Back from a great time at Cannes and Hot Docs- somewhere out there, there is footage of the panel I was on in Toronto but I’m not sure if it is essential viewing. The divide between distributable product and the vast masses that don’t fall into saleable niches is growing. Some niches seem to be growing too- given the lower financial commitments of getting films out digitally, perhaps there is a chance for new kinds of risks (though that hasn’t proven true so much yet).

With sales down in Cannes and the specialty film maket suffering, TV/VOD may be the next great hope for independent filmmakers. As far as I know, there are no public figures for the revenue of individual titles on IFC’s Festival Direct or Magnolia’s VOD titles, so it’s hard to get a current read. Films without a theatrical release don’t benefit from press and publicity and may potentially still be tarred with a “direct to video” brush- but times are changing.

Is VOD just another place to sell the film after you’ve made your theatrical and broadcast deals? Could VOD be the first place you sell your film? How can you bring your audience to a VOD broadcast? Does VOD have any specific qualitites to help you build an audience?

HT: Ingrid Kopp

• DISCUSS THIS Post in discussion

• BROWSE / IN TIMELINE
• « Free screening: RiP: A Remix Manifesto
• » I want to rock and roll all night (and wake up in the gutter)

• BROWSE / IN Uncategorized
• « Digital Docs- upcoming workshop & networking event
• » Internet Week + Filmmakers