Tag: Moviemaker

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Truly Free Film

Most Useful Websites For Filmmakers?

Like most folks out there, I get excited with every new list.  MovieMaker has put together their 50 Best Websites For MovieMakers.  It’s a good list and will provide something fresh for virtually everyone out there.

But alas….  I was surprised not to see FilmmakerMagazineBlog on it which I read religiously — oh wait, they are their competitor.  Now I get it.

And let me admit it, I was truly bummed not to see Truly Free Film there.  Or HammerToNail.  I guess I just have to try harder.  Or you could do me a favor (give me the strength to go on…) and stage a write in campaign to their blog and encourage them to add TFF & HTN to the list!  Thanks!
And if you ever have a thought about what will make this blog more useful, or even what you would like some discussion on, don’t hesitate to write in and let me know.
Update 2010: Moviemaker made a new list, and sure enough Truly Free Film and Hammer To Nail made it.  Whew!  Thanks for the support.
Categories
Truly Free Film

Adventures In Self-Releasing

Jeffrey Goodman over at the Moviemaker Blog has a post on what he is learning taking his film The Last Lullaby out himself.  Check it out.  He makes some good points:

1. MPAA. Want your movie to play outside of the art house circuit? Chances are you will need to pay to have it rated. Here’s the link if you want to see how that works (http://www.mpaa.org/CARASubmittalPaperwork8.doc). It is not cheap.

2. Box office split or four wall. These are the two basic arrangements you are likely to face. In the first scenario, box office split, you will simply share a certain percentage of the box office with the theater owner. In the second scenario, you will pay an upfront fee basically to rent the theater. Then, in return, you will receive a share of the box office, usually much higher than in the box office split scenario.

3. Paid ads. Depending on the market, some theaters will obligate you to spend a certain amount on advertising your film if you want them to show it. I’m trying to avoid these places wherever I can.

4. DVD window. Just got off the phone with one of the larger theater chains and they want to obligate me to a four month window, which means in theory I can’t sell DVDs for four months after playing there. But it is part of my hope and plan perhaps to sell DVDs during this whole theatrical run. What to do?

5. Booking a theater. Convincing a theater owner to take a chance on you is just like convincing a potential investor to give you money for your movie: You have to sell them. The thing they are most interested in knowing is how you plan to promote the movie in their area and who your audience is.