sales agent vs distributor

[Levan Bakhia]

how is it classified exactly,

what is the difference between sales agency and distribution company, also what other forms are out there of businesses that help you sell your movie?

 

[directorik]

A sales agent is a person who represents the film and the
filmmakers interest when selling to distributors. They will
negotiate contract and conditions of the sale of the film.

A distributor is the company that buys the rights to a movie then
markets and sells it to theaters or retailers.

 

[Blade_Jones]

what is the difference between sales agency and distribution company

Aside from what Directorik has said, I just call them ALL profit eating middlemen. There's no need for either if you open an account with Amazon's Advantage program. If you want to sell your soul to Netflix (they pay no royalties) then just sign up with FilmBaby. Apparently they'll ship about 60 copies to NetFlix for a one time wholesale cost. You can also sell your soul to iTunes (if they accept your movie) for digital downloading for a 1 time fee of $750.00 (!!!!!!!). Another option for digital downloads is CreateSpace and FlickRocket.

 

[rnjonjo]

Aside from what Directorik has said, I just call them ALL profit eating middlemen. There's no need for either if you open an account with Amazon's Advantage program.

I don't get it...why would you want to deal with the hassles of shipping and handling and inventory headaches, by signing up for the Amazon advantage program?

it seems to me that the best way, if you intend to sell on Amazon, is to use their createspace program. you only send in one copy of your dvd to them, along with the artwork and then they handle the shipping and handling to customers.

and since the dvd is "produced" by createspace when a customer orders one on the amazon.com website, you don't have to keep sending in inventory to amazon's warehouse.

...and you also get Video On Demand, by the way.

PS....I'm not criticizing you, I'm just curious to know why amazon advantage is better than amazon's createspace...

 

[Blade_Jones]

I don't get it...why would you want to deal with the hassles of shipping and handling and inventory headaches, by signing up for the Amazon advantage program?

it seems to me that the best way, if you intend to sell on Amazon, is to use their createspace program. you only send in one copy of your dvd to them, along with the artwork and then they handle the shipping and handling to customers.

and since the dvd is "produced" by createspace when a customer orders one on the amazon.com website, you don't have to keep sending in inventory to amazon's warehouse.

...and you also get Video On Demand, by the way.

PS....I'm not criticizing you, I'm just curious to know why amazon advantage is better than amazon's createspace...

The thread starter is asking about traditional DVD distributor VS sales agents. I say avoid them all if you have an indie film. Just do it yourself because this is not 1999 anymore.
If you don't think you can sell 500 or 1,000 DVD's then don't manufacture, avoid the risk, and you won't have to deal with Amazon's Advantage program. Most replication places manufacture 500 at the very least, with the next 500 not costing very much more.