Dive into the archives.
- Know Your Digital Rights-Panel @ IFP September 17
I’ll be moderating a panel at the IFP “Independent Film Week” next week and I hope you’ll come out and and join us.
Know Your Digital Rights
How much are digital rights worth to producers and filmmakers? And which rights should filmmakers consider retaining or exploiting in this proliferation of new distribution outlets? Learn the deal structures and benefits for independent filmmakers from the experts.Wednesday, September 17th, 10-11 AM
FIT, 7th Ave between 27/28th, NYC
Panelists:
Steven Beer, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
Janet Brown, COO, Cinetic Rights Management
Charles Choi, Founder, Caachi
Karol Martesko-Fenster, Head of Film, Cinelan
Joe Swanberg, Director… [more]
- New Distribution at TIFF
Going to Toronto and think you might not be entertained enough simply by watching movies (or gawking at celebrities?) Though TIFF may be the last monument of big theatrical distribution strategies, there are a couple events dedicated to the encroaching digital form.
At Meet With… at Match Club, on September 6, 11AM-12PM, Janet Brown AND Matt Dentler of Cinetic Rights Management talk to Shane Smith, Director of In-Flight Entertainment for Air Canada (it appears clear that CRM:digital distribution as Peter Broderick:self-distribution, appearing on every panel a film festival offers on the subject).
At Doc Roundtable, on September 7… [more]
- And…Cut! Pessimism at Telluride
From Spout’s Telluride coverage (and brand new web look), Karina Longworth reports on a panel called “Snip Snip: Are Cutbacks in Film Distribution and Criticism Affecting Quality Filmmaking?”- the predetermined answer reiterated repeatedly as Karina describes the various doomy takes on the internet’s evil influence and some unmitigating weak sauce “positive sides” such as Paul Schrader’s pithy “ ‘There’s [currently] no money in it, but it’s much better to gore the ox than to hold the ox that’s being gored.’ ”
The only person who seemed rather blithe, from Karina’s description, was Michael Barker. As I… [more]
- HBO’s digital strategy- “cautious”
I didn’t pick this up last month when it was going down, but in mid-July, Sean Atkins, SVP of HBO Digital Media, ankled the company. This comes only a year after he was hired from Yahoo! and HBO fired almost the entire Digital Media team that had been based in LA (the office subsequently moved to NYC).
What’s interesting about this story is that unlike many other big media companies, HBO has really not gone full-force into digital, preferring to use the web for marketing and promotion of their broadcast programming rather than for content delivery.
The question for a… [more]
- 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… [more]
- 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]
- 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]
