Independent Film Blog

Turning Your Luck Around @ Film Markets

A year ago, filmmaker Richard Ford had a completed film “i-Crime” which he submitted to sales agents hoping to launch at AFM®, but got no response and no representation. He and his producing partner didn’t like taking NO for an answer, and decided to head to the market anyway, figuring they’d have better luck trying to [...]

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Finding A Sales Agent @ Film Markets

Taking an extremely pro-active approach to the distribution of his film, filmmaker Ron Zimmerman took his nearly completed feature “The Killing Strain” to the American Film Market® in 2009 to spark interest and find the right sales agent. In this case study Ron discusses: • How he and his filmmaking partner met their sales agent • The preparation [...]

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Film Markets: From A Sales Agent Perspective

After listening to a couple of interviews from filmmakers on their experience at Film Markets, I thought you’d like to hear a different perspective — one from a SALES AGENT. So in this interview, Clay Epstein, VP of Sales & Acquisitions at The Little Film Company, gives filmmakers some incredible insight on how to get your [...]

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Distribution Overwhelm

There are so many options nowadays for filmmakers with completed films. For example, you can easier then every before approach domestic distributors directly, hook up with a foreign sales agent to exploit your film’s rights overseas, upload your film to internet VOD platforms, self-distribute your film into theaters, and so much more, including doing a [...]

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Self Releasing Your Film Theatrically…

If you are considering doing a theatrical release for your film, one of the things you need to think about first is whether or not to hire a Servicing Company to execute the release for you. A Service Company is effectively a “distributor for hire” in the sense that you can pay them to book [...]

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Self Distribution: What’s In It For You?

I just released new updated version of the SELF DISTRIBUTION STARTER KIT mini-eBook/guide this week and it seems to be stirring up conversation about Self-Distribution in general. One of the things that fascinates me is how the Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) approach of selling DVD’s off your website is somehow looked down upon by many filmmakers. [...]

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The Rhythm of Distribution

Today in my Distribution In Reverse course we discussed “Production & Post-Production For Distribution” and everything you need to be doing during those phases to increase your chances of getting distribution for your film in the near future. And it got me to thinking about the “rhythm’ of distribution — because if you think about [...]

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My Top 10 Cannes Take-Away’s

During the Cannes Film Festival & Market last week, I enjoyed uploading daily video snippet on the Film Specific Facebook page to give people a real sense of what the infamous Cannes Market actually looks like. I know many of you got a kick out of those but I wanted to spend a few [...]

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Traditional Distribution? Alive & Kicking!

I’m writing this post knowing there are probably several distribution experts out there who disagree with me, but I’m going to speak my mind anyway! This past week while at the Cannes Film Market I couldn’t help but notice all the traditional distribution deals being done for independent films. In fact, it’s been a rather healthy [...]

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Do You Still Need A Sales Agent?

A question that is coming up a lot lately has to do with this: In today’s distribution landscape where the Producer is in control of his own destiny, does it even make sense anymore to work with a sales agent in the traditional distribution realm? Now realize I might be a little biased here only because [...]

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