incompatible distribution routes

[Ardeus]

So, there's festivals, distributors, VOD, tv...

In my case, I finished a 7 episode documentary series about a fish species from Lake Tanganyika and being new to this busness I'm not sure about the best strategy to approach distribution.

There's a niche market, which is the people that have fish as a hobby but I also tried to make the films in a way that they could appeal to a broader audience, making them somewhat lirical.

I already submitted the 1st episode to a dozen film festivals. Is it better to wait for festivals results before trying anything else? And are there disadvantages in putting the films on itunes, amazon, etc right now?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[jax_rox]

A lot of festival's rules dictate that you can't put it on the internet, or show any more than 10% of the film until it's been shown at the festival.
You should've researched that before sending it off as well, as some festivals demand exclusive premiere.

 

[Ardeus]

I think none of the festivals that I submited the 1st episode require that for shorts and the duration of each episode is 25 minutes.

My main goal would be tv, but because I have generated a great amount of interest in forums that deal with this family of fish, will it hurt my odds at tv distribution if I put the series on itunes, amazon and other similar sites? Or is it better to wait for the festivals answer?

 

[directorik]

will it hurt my odds at tv distribution if I put the series on itunes, amazon and other similar sites?

Yes.

TV will pay you for the right to show your series. They will make their
money back by charging advertisers to place ads during the run. If
people have already seen your series for free it is not unique and
fewer people will watch it on TV. You already have a small audience,
distributors will not make money if a percentage of that audience has
already seen your series for free.

 

[Ardeus]

Thanks.

As I said above, I am new to this business and I am surprised about the slow pace that things seem to be "forced" to follow.

First, festivals and film markets. It takes months for things to get going.

Then, if your film is good and you wisely selected the festivals, you have a sequence of events where your film gets some public exposure.

Then, if your film is realy good and has commercial appeal beyond festival appeal, you may find a way into distribution during these events.

If not, you are already armed with some festivals on your film track record that help assuring your film is good, and you must try to sell your film for tv.

If you don't succeed, probably more than a year has passed and you finally are free to start exploring self-distribution. And I guess that this a normal path for most docs that were not comissioned by someone?

 

[jax_rox]

Yes that is essentially the standard path, however it is usually the Producer who takes care of most of that stuff, and is part of the reason I suggest engaging a Producer.

You are then free yourself to take on other work as it comes up, without being bogged down in the logistics of the festival circuit etc. Even the Producers themselves can take other work while all this happens. If and when your film gets selected, you may travel to those festivals, and if not you start either trying to sell it elsewhere, or letting it go.

It doesn't mean you can't do other work in the meantime, I know some Producers who have been with certain movies for 5+ years (ie, movie gets made in the first year, film festivals second year, secondary film festivals third year, then internatinoal markets, tv etc.) but they're also working relatively prolifically