Thinking about turning down studio distribution deal...

Gratwick Films

Gratwick Films

I recently finished my first film. A horror film entitled The Perfect House. We crowd funded the project and have gotten pretty lucky with people we've met along the way.

The success of the film and a little luck we've made connections in Hollywood that have us in direct contact with the decision makers of studios like Lionsgate and Universal. If we sell our movie we are most likely looking at a deal of 1-2 million. TOPS.

Which on the surface sounds great, but after all the people along the way get their taste there's not much left and more than likely no more coming no matter how good the film does.

I had planned on the self distribution route before we ever had the contacts so I am definitely not afraid of it. In fact I believe in it more than ever in light of Kevin Smith's speech at Sundance and Open letter at www.theredstatements.com stating his intentions with his new film.

I am thinking of spurning the distributors in favor of a planned VOD release date. Say October 1st and we spend the next 8 months doing screenings and independent film seminars/Q&A promoting the release date. Before we ever shot the film we received a ton of free press on many of the popular horror sites. With a finished project to show it should be even easier to get them on board for promoting our release.

Kevin Smith says he's determined to prove you can market with nothing more than social media, easy to say when you already used the system to create the fan base. I say it can be done by a total unknown making it real for everyone.

My question is this does anyone agree with me? And are you willing to support the cause?
 
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martay said:
If you're just now reading you missed many posts that have been removed.

And I think the original poster has abandoned this thread and possibly the board.
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Thanks for letting me know, Martay.

You know, the OP's movie looks technically good, but the material looks like run of the mill "torture porn," which is not the hot topic it used to be when the first couple of SAW films came out (also via Lionsgate, which according to my sources that work there, has shifted a bit away from that, save SAW 7) Certainly, it is sellable, but I started reading the first page, when first posted and it sounded ridiculous, so I stayed away. A couple weeks later, I'm wondering why there are 7 pages, so I decided to check in. :yes:



sonnyboo said:
Japan bought it based solely on the 3.5 minute sample-scene we made for $50,000 - No name stars, not even a film made yet. That was in 2005.
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I was referring not to your film, but to the OP's claim of getting 50k for the cheap territories and 200k for larger ones. He has not sold anything yet. He is off by a zero - try 5k (or less) to 20k per foreign territory (unless you have real "name" actors). And, as you said, that was 2005! I agree with everything you said on this thread.



2001 Productions said:
So frickin' depressing. :(
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I blame Napster. Where is that Shawn guy???:lol:
 
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they only need less than 100 copies of an independent film to cover the whole country (and that's being generous, as they usually only need 20-25). People used to be able to sell several thousand units to the retail rental stores. Good bye revenue.
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That's why I think NetFlix is totally not worth it because they don't pay royalties on indie film rentals.
The question is how many rentals do they squeeze out of each DVD during the life of the rental? 5? 10? 20? 30 or more?
And how many of those 5, 10, 20 or more people would buy the DVD if NetFlix doesn't carry it?
I think NetFlix is a lot like PirateBay. Someone wants to see a movie so they FIRST check to see if they can watch it free from PirateBay. After a while some people will give up and buy it. I know most people won't buy it, but even if 1 in 10 buys it then I think the decision NOT to have your movie on NetFlix is a good one.
Keep in mind that the big studios negotiate different deals with NetFlix. I think they get royalties based on # of rentals.
 
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I never read all previous pages, however I personally would get as good a deal as poss - try and fix a ceiling to their upsaide before I received some form of additional revenue - it might take years BUT eventually, if it was a monster hit at least I'd get my just reward.

Then when you make your next films etc. you'll at least be able to walk thru a lot of doors as someone with a track record, willing to play 'the game' - very important me thinks...

Besides, do you want to be a 'filmaker' or 'distributor'? Both probably as hard as the other - are there enough hours in the day to do both?

All the best, whatever happens, Jim.
 
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PositiveFuture said:
That's what I was thinking.

Stanley Kubrick remains one of the few filmmakers who satisfied the Hollywood box office, the action hungry cinema-goer, and the art crowd.

Adrenalin and Brains. It can be done. Does anyone know any other filmmakers who managed this?
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Hold on there.Kubrick was a master (the best director of the world for me) but almost all of his movies had huge controversy, most of his movies didn't make all that money but got appreciation after time.

I think Nolan is a better exemple, he got the big public and the cinema-lovers with the Batman franchise and Inception did very well.And of course, he made the suits really happy.
 
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I would love to write an impartial review but can't seem to get access to the work. However, the marketing seems excellent thus far. IMDB has a full spread with a noteworthy 8.5 rating. After running the standard searches, I still have yet to see a non-self promoted Press release. I'm not talking about public screening local information stuff-- but by independent sources with reputations (EXTERNALLY generated).

Actually, any impartial relevant review would boost interest. Shit, random sampled High School kids would at least indicate the potential here. Also, a Wikipedia page is pretty standard to make a statement. IMDB has compiled present data from a whopping 13 voters. Sell it already, pay the help, and let the public do what they do. Then you will know.
 
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jdcanfield said:
I would love to write an impartial review but can't seem to get access to the work. However, the marketing seems excellent thus far. IMDB has a full spread with a noteworthy 8.5 rating. After running the standard searches, I still have yet to see a non-self promoted Press release. I'm not talking about public screening local information stuff-- but by independent sources with reputations (EXTERNALLY generated).

Actually, any impartial relevant review would boost interest. Shit, random sampled High School kids would at least indicate the potential here. Also, a Wikipedia page is pretty standard to make a statement. IMDB has compiled present data from a whopping 13 voters. Sell it already, pay the help, and let the public do what they do. Then you will know.
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It seems your following along, thank you!!

You did seem to miss several things while looking for validation of our film.

1. everything you see will be self released. We are DIY all the way
2. External reviews are everywhere and popping up by the day. Check out one from the UK called www.pissedoffgeek.com they said it was better than Hostel.

FYI - they found out about the movie from me twitter blasting on www.monitter.com the trailer link to anyone that used "horror movie" in their tweet. They wanted to do a review I sent a screener.

3. We have FAN CONFESSIONS from every audience that has watched the film check them out on the interactive tour map www.theperfecthousemovie.net

feel free to check more details http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?p=190993#post190993
 
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jdcanfield said:
Actually, any impartial relevant review would boost interest.
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Gratwick Films said:
3. We have FAN CONFESSIONS from every audience that has watched the film check them out on the interactive tour map www.theperfecthousemovie.net
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A video you shot of fans saying complimentary things and edited together by you is hardly an "impartial review"...

The relevancy would be for an impartial review from a magazine like HORROR HOUND, FANGORIA, RUE MORGUE, etc. or a website like FILM THREAT, FINAL GIRL, or a well known entity that reviews films.

A common practice is to send out screeners to reviewers to get the work reviewed. It's a process and takes time, but worth it even when they write a review hating your movie. Learn to say "thank you" no matter what their review says and keep trying to find your audience.
 
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It was early this morning, that my insomnia was really running on all cylinders. I just recently signed my first distribution deal on a movie I produced, so my brain has been busy. I googled "my first distribution deal", and this thread came up, and I have to say, the original OP is a bit delusional.

A couple things I've learned, and while trying to work these deals for the past couple months, with some falling through, some promising this and that, and ultimately signing with our "best bet", I've learned a lot!

#1 Don't publicly talk trash about ANY film distribution company. Especially if your new to the game. Hollywood is a small world, and you can be shut out, word does get around. It's not a good idea to start burning bridges, nobody wants to work with the doosh bag.

#2 If it's not on paper, if it's not specifically in a contract, you shouldn't speculate that your going to get "this and that", ect ect. Don't be delusional. Not only can that kill your potential deal, your setting yourself up for lots of heartbreak and disappointment.

#3 9/10 if a distributor offers you money for your film, especially during these times, and especially if it's your first go-around, TAKE IT. Have a good lawyer who specializes in DISTRIBUTION, who has a track record, and negotiate the best you can to suit yourself and your film, but all in all, take the money. You don't have to roll-over, be firm and negotiate, hit them with a counter-offer, be tough, but in the end, take the money before they pull it.


I checked out your trailer on Youtube, the movie has 4,553 views... And I see you just self-released it for VOD preview on your facebook. In my opinion, your movie has absolutely NO BUZZ. I'm being honest, nobodies checking for your movie, it's a small piece of straw in a huge bale of hay. And I'm sure your sales will reflect that. You will be LUCKY to recoup your production budget.

You gotta really study, and be a student of marketing, psychology, the distribution business, and branding.
 
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Screenwriter said:
I checked out your trailer on Youtube, the movie has 4,553 views... And I see you just self-released it for VOD preview on your facebook. In my opinion, your movie has absolutely NO BUZZ. I'm being honest, nobodies checking for your movie, it's a small piece of straw in a huge bale of hay. And I'm sure your sales will reflect that. You will be LUCKY to recoup your production budget.
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They have 2,000 "clicks" on PLAY NOW for their Facebook. That's not even plays or purchases. It's probably a FRACTION of that on the Facebook. Now they are (trying) to go to the American Film Market to sell the film... after abysmally failing to generate buzz or make money.

The aforementioned master plan of the original poster backfired. Their movie has LESS value and the worst negotiating position ever. They have no money and the distributors have statistical facts that prove their movie ain't worth diddly.

It was a gamble where the odds were stacked against them. I hate to say it but.....


I TOLD YOU SO!!!!

Don't worry though. It was someone elses fault. I'm sure it was facebook or the distributor or any other reason except that their movie may not have been good enough.

Sorry mods, I don't mean to kick a man when he's down and can't defend himself, but it relates to a topic on another thread from today.
 
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