I rarely do this: send out screeners. Most of the time my stupid little movies are made after I get distribution. "dark crimes" is different. Aside from not being a stupid little movie, I made it without securing distribution.

We're having a screeing on Monday (Aug 1) and have told all the distributors who are attending that we will give then a screener - IF they show up. My producer and I are in another of a series of arguments. I want to leave the timecode burn and put "Screener 0805" on the DVD copy I'm giving to them.

Any thoughts in this?

Who are you going to side with? Me - the "artiste" writer/director, or Matt - the evil, money hungry producer?

-rik

Click here for info on the screening (http://www.darkcrimes.com/darkcrimes.jpg)

You could mark it the same way cable channels do, when they identify themselves every 10 or 15 minutes.

Have something pop up in the lower left/right from time to time.

It really isn't a big deal if you are sending to reputable companies. We are not in the business to rip off filmmakers (not all of us). I get 25 screeners a week, and some have a watermark, some don't. I'm just looking for good films to sell. We have a reputation to uphold if we want to continue to do business. That's why you should only send screeners to known companies, or those you can check out. Give me a list of those you are thinking about sending to and I'll give you my take on them (via a phone call).

Thanks mbosko.

We're only sending screeners to reputable companies. I wasn't so concerned about being ripped off as I was about doing the expected thing.

BTW: eight of the twelve confirmed distributors actually showed up at the screening and all of them asked for screeners. The next day I got phone calls from the other four sending their regrets and asking for a screener. Then on Wednesday I got five more phone calls from distributors who hadn't RSVP'd one way or the other asking for copies.

I wonder if that means they were talking about my movie?

you must have created a "buzz" - nice work...
you mentioned other films made that have been distributed - what were they, and, are any rights available?
thanks!