self distributing my indie film! - IndieTalk

richard lowry · 11-03-2009, 08:59 PM

Having just come off a 7 year distribution stint and having not made a single dime (they did, though) I'm excited about the prospects of self-distributing...this is the future for all fellow indie directors and producers. No need for a distributor, just a good marketing campaign. My film, THE WICKSBORO INCIDENT, was made for a paltry $2,500, was an official selection in the Hollywood Film Festival and was acclaimed by several critics including Harry Knowles at aintitcool ("Creepy...I dug the hell out of this film.") so how can a lousy $2,500 not be recouped? By giving it to a distributor with no advance and promises of money to come. Didn't happen.

I've created my own website and am embarking on a marketing campaign to bring traffic through. You can check it out at http://lowrybros.com/wicksboro/index.htm. I'll add posts depending on how much progress I make...

***indietalk*** · 11-03-2009, 10:05 PM

Congrats. Thread moved.

**M1chae1** · 11-04-2009, 07:55 AM

Ouch....ya. You have to make sure you're signing with a company that has a proven track record with a healthy library of films.

And of course, get a lawyer and read the fine-print before any ink hits paper.

In this market, disribution is rough. The feature we shot two movies ago was self distributed, but then the following picture we had an offer, so we took it. We had distributed with them before, and the director was friends with the two owners, and they made an offer we couldn't refuse (which wasn't much I'm sure, but worth getting it off our hands and moving on to the next feature).

You have to know when to let go, and when to move on.

Thundercrack Films · 11-04-2009, 04:03 PM

Richard, who was your distributor?

**M1chae1** · 11-04-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thundercrack Films

Richard, who was your distributor?

Hi, I'm Michael.

Richard Griffin is the director and owner of Scorpio Film Releasing (one of my good friends). We usually go with Pop Cinema--now known as Alternative Cinema & Camp Motion Pictures:

http://www.alternativecinema.com/

There are several branches of the company...and yes there are some softcore films and the like, but it's not the low quality porn softcore you see around...it's more of a campy exploitation softcore if you know what I mean...but they still have an awesome catalog of indie goodness.

Blade_Jones · 11-05-2009, 12:29 AM

Do distributors actually get no-name indie micro budget movies into stores like Best Buy? If not then it's a waste of 25% or whatever they are taking because ANYBODY can secure internet distribution on Amazon via their advantage program. Anyone can get into the NetFlix system too via FilmBaby, although I think NetFlix is a "NetLoss" because they pay peanuts and rentals rob you of sales.

**M1chae1** · 11-05-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blade_Jones

Do distributors actually get no-name indie micro budget movies into stores like Best Buy? If not then it's a waste of 25% or whatever they are taking because ANYBODY can secure internet distribution on Amazon via their advantage program. Anyone can get into the NetFlix system too via FilmBaby, although I think NetFlix is a "NetLoss" because they pay peanuts and rentals rob you of sales.

Yes. Alternative Cinema has put our films in Best Buy, Newbury Comics, and Netflix. I don't know about other distro companies though. At least they did at one point...not sure if they still do that.

barnaclelapse · 11-06-2009, 08:52 AM

I think Netflix is still doing it.

So, it sounds to me like self-distributing is the best way to go, despite likely being a thousand times more difficult and stressful? Is that accurate?