Film distribution in the digital age.
- Sony’s “Open Market” could open the Digital Market- a little
TechCrunch reports today on a move by the major studios to protect digital media through a DRM scheme called Open Market. Rather than bow to the the individual protections of a single retailer, otherwise known as iTunes, the studios are working with about 30 different retailers and portals, including Amazon, Best Buy, Direct TV, Time Warner Cable, T-Mobile, Target, Wal-Mart, and others to create a system whereby any digital media available through the participating companies would be subject to third party encryption that would only work on registered devices. (Essentially, you could only play the movie on a device you had registered in advance for the purpose of ‘using’ that file).
This could be good news for indies, since it has been shown time and again how distasteful these kind of DRM methods are to consumers, who want to be able to use media they paid for when and where they want it, as they would a DVD. If indies are able to market their downloadable products on Amazon or other portals as DRM-free (or at least, not “Open Market”) it may be a selling point.
- Indies get tactical, but is self-distribution the answer?
Anne Thompson’s recent post on ‘changing tactics’ for independent film distribution shows how tenuous things are in the game these days and how much digital is becoming a part of all distribution strategies. She proposes that self-distribution is becoming increasingly attractive and/or viable, with films like BOTTLE SHOCK and GOOD DICK entering into service deals rather than going the straight distribution route.
But the idea that “filmmakers don’t have to give away the store with DVD deals anymore” seems a little premature, at best. Especially for independents, revenue on digital download and streaming is not even in the… [more]
- INTERVIEW- Danielle DiGiacomo - Indiepix Documentary Film Coordinator
I met Danielle DiGiacomo of IndiePix at Sundance a couple of years ago and since then have enjoyed working with her on a couple of different things- my company will be distributing a film she associate produced, and we both screened films for the Tribeca Gucci Documentary Fund with IndiePix Studio’s incoming head Ryan Harrington. She is an insightful and dedicated documentary lover with a unique perspective on digital distribution.
[I]nfinicine: What made you interested in working with an online video market like IndiePix? Was it just the films or were you a techie type?
Danielle DiGiacomo [DD]: Although I was… [more]
- SuperU has contests for filmmakers to get on TV- are they a winner?
Back in my hometown Vancouver BC this weekend I had a chat with an old friend Clare Hodge, who I met when she was the Executive Director at Women in Film and Video Vancouver years ago, She has a new gig now at a website called SuperU, owned by Canadian broadcaster Super Channel, who are looking for content (and presumably viewers) online. Their scheme is to offer a contest to filmmakers, who can win cash and broadcast opportunities for their films. The site is (I’m assuming) being publicized through Super Channel itself… [more]
- INTERVIEW- D-Word Founder and Doc Director Doug Block
The D-Word is an essential resource for documentary film folks- an online community of filmmakers, writers, and broadcast/distribution types. Doug Block, the founder and co-host of the site, is an experienced filmmaker whose breakout film 51 BIRCH STREET, a personal documentary about family relationships, benefited from a grassroots marketing campaign that included utilizing the internet. Infinicine asked him about the transitioning state of distribution for documentarians.
[I]nfinicine: In your experience, are independent filmmakers making a transition to online forms of distribution? Are streaming and/or downloading viable revenue sources for a filmmaker who has essentially self-financed… [more]
- iTunes and Indie Films - Meet the Middleman
In a nifty bit of synergy, Scott Kirsner over at CinemaTech has taken on the question “How to get your indie film on iTunes?” (a somewhat similar query to the very first post in the Infinicine discussion forum). Getting your film on iTunes does seem like a bit of an apex at this stage in the digital distribution evolution, not only because iTunes sales are so commanding relative to other download services so far but also because they charge a relatively high price and share it with the rightsholder. (As with any customer, terms will vary).
The… [more]
- INTERVIEW- Online Markets - Indiepix.com
Indiepix has gone in a few directions over the last couple of years. The latest is a partnership with SnagFilms, Ted Leonsis’s widget-based monetized documentary player and a production end, Indiepix Studios. They are also staffed by very dedicated, delightful young people.
[I]nfinicine: What services are offered on your site?
[IP] Indiepix:
DVD Sale
Download to own
Download to disc[I]: What is the structure of the deal, i.e. flat fee, percentage of sale, ad revenue, etc. Provide terms if possible.
[IP]: We do not give advances, but we do all the design, production, manufacturing and marketing. The filmmaker receives a… [more]
- Welcome!
Hi there- welcome to Infinicine.com. Today we go live and start to offer you information and dialog about the brave new world of digital distribution. Please check out the site, the discussion board, and make comments and suggestions. And tell your friends and colleagues. Hope this will be a useful resource and you will learn as I do… [more]
- INTERVIEW- Educational Market- Rachel Gordon, Energized Films
The educational market is an often overlooked source of revenue for independent filmmakers, and has a lot of models that may be used by more “commercial” vendors in the future. Rachel Gordon has a background as a director, producer, ad writer. Her consulting business, Energized Films, helps filmmakers access the educational market.
[I]nfinicine: How are streaming/digital downloads changing educational distribution?
[R]achel Gordon: The process of change in education is pretty slow, but what is happening is that some colleges and universities have been able to experiment. They’ve
started licenses to stream on servers they’ve created and maintained… [more]
- INTERVIEW- Online Markets- Caachi.com
As part of the ongoing series of online markets, Infinicine presents an interview with Charles Choi from Caachi.com, a streaming and download service that specializes in independent film and is friendly to independent filmmakers.[I]nfinicine: What services are offered on your site?[C]aachi: Streaming online - We provide high resolution (700Kbps) streams of the films we offer. This enables a high-quality viewing experience.Download to own - the films distributed in this fashion are “DRM free”, to provide the greatest user flexibility in viewing.Download to disc - Films downloaded… [more]
