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 me, and all that’s required from YOU is a little creativity (should be easy enough since you’re all filmmakers, right?)
Here’s how it’s gonna work:
Answer this question….
How have you used Distribution In Reverse principles with your own projects in the past, and what results have you gotten? Or how do you plan to utilize Distribution In Reverse principles in your NEXT project?
Submit your Video Case Study to me by Thursday, January 21 and let me know! Here are the specifics:
• Upload a video to You Tube of 3 min or less where you describe how you’ve successfully utilized DIR principles on past projects, or how you’re planning to use them on your next project.
• Leave a comment on this post with a link to your You Tube video no later than Thursday, January 21
• I will narrow the submissions down to the 3 that I feel have best utilized, or will utilize, DIR principles and then you (the readers) will vote on the best one
• The winner will receive a free spot in my Distribution In Reverse Group Coaching Program which kicks off on January 26 (value $350) and a private one-on-one 30 min phone consult with me.
For inspiration, you can check out the comments to a previous blog posting I did on this topic HERE , or on the Film Specific Facebook Page where there are several postings on the topic.
Now, to get started, I want you to whip out that Flip video camera (or web cam) of yours and get going! Remember, the deadline for submitting the link to your You Tube video is Thursday, January 21. Looking forward to seeing your videos!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq1LdJVkng4 <- My case study on "Distribution in Reverse" for The House.
Hey Stacey and Everyone,
Here is our Video Case Study submission for the contest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOBghBTNG0
Our case study deals with our little $20,000 horror film “Plasterhead”, whih was distributed on DVD in the US by Arts Alliance America (distributors of “Super Size Me”). Through our distribution deal, “Plasterhead” was available in stores like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, FYE and Hollywood Video, and can still be found online at Netflix.com (DVD & streaming), Amazon.com and Blockbuster.com. “Plasterhead” has also been released in four countries: Russia, Japan (as “No Face”), Germany and Singapore.
Because we had numerous odds stacked against our film ever seeing the light of day, we spent a lot of time preparing for distribution, even before we rolled on a single frame. We credit the reverse distribution techniques we employed on “Plasterhead” for the film’s eventual success.
I hope that everyone enjoys and potentially learns something from our case study video!
- Kevin
Well done guys with your Dist. in Rev. case study for “Plasterhead”. Great info.
Hi Stacey! Here is the distribution case study for my short film Last Call: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PmpyxP5tkQ
Two years ago I was a Film Specific member with a full time job and no time to write. One year ago I was laid off, providing me a great opportunity to join the growing Michigan film community. I have since directed my first short film and finished my first feature screenplay.
Unfortunately it also meant I no longer had funds to renew my FS membership. I declared bankruptcy last month so a scholarship would be a huge help! I am in need of help creating a budget and business plan for my screenplay. It’s considerably more ambitious than Last Call so any and all Distribution in Reverse tactics I can learn will be a HUGE benefit.
That said, even I have to vote for the Plasterhead team. Kevin, you guys are awesome! So I am playing for second place. A box of turtle wax and the Distribution in Reverse home game would be great.
Thanks!
Steve
Hey John & Steve,
Thanks so much for the kind words on “Plasterhead” and our case study! It’s always great to hear from fellow filmmakers.
You guys both present some unique concepts in your case study videos, and I’d encourage anyone reading this to take the time to watch them.
Even as someone who has held that ever-elusive distribution gem in his hands, I will say that our business plan for our next film contains recouping roadmaps for both traditional and self-distribution. You really need to have a game plan for both these days.
“Plasterhead” was lucky to catch what I believe to be the “end” of the straight-to-DVD era and get a nice advance that allowed us to cover our budget and profit, but as Stacey has been hammering home, it’s not fiscally prudent to spend X amount of dollars on your film these days when advances are only paying Y. Keep in mind that “Plasterhead” only cost $20,000, so recoupment wasn’t all that difficult (in comparison to higher-budgeted films). It’s my opinion that once you start spending $100k and above, you need an alternate exit strategy so that you don’t get left out in the financial cold when you find out your distributor expectations were unrealistic.
Good luck to everyone in the contest!
- Kevin
I agree with Kevin H. I think their pursuing the distributors before making is the way to go, but I’m concerned how many distributors are really that interested ahead of the production since everything changed in the fim biz. I’m considering having my entertainment lawyer contact one of the smaller network TV stations ahead of production to see what they would be willing to offer to screen The House on their stations.
Everyone needs to think “out-of-the-box” as much as possible at this point in the biz. Nothing is the same. It use to be that distributors were buying so much content and people were buying up DVD’s. But now everyone is pickier. I think marketing is #1. To be pirated, rejected by film fests or trashed by critics may not be good but to be invisible will destory your films potential for any financial return.
Everyone needs to check all the video case studies. There’s alot to learn from everyone!
Anyone have any idea when voting for the contest is officially starting?
Hey guys,
I’m going to be announcing the winner tomorrow!
Thanks!!
Stacey
Hey Guys,
Here’s the deal – I’m going to award 1st Place to Kevin H. for making a killer video. I think you all agreed with that!
BUT….Because all 3 of you went out of your way to participate in the contest, I’m going to give all 3 off you free scholarships to the DISTRIBUTION IN REVERSE Program which begins tomorrow. And Kevin H. will get the other 2 prizes of free Film Specific membership, and a 30 min phone consult with me.
So congrats to all of you and please email support@filmspecific.com to get all the details on the Program starting tomorrow.
Looking forward to working with you and thanks again for your participation!
Stacey*