Distribution amo

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Independent Film

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By Alex Davies

Conventional vs. New Methods

Independent films usually don’t have enough of a budget to get a theatrical release. However, there are some independent films like Room and Carol, which have more developed distribution companies, like A24, which distribute these indie films to theatres. However for most independent films under a budget of $3 Million, they originally would have gotten released on DVD. A DVD distributor would meet with the film producers and discuss where the DVDs will be sold and the finance logistics. This rarely happens nowadays, since films are usually released through online viewing platforms, like Netflix, iTunes, BitTorrent and Vimeo.

Independent Films getting their spot on the Silver Screen

Some Independent films have been able to get a distribution deal, whereby either their story have attracted enough of an audience to convince distributing companies, like A24 and Magnolia Pictures to distribute them. Films like Room and Carol are based on famous novels and therefore have a following of fans and Suffragette is based on British historical events, which is a popular genre among British films, which would lead to a wide audience appeal in Britain.

$6 Mil

$1 Mil

$14 Mil

$11 Mil

$500K

Budget

Advantages of Netflix

Netflix is an extremely popular online platform for streaming films and television shows. It is available in every country in the world (excluding China), which shows that if an independent film was distributed on Netflix, it would reach its largest audience than being distributed on other platforms. This shows the possibility of the film becoming popular is more likely.

The independent film will be among other films which are more well-known and may result in it being watched. This is because when a film you’ve watched on Netflix is finished it recommends other films, which may be that independent film.

In addition, Netflix develops and distributes its own original series, which are exclusive to Netflix and have been successful, both in popularity and critical acclaim, such as Orange is the New Black and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which both have been nominated for various Emmys Awards.

Disadvantages of Netflix

However, Netflix doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to independent filmmakers as their payment structure isn’t flexible. Typically Netflix will offer a direct fee (around $10,000-$12,000) which will give them unlimited usage for around 1 – 2 years. This isn’t bad if you have a film which has a low/no budget and just want it to become more well known and noticed. But if you want profit and a financial gross from the film, there are better options. The best way to get your film on Netflix is to use an aggregator (like Distribber). This will be expensive, since it will cost around $1,500 depending on the service you use.

As well, if the independent film that is being distributed is a prestige film, meaning that it will get nominated for awards, Netflix is not a good option. For example, Beasts of No Nation, which is an independent film distributed on Netflix was expected to garner major nominations, yet it did poorly and didn’t get an Oscar nomination.

Advantages of iTunesSimilar to Netflix, iTunes is popular and is an application among most computers and laptops. This means that it will reach many people and will have a higher chance of becoming popular.

iTunes is beneficial when distributing independent films, since it will be on the same platform as blockbusters and Oscar Winners, which adds a sense of legitimacy to your film and makes it seem professional.

iTunes is very well known which leads to many people watching either films, music videos or television shows on this platform. This displays how people are more likely to actually watch the independent film on iTunes than if it was hosted on a platform that the person did not know.

iTunes users already have accounts set up with their credit card info, which means that if they want to purchase your film it will be easy.

Disadvantages of iTunes

Similar to Netflix, The best way to get your film on iTunes is to use an aggregator (like Distribber). This will be expensive, since it will cost around $1,500 depending on the service you use.

It is also possible to submit your film to iTunes yourself, but it is a fairly confusing and difficult process which still may leave you rejected and feel like you’re losing profit. If you do distribute the film on iTunes, they will take 30% of the profit from each sale and leave you with 70%. Independent films are usually £4.99 on iTunes, but with this reduction from the iTunes, it only leaves the filmmaker with £3.49, which is a considerable decrease.

Advantages of BitTorrent

This is one of the best options for people making independent films that want to self distribute and make the film popular on their own.

A popular feature on BitTorrent that has made it so successful, is the ‘Bundle’ feature. This is a downloadable package that you create which can include your film, trailer, poster, cast information and more. The bundle is hosted on BitTorrent and is accessible by their massive user base of approximately 180 million users, this shows how there is a large audience for your film. You can ask the users to pay for the film, or you may want to give users the film for free if they first share a link to your film’s website on a social media platform. This leads to more publicity for the film, which will lead to a higher popularity.

The model is structured better and more professional than any other platform. It gives the creators the decision of choosing how they want to benefit from their film and how they would like it to be set out.

Disadvantages of BitTorrent

One of the only disadvantages with BitTorrent is that the useful and versatile ‘Bundles’ feature is still in the alpha stages, which means that it is still not yet available to the public and therefore can not expand it’s audience.

This is the main reason why most of the movies distributed on BitTorrent are big budget blockbuster movies from Hollywood, rather than small independent films.

rather than

Avatar (2009)Budget = $237 Million

Short Term 12 (2013)Budget = $1 Million

Advantages of Vimeo on Demand

There are many advantages to picking Vimeo on Demand, such as it allows you to go straight to the source and simplifies the process. Once your film is on the platform, it’s also being seen by a growing number of users who are not only accessing Vimeo on their computers, but also through devices like their Apple TVs or iPhones.

As well, you keep 90% of revenue after transaction fees, and they cover all delivery costs. A revenue of 90%, rather than the mere 70% that iTunes offered. In most business transactions revolving around distribution 90% is a fair deal, between the producer and the distributor.

To add on, you can sell films and clips at the price you want, anywhere in the world you want — including on your own website, which shows the amount of flexibility Vimeo on Demand offers to the user.

Disadvantages of Vimeo on Demand

However, Vimeo on Demand is a platform onlyideal for filmmakers that have preexisting websites or any sort of form of advertising for their film, since Vimeo on Demand doesn’t have that many users and would be harder to get your film discovered on Vimeo on Demand than other online distributing services which are more popular, like iTunes.

Without heavily promoting it yourself, there is an abundance of unregulated content populating the site.

Another disappointing factor to consider when debuting an independent film on Vimeo on Demand is the cost involved is around $200 a year for the pro account, which is extremely expensive and will dissuade users from buying a pro account. Other services like Netflix, which offer monthly subscriptions at $6.99 is more suitable.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, I feel that the best form of online viewing platforms for my film would be Vimeo on Demand and BitTorrent. iTunes takes away a lot of the profit made, and Netflix isn’t successful when it comes to the distribution of independent prestige films, which is what my film would become it it was produced into a full-length feature film. Since, I’d you want to keep costs low to access a large audience, BitTorrent and Vimeo are the best options.

Whereas, if the film I was producing contained a larger budget and was focusing more on the popularity then Netflix and iTunes are the best for you.