Will a widescreen film be less attractive to distributors?

[hamphouse]

Hi. A question. At the director's request, we formatted our film in widescreen. Will distributors, most of whom are interested eventually in TV, VOD, DVDs, be less interested in a widescreen film as opposed to 16-9? We're 2.35. Thanks in advance.

 

[rayw]

Nope.

They could pretty much care less about the aspect ratio.

They will most likely be interested in your prodco's feats of marketing and promotion of your own film.

What distributor companies did you specifically have in mind to distribute your film?
Many of them will "host" your film, but not spend an actual dime marketing it.
And filmmaking isn't a meritocracy.

 

[hamphouse]

Thanks. We've just started submitting to film festivals but eventually expect we won't be in theaters but will likely be looking for VOD. We wanted to submit to Gravitas.

 

[directorik]

Agreed.

Distributors are looking for movies they feel with inspire people to pay money
to watch (or buy) them. They do not care what the aspect ratio is as long as
they feel people will pay to watch the movie.

 

[hamphouse]

Thanks

 

[Sweetie]

Are you talking for cinematic release or straight to video?

 

[Rayandmigdalia]

If you decide to go to Amazon (CreateSpace), they will not accept anything in widescreen.
(No letterbox, no pillarbox, no squeezed image)

 

[directorik]

If you decide to go to Amazon (CreateSpace), they will not accept anything in widescreen.
(No letterbox, no pillarbox, no squeezed image)

They did at one time. I had my 2.85.1 (letterbox) movie there for
a while. I just checked their submission guidelines and didn't see
any mention of this. When did the change their policy? Do you
have a link?