Digital Movie Distribution For Independent Filmmakers
Many independent filmmakers (myself included) and movie distributors have relied on DVD sales to survive. With DVD sales in a steady decline that revenue source is drying up fast. It might be premature to pronounce DVD dead as format, but it is fading.
With DVD sales in a slump independent filmmakers and distributors are adrift at sea waiting for a lifeboat to rescue them. That lifeboat is digital movie distribution. Slice Of Americana Films has jumped on board by signing a deal with Gravitas Ventures, a company that is focused on digital movie distribution. How does digital movie distribution differ from traditional distribution?
In my view traditional distribution is modeled on old ways of doing business. The biggest downside for independent filmmakers is the length of contract they have to commit to. Some distribution deals for are long as 25 years and include ALL RIGHTS. A lot of ways to distribute movies have not yet been invented, but will as movie technology continues to grow. A 25-year movie distribution deal only favors the distributor, not the independent filmmaker.
Digital movie distribution offers more options to independent filmmakers and does not lock them into a deal that’s not in their best interest. I am not giving away any trade secrets. You can listen for yourself to Gravitas Ventures founder Nolan Gallagher speak in an interview with Movie Biz Coach about how their 2-year distribution deal works.
For independent filmmakers that want to take the self-distribution road I can’t see a better way than digital movie distribution. I admit I am behind the times on how I watch my entertainment. I still like to relax at home while watching a DVD from Netflix. But as an independent filmmaker I depend on digital movie distribution to connect with viewers. My business partner Tim Beachum only watches videos on a computer or mobile device. That market of viewers continues to grow. I have to grow with it our get out of the business.
To meet the demand for digital entertainment Slice Of Americana Films started to explore digital movie distribution outlets for content we wanted to self-distribute on our own. One we found is Digital Product Delivery. A very simple and effective way to self-distribute content digitally and payment is made through your PayPal account. The beauty is we use Digital Product Delivery to distribute our short content that has been edited and produced strictly for mobile devices.
Digital movie distribution is an exciting platform to deliver entertainment to viewers. It does favor independent filmmakers in my opinion compared to traditional distribution deals. It gives independent filmmakers more control over the distribution process of their work. It’s really hands on.
From my experience once you sign a traditional distribution deal you are removed from the process as a filmmaker. They have their own marketing teams and rarely invite the filmmaker to be involved. It sounds crazy, but it’s been true for me. Keep in mind this is framed totally from one independent filmmaker’s viewpoint. What excites me about digital movie distribution is reaching more viewers instantly. I received an email last week from someone who downloaded a short film we self-distributed titled Club Universe featuring Supermodel Joanna Krupa. The viewer was located in Nagoya, Japan. That blew my mind as an independent filmmaker. This is Sid Kali typing FADE OUT: