Interesting information needed
- Thread starter ad2478
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The kind of market intelligence you're asking for is almost impossible to acquire.
The problem with your question is that the normal methods for measuring success, like box office figures, don't apply in the direct to DVD market.
As far as I know, there isn't a single market intelligence resource which tracks profits of individual direct to DVD titles. So, although it is easy to find out box office figures, because the cinema industry tracks and publishes them... direct to DVD isn't.
An additional complication is that deals in the film industry are struck on a territory by territory basis... so, a DVD that flops in the US market might be massive in the Far East.
Part of your problem here is you're trying to gather intelligence on global DVD sales from film makers who largely operate exclusively in the US market. For an international film maker this is probably a mistake, because you can't make judgments on how a Pakistani film will play in the American market by talking to Americans, but I've told you this before... so no point in going over the same old ground.
The other problem you're running into, is your assumption that film makers know about selling films... trust me, most of the film makers in any film forum have very limited knowledge of selling films (there are some exceptions)... but by and large film makers on the forums are largely film makers who are trying to figure out for themselves how to create their first big break into the market.
The mistake you are making is you assume that American film Makers know everything you need to know about the American film market... and yet, if I was to assume that you knew everything about the Pakistani film market and film industry and ask you a thousand questions about it... and then get upset when you didn't answer, I'd be kind of foolish wouldn't I?
So, Nadeel... what are the top ten grossing direct to DVD titles in Pakistan at the moment? Which are the three largest distribution companies for direct to DVD is Pakistan? What are the box office figures on the top ten grossing action movies to originate in Pakistan? .... Do you see my point yet? If you can't answer these questions off the top of your head, what makes you think American film makers can do that for their markets?
The problem with your question is that the normal methods for measuring success, like box office figures, don't apply in the direct to DVD market.
As far as I know, there isn't a single market intelligence resource which tracks profits of individual direct to DVD titles. So, although it is easy to find out box office figures, because the cinema industry tracks and publishes them... direct to DVD isn't.
An additional complication is that deals in the film industry are struck on a territory by territory basis... so, a DVD that flops in the US market might be massive in the Far East.
Part of your problem here is you're trying to gather intelligence on global DVD sales from film makers who largely operate exclusively in the US market. For an international film maker this is probably a mistake, because you can't make judgments on how a Pakistani film will play in the American market by talking to Americans, but I've told you this before... so no point in going over the same old ground.
The other problem you're running into, is your assumption that film makers know about selling films... trust me, most of the film makers in any film forum have very limited knowledge of selling films (there are some exceptions)... but by and large film makers on the forums are largely film makers who are trying to figure out for themselves how to create their first big break into the market.
The mistake you are making is you assume that American film Makers know everything you need to know about the American film market... and yet, if I was to assume that you knew everything about the Pakistani film market and film industry and ask you a thousand questions about it... and then get upset when you didn't answer, I'd be kind of foolish wouldn't I?
So, Nadeel... what are the top ten grossing direct to DVD titles in Pakistan at the moment? Which are the three largest distribution companies for direct to DVD is Pakistan? What are the box office figures on the top ten grossing action movies to originate in Pakistan? .... Do you see my point yet? If you can't answer these questions off the top of your head, what makes you think American film makers can do that for their markets?
clive
i have always loved you for making thing easy for me.see none of us needed to stretch the issue.you made it simple by saying
well you are right as you said
may be i made mistake by considering the brilliant filmmaker even knowledgeable about the whole market...i agree i was an idiot [
]
as you said
then my answer is we are not even having a single movie of direct to DVD stuff...not only this you will feel shock that after around 1 year pakistan has got able to release 2 great movies so thinking about having any relevent data for Pakistani movie is more then impossible.....public do not get a single clue about anything related to the back stage matters of movies.....looks like Pakistan is worse then any other copuntry !
the last thing i was really wrong thinking that US filmmakers know everything.
i apologise for it friend
i have always loved you for making thing easy for me.see none of us needed to stretch the issue.you made it simple by saying
well you are right as you said
may be i made mistake by considering the brilliant filmmaker even knowledgeable about the whole market...i agree i was an idiot [
]as you said
then my answer is we are not even having a single movie of direct to DVD stuff...not only this you will feel shock that after around 1 year pakistan has got able to release 2 great movies so thinking about having any relevent data for Pakistani movie is more then impossible.....public do not get a single clue about anything related to the back stage matters of movies.....looks like Pakistan is worse then any other copuntry !
the last thing i was really wrong thinking that US filmmakers know everything.
i apologise for it friend
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Again you don't need to apologise, because your question wasn't a stupid one... in fact, it's a standard business plan question:
What products have performed well financially in the market that I'm interested in?
How much return did they make on their investment?
In any other business these would be the first questions anyone would ask... and the fact that no one here can answer those questions should give you some indication of the level of business skills you generally find in the film industry.
Despite the fact that the film industry prides itself on being "all business" it never has been and probably never will be. In comparison with say TV it's always been more of a gambler's industry rather than a hard nosed business environment.
I've said for years that any industry that judges success by the size of a product's costs is starting from an insane position... which is the reason I've always advocated micro-budget movies.
One of the reasons that the indie scene has never expanded into competition with the main industry is because basic business skills aren't applied to film production. People make the films they believe in... and only when they are near to completion do they consider the film's place in the market or the marketing strategy.
Of course, that's a glass house I can't throw rocks in, because I did exactly that with my first and second features.
So, you asked the right question... your only mistake was expecting an answer.
What products have performed well financially in the market that I'm interested in?
How much return did they make on their investment?
In any other business these would be the first questions anyone would ask... and the fact that no one here can answer those questions should give you some indication of the level of business skills you generally find in the film industry.
Despite the fact that the film industry prides itself on being "all business" it never has been and probably never will be. In comparison with say TV it's always been more of a gambler's industry rather than a hard nosed business environment.
I've said for years that any industry that judges success by the size of a product's costs is starting from an insane position... which is the reason I've always advocated micro-budget movies.
One of the reasons that the indie scene has never expanded into competition with the main industry is because basic business skills aren't applied to film production. People make the films they believe in... and only when they are near to completion do they consider the film's place in the market or the marketing strategy.
Of course, that's a glass house I can't throw rocks in, because I did exactly that with my first and second features.
So, you asked the right question... your only mistake was expecting an answer.
well thanks clive i was feeling sad for taking precious time of you people but your last post made me feel better.
well devhaven i think you should name those movies so we will learn from their techniques.lolz....
i have already mentioned the reason why i am interested in direct to DVD as it will really reduce the costs of my movie and i will be able to make a movie more easily....the reason to bring down the costs is due to the very very tough conditions of Pakistan.political and economical.
anywas thanks for supporting me.
well devhaven i think you should name those movies so we will learn from their techniques.lolz....
i have already mentioned the reason why i am interested in direct to DVD as it will really reduce the costs of my movie and i will be able to make a movie more easily....the reason to bring down the costs is due to the very very tough conditions of Pakistan.political and economical.
anywas thanks for supporting me.