Independent Film Blog

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about all the new revenue models for independent film distribution and how to communicate them effectively to potential investors.
I mean, in the past when you would do a film business plan it was quite simple – project revenue from traditional distribution platforms like Broadcast, Theatrical, DVD, and [...]

I love how many questions I’ve been getting on Budgets, Sales Projections, and Packaging over the last week via the comments on this blog!
You all have raised some really important issues and instead of just giving you cursory answers, I want to really dive in and get to the bottom of some of this stuff.
So [...]

If you’ve ever gone out and tried to raise financing for your film before you know how important your film’s ‘package’ can be. Packaging a script for financing is a big BIG job and often takes the work of more than one person on your team (and the task is often outsourced to a consultant). [...]

Over the last couple of years Budgeting has become a very hot topic of independent filmmaking. Why? Well mostly because most indies can no longer justify the $5 million budget that they used to. There was a time when these higher budget indies could be justified because buyers were acquiring them for up to $10-$15 [...]

I know from the emails I’m getting that many of you WANT to join my Distribution In Reverse Group Coaching Program but may be a little short on cash here in the New Year. Never fear! I’m giving away a free scholarship to the program as well as a 30 min private consult with [...]

I think the concept of Distribution In Reverse naturally lends itself to the question of this:
What budget level is realistic if you want to recoup your film’s budget via distribution?
And a good place to start is to look at how much money independent films are making right now and back into your budget [...]

My last post entitled “Distribution Backwards?” really ignited something….. I got some messages on Twitter as well as feedback on the Film Specific Facebook page that indicates people do NOT like the idea of:
1. reverse engineering WRITING since all you’ll get is focus group ideas/formula, and
2. following a ‘trend’ too closely because by the time [...]

Who would have thought you could reverse the Distribution process? Allow me to clarify….
What I’m talking about here is ‘backing into’ your film’s distribution. Meaning, start with the end in mind and then work backwards until you get to the script, and THEN start writing. How many screenwriters out there actually do this? My guess [...]

Wow, there’s quite a discussion going on over at the Film Specific Facebook page on giving films away for FREE. Yes, that’s F.R.E.E. All prompted by a Time Magazine article I posted about the indie movie “Star Wreck” and the filmmaker Timo Vuorensola who gave his film away for free and then made money (a [...]

Which elements of traditional distribution still work? Which elements of Distribution 2.0 (otherwise known as ‘new world’ strategies) are the most effective for expanding your audience and your bottom line? What is the best combination of old + new techniques?
One thing we can probably all agree on is that the traditional theatrical distribution model might [...]