Available for svod, theatrical and other forms of short film distribution. Short films have a life in the festival circuit and are a great way to create a calling card. In fact, when it comes to getting your short film shown in a professional theatrical environment, they re actually one of the good guys. With the right distribution strategy, your short film could have a long and surprisingly prosperous life after its festival run. Below is a rundown of a recent talk given at idfa by indie film distribution guru and strategist peter broderick, as reported by our staff member, carol ann short. As a result of internet film distribution and the inevitable demise of dvd retail distribution you can now reach a global marketplace. Distribution how to make a baftanominated short film youtube. Ease your workload and your mind with these free templates for everything from storyboarding to contracts to accounting. Film festivals, the internet, and self promotion, mr. Topic teams with roger ross williams for shortfilm series one story up. You now hold a card that hollywood doesnt have, your own fanbase. Keep in mind that, if you plan to have distribution partners, youll need to evaluate their needs as well. Film distribution process begins when you have decided you want people to see your movie. While there are no guarantees that your movie will become the next viral, breakout hit, doing something is better than letting your movie collect dust.
Filmmakers need to get a good, rocksolid understanding of how film distribution works. The first step in building your film festival strategy is one which often gets overlooked and that is. Key benefits of buying a short film package from discover. When we released our first feature on amazon and started making sales, it was hard to believe we could do so without a traditional film distribution deal. We anticipate a distribution deal with fox searchlight. This is the process that makes your film go from private to public and this way people will see your product finished in cinemas or any other distribution platform. Learn how to get your film distributed, in under 3 months. This 12 week movie marketing plan will help you sketch out a way to promote your film. Heres the distribution strategy you need before sundance or any film festival. The film business plan template is a stepbystep guide enabling you to understand your film as a business proposition to film investors. Use a short film to meet agents and managers to show what you can do. With so many factors to consider and different paths to go down, the new guide to short film exhibition, distribution and marketing from the random acts network is a vital resource. Were going to take a look at all kinds of issues from online distribution and thirdparty film licensing to digital series and shortform funding. As creatives, we often think our job finishes once our film is edited but far from it, i have only just started to learn how important marketing your film actually is.
Listen to my free podcasts, indie film hustle podcast on. The term business plan comes out of the corporate world. The conventional wisdom is that there just isnt much short film distribution out there. The changing game of distribution short of the week. With this template, youll learn what are the important factors when presenting your feature film. From that deal i have investors contacting me to see my feature film business plan and tv series. In the past, this would more than likely be the end of your film s public life, especially without a sales agent. If youve made a great film, and plan the right sales and distribution strategy, you have a shot at making some if not all of your money back. How to write a 4part film business plan that gets you funding. Even if your film does not find distribution at a film festival you can still find and contact distributors. Many filmmakers are worried about production, postproduction, etc. In entertainment weekly s recent coverage of the shortshd short awards, filmmakers were complimentary of the service, without which their films would never.
The current state of independent film distribution is complex and evershifting. Niche festivals that were selected are the manhattan short film festival and the womens international film. Most filmmakers make their shorts without much thought for distribution. No one really feels like doing paperwork, but lets be honest. She is vicechair of the short film conference a worldwide organization working to promote the status of the short film and unite the global short film community. Creating a business plan for your film outlet is a meticulous process that requires a fair amount of time to ensure its quality.
Creating your film festival strategy short sighted cinema. Mastering media distribution media dvd blu ray copies packaging. Film festivals at the least let you watch how your film plays out in front of a live audience and the opportunity to network with other filmmakers. If you pull together a kickstarter campaign to raise funds. Every film can benefit from having a distribution strategy before its festival premiere and before any rights are sold. Film distribution should be in the process of creating a movie, most of the time this is not taken into account. How will you bring your film to the attention of your target market. You might like my post how film distribution works read here.
How to get short film distribution the guerrilla rep. Want is the value of the hbocinemax distribution deal were millions of people will see my film and be able to purchase through download that will help my dvd sells. Youve tapped your friends and family for as much money as you can muster, and made your short film. Identify potential marketing intermediaries once you have a clear understanding of your end user, its time to start crunching the numbers and laying out a game plan. Here is some insight into finding the right home for your short film or video content in todays online distribution world. Moore lays out what to expect and how to prepare for it. But when it comes the time to let the movie get known, they dont know how to do it. A distribution strategy for filmmakers who want to selfdistribute after their. Layed out are clear stepbystep gameplans for new and traditional selfpromotion, assembling your deliverables, building a press kit, submission strategies and much more. Filmhub allows filmmakers to upload your film for free, while streaming channels discover, order, and stream your work worldwide. Best film business plan template sample, financials. The final piece of your short film business plan is your release strategy. In the past, this would more than likely be the end of your films public life, especially without a sales agent. The core concept of the piece is be everywhere all at once, a strategy that advises to distribute a film on.
Distribution plan and story, not characters gender or race, key to box office success. Innovative marketing and distribution strategies, particularly inline with nfvf objectives with respect to animation, digital and other new technologiesmedia will be supported. Successful filmmakers and by that i mean filmmakers who successfully recoup their budget and repay investors, are the ones who develop a distribution strategy before they embark on the filmmaking process, and sometimes before they write the script. No film school asked adrijana lazarevic to collect these 99 templates because of her expertise working with filmmakers at filestage.
Securing a contract with an established sales agency is crucial to making money from your short film. My names curt jaimungal and i know what its like to struggle as an artist. This is very important because it is going to decide the life of your short film and its possibilities of distribution, due to the fact. Distribution plan and story, not characters gender or. But the life of a short film as a product a film distributor wants to sell is limited. We can provide files to match the specifications of a range of infotainment systems.
The objectives of no good deeds marketing plan will be to generate awareness and revenue from our target markets. Second, i learned that the determiner of your success is your psychology which is why i teach entrepreneurship leadership. Short films are no longer calling cards for a film career by james cullen bressack duration. This project is a comic book franchise and i am building a. You cant write a traditional business plan quite yet, but short films are the fastest growing and changing market segment in the entertainment industry, a sector of the industry that is changing faster than others. Every filmmaking form youll ever need in 99 free templates. It refers to a document that is prepared before a business launches. Here is the ultimate guide to distributing a short film on the. We wont go into distribution because essentially theres not a very large market for distributing short films. This plan provides grassroots strategies you can implement over a 12 week period. Her background includes cinema programming and management, marketing and publicity for films, festivals and major attractions. With a film marketing plan you can now market directly to film audiences at the fraction of traditional hollywood marketing budgets.
A massive list of international distributors for your. Film distribution strategies to use when financing your movie. Does that mean you can write a business plan for short films. The film business plan is a stepbystep guide on how to structure your film as a business and projects what your film will cost to develop and operate every film investor wants to see how you are going to spend the money and most of all, what the return on investment will be. I get a lot of questions about how best to make money with short films. How to distribute your short film in todays online marketplace.
First, what i discovered is that there are lessons you can take from silicon valley and apply directly to film pitching marketing distribution. This training is designed to give you the tools to move your projects forward and level up your filmmaking career. What should you do with your short after its completed. You have reached the secret landing page we have created for the social media capitalism for filmmakers talk here goes. Though, if you meet other filmmakers through networking at these film festivals and online, initiate a distribution plan. Marketing your short film beginners filmmaking youtube. Here is the ultimate guide to distributing a short film on the internet. Filmmaking stuff hq provides professional level training for producers, directors, actors, writers, film students, or second career filmmakers. How to create a distribution strategy that actually makes.
How to create a movie marketing plan without going crazy. So you made a short film, and it got into some festivals now what. We walk you through the nuts and bolts of your project so you present the investment opportunity in the best light possible, without compromising your creativity. This is the first in a series of articles that will focus upon creating your films festival strategy. How to distribute your short film in todays online. The film festival doctor is an initiative led by rebekah smith, providing guidance and structure for filmmakers looking to navigate the festival circuit.
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