I am finishing up my documentary and don't know where to turn next. I already have some pre-sales and I know that I will have some DVD sales after I finish. I have funded this doc by myself and suck at sales. I put out a 15 minute preview back in December and it was screened at the 1st Annual Michigan Film Gala in Detroit. I am not looking to make it rich, which I know is almost impossible to do in independent film. But I am looking for the best way to get it out there and make some money. All of the footage and music is by me or by a local musician so I have all rights to all footage being used. I plan on submitting it into some film festivals. I look forward to feedback, I have the film ready to be released on DVD August 19th.
-
✅ Technical and creative solutions for your film.
✅ Screenplay formatting help, plot and story guidance.
✅ A respectful community of professionals and newbies.
✅ Network with composers, editors, cast, crew, and more!
🎬 IndieTalk - Filmmaking and Screenwriting help site and community.
By filmmakers, for filmmakers since 2003
Almost done with my doc, what to do next?
- Thread starter kribro16
- Start date
- Do you have a website for the film?
- Do you have a Twitter and YouTube account publicizing it?
- Have you released a trailer?
- Have you put together a press and sales kit?
- Have you been seeking out distributors?
I would say that these are the kind of things that there would be no harm in doing. Word of mouth is the best thing for a film. If you've got 20,000 fans on Facebook and 10,000 Twitter followers then it proves to distributors that there's already a potential market in place.
- Do you have a Twitter and YouTube account publicizing it?
- Have you released a trailer?
- Have you put together a press and sales kit?
- Have you been seeking out distributors?
I would say that these are the kind of things that there would be no harm in doing. Word of mouth is the best thing for a film. If you've got 20,000 fans on Facebook and 10,000 Twitter followers then it proves to distributors that there's already a potential market in place.
I have a couple of trailers. I do have twitter and facebook but not getting the greatest response. The film is about medical marijuana in Michigan and most of my marketing has been at rally's and through the people I have interviewed. Our Vote Counts? trailer 1 Our vote Counts? trailer 2
Don't waste your money on festivals in cities that aren't entertainment meccas like NY and LA. Also don't bother with the big festivals like Sun Dance. Indie entries are merely people who fund the whole thing. Stick with medium sized , less prominent festivals in major markets.
+2 DVD's are dead.
I never understand this. Why would you do most of your marketing at a rally. The people are already
interested and chances are, since they are at a rally, they do not need to be converted/informed. Don't get
me wrong, market at rallies too, but it seems you would want to get the word out to people who are
uninformed on this issue. Just my $.02
I face the same thing with my niche Docs. I do adventure races and market through FB websites and groups. For my next project I am going to put it up on the wed to watch with a link to order. I am not sure whether to put it up in clips or the whole film. I am interested to see if it helps or hurts sales.
That is a good point. So if the DVD is pretty much dead do I look for digital downloads? There are many sites out there that distribute it this way. Are those to be trusted and a good route to go? I am also a member of two of different chambers of commerce and have been marketing through that.
Disney just laid off 200 workers, citing declining DVD sales. If you are looking over your shoulder at CD's then that should tell you the future of DVD's.