So... what do you do?

G

gorillaonabike

So... just wanted to ask a hypothetical question as I don't have a completed feature. Let's say I have a feature or a documentary I want to sell. It's in a certain genre and just to keep the hypotheses going, let's say it's half decent, is in English, has a globally recognizable name attached to it (not quite an 'A' lister but not far off) and I want to sell it.

What do I do?
 
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gorillaonabike said:
So... just wanted to ask a hypothetical question as I don't have a completed feature. Let's say I have a feature or a documentary I want to sell. It's in a certain genre and just to keep the hypotheses going, let's say it's half decent, is in English, has a globally recognizable name attached to it (not quite an 'A' lister but not far off) and I want to sell it.

What do I do?
Click to expand...

Hypothetically; before you start shooting you research distributors
of features or documentary movies. Find several (the more you can
find, the better) that have purchased similar movies. Keep the list
of all the distributors you research.

Now we jump into the finished feature or documentary hypothetical;
you send a query letter to the distributor asking if they are interested
is seeing a screener.
 
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directorik said:
Hypothetically; before you start shooting you research distributors
of features or documentary movies. Find several (the more you can
find, the better) that have purchased similar movies. Keep the list
of all the distributors you research.

Now we jump into the finished feature or documentary hypothetical;
you send a query letter to the distributor asking if they are interested
is seeing a screener.
Click to expand...

I understand that certain festivals offer a possible road to distribution (not unlike doing a read-through or out-of-town preview for theater owners and producers to get them interested in a Broadway show?).

I'm curious and I'd love your insight on this. Is that really only true for the "big" indie films? Is there even much point in getting your micro-budget or low-budget (on the level of the majority of filmmakers here would make) film in any festival given that you will probably have to contact the distributors directly anyway? If that makes sense?
 
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Get a Sales Agent and pray you make some sort of money back

I'm in this situation right now, we are shopping the film around to buyers, and I have Eric Roberts in the film playing a significant role.

First off, the indie film industry is completed screwed up. Buyers are offering way less than before, and choosing less titles. Extremely hard to sell dramas, or personal films, unless you got into a major festival.

So unless your film is really top quality in terms of story production value and star power, you will have a very hard time making profit on your film. Especially if you made the film for more than 100 K.

The best way is to get with a sales agent that fits your film. This part is crucial because this person will sell your film for you. If they are good they already have connections with buyers and kno who would want to buy your kind of film. they will go to film markets and pitch your film to all the buyers who might be interested.
 
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Thanks all! Really useful. Will research this.

The last film fest my short was played at had a couple of producers, one of whom described what it took to get distribution. He gave me a good understanding of how indie films are packaged and if (and it's a big 'if') my next piece is good and it meets the criteria they were talking about, then will try for a decent sales agent or 2. At my level, I think it's just about do-able but it's a big stretch.

Am about to see if I can make it work. If so, will then start the marketing phase and keep my fingers crossed.
 
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