a blogging platform, that's it.
I dunno.. I guess I don't see the point. For example, why should I pay you to add my film to your system when I could just as easily put it somewhere that already has a HUGE amount of traffic, amazon?
You don't have that level of traffic, and while you will, ideally, have more focused traffic, with proper keywording, etc there's no reason a mediocre no budget film couldn't make a tidy profit on amazon even with minimal marketing.
What's your hook? What makes you different? What makes your site special -- right now, nothing.
Yea ok. I was trying to be clever to get certain sentences into the preview box to act as a teaser. It seems I was perhaps trying to be too clever for myself. Ah well, not really important.
The important thing is the basic concept here that we are discussing. There cannot be any cleverness/sillyness involved when it comes to handling the projects of others and how they are viewed.
You have unfortunately asked a question that takes takes a bit of writing to answer so I apologize if my answer is a bit of a chore.
Your question is bang on, but in a way it answers itself. I don't mean that to sound facetious but the problem of sites like Amazon is three fold.
Problem one. Millions of viewers.
While that may seem like a great thing to get in front of, the fact is this, if I want a camera I go to Amazon, if I want a book I go to Amazon, if I want a toothbrush...you guessed it, I go to Amazon. So yes you have millions of potential customers but what you don't have is millions of people visiting that site to find their next favourite film. For me then advertising on there is as affective as standing in the middle of New York with a poster saying "Hi I made a movie" because it doesn't matter how cleverly you word it, we can assume that at a minimum 50% of those people coming through that site are not there to find a film, let alone an Indie film that isn't chock full of Hollywood superstars. I'm not saying your film isn't good, but what I am saying is that your ideal marketing situation is not Amazon.
Problem 2. Mediocre no budget film
Lets say for instance you make a mediocre no budget film that is still enjoyable, still has just enough spark to carry it through the rough patches. That's a good thing, that's the kind of content that we are after. But here's the rub on Amazon. Amazon doesn't give a damn if your film does well or not. They don't watch it when you upload it and they don't watch all the other films uploaded. What does this mean for you? It puts you in bad company because the floodgate is open on Amazon for really crappy content to be put on there. This would be like standing in the middle of New York, with a sign saying "I made a movie" while people all around you for as far as the eye can see, pedal potentially terrible crap upon passers by, making your chance of discovery, no matter how well worded, almost impossible.
Problem 3. Marketing
You said it yourself, with some minimal marketing you could make a tidy profit. Unfortunately the figures don't generally back that up so while you technically could, the question is will you? Its important to think of the big picture too. Lets say for instance you list your film on Amazon. Lets say you list it at $12 for a dvd disk and you sell 1000 copies. I would be impressed if you managed that, and you would net $12,000 before Amazon takes their percentage and the tax man comes calling. I'm not going to lay out the numbers because I think we all basically know them by now anyway and what you are then left with. Still not bad, but out of that 1000 copies sold, how many of those people are going to feel annoyed that they paid $12 for your film? We can't answer that but we know that's there. Second, how many of your dvd's will end up being pirated online? Again we can't estimate a number but we can be damn sure that its certain to happen if your film is even halfway enjoyable. The other remaining customers will rate your film somewhere between 'not bad' and awesome and chances are you won't hear much more about it.
Now stop.
Thats about the state of the current film distribution market in a nutshell.
Its over crowded. People are marketing in the wrong places wasting time and effort trying to attract people that are not interested. They are trying to run mass marketing campaigns on a minimal budget in the hope of catching the attention of passers by, and they are being surrounded by millions of others trying to do the same. They are also assisted by people who don't give a damn if they do well or not in cases. As if that's not all enough to break the camels back, they are trying to sell what people can and do acquire for free on a daily basis in numbers that make even Hollywoods coffer fillers worried for their futures.
But Hollywood has something you don't, and its the reason people shopping on Amazon are looking for the latest Brad Pitt film. Its the assurance that even if the story is crap, at least the footage, audio, and acting meet a certain standard. You can't tell an entire crowd that your film meets a standard because firstly you can't get their attention and even if you can, many won't be convinced in the seconds you have to attempt to convince them.
So lets start again.
-Assurance of a certain standard of quality. We don't let film on that doesn't meet it. This assures you that the flood of sludge won't smother your work, and it assures our viewers that no matter what they download through us it is going to be reasonable.
-Access to thousands - billions of people pacifically looking for enjoyable films in torrent form. billions is not over estimating it. Any look into the numbers backs this up.
-Marketing specifically to people desiring film. Film related magazines, on-line and festival marketing as well as videos pointing back to our site on each and every torrent regardless of how far it spreads. Would your micro budget cover that?
-Direct access to your fan group. We provide that if you desire or you can have that degree of separation simply by allowing us to handle communication between you and your fans.
-We give a damn. Our films go through the same judgement process as yours to see if they make it onto the site. If they do, we want our films to be in good company with good reputation and large fan bases attached to that site.
-Competitions with the chance to win cash, gear, offers, titles of best film of the year etc.
-Also we do music too. You ever heard a song and knew that asking to use it was a waste of time? What if you knew the artist was an indie band that you had a very fast way to talk to through the same site you used to assist the promotion of your own material? It would make sourcing music, or even music artists a lot quicker and easier for you.
I am sorry for making such a long answer but it was necessary to properly tell you why we are the right choice.
In the end though, your choice on distribution is a business decision. Choosing to sell it on Amazon, doubly so. So even if the only thing you agree on is that we will get numbers. Doesn't it make sense to double your exposure by using us as well as any other marketing you are undertaking?
Hell, be smart about it even. Have your latest film on Amazon for 6 months and your film before that through us. At least that way your material gets a real run through the torrent world with a chance to still benefit you financially, that also allows you to see where that torrent is going.
I am convinced we beat Amazon hands down apples for apples, but if you aren't convinced, then at least use us as the second bullet in your gun. It just makes good business sense. I would bet though that in the end, you will have more fans and dollars in the bank through us then you will through Amazon. Why? because our clients are not forced to pay just to give you a chance. But do a good enough job and I am confident your donations will do you well, as will any books, merchandising and hard copies you sell, because you keep full rights to it all anyway.
