Film distribution in the digital age.
- Sundance New Frontier’s Ian Calderon on Indie Digital
Interviewed by CinemaTech’s Scott Kirsner:
New Directions for Independent Cinema: Ian Calderon from Scott Kirsner on Vimeo.… [more]
- Disadvantaged? Or alternatively abled? Panel to decide.
On Tuesday (January 19), I’ll be joining a panel for New York Women in Film and Television to talk about gender, race and disability issues in the film industry. In particular, I’m tasked with commenting on women’s roles in distribution. Most people are familiar with the rather brutal situation for female directors in Hollywood as reported recently in the New York Times- last year just 3% of studio films were helmed by women. Cinematography is similarly imbalanced. In independent film the opportunities increase if not exactly balance. There are positions like editing and producing where… [more]
- The New World in the NY Times
Just like everyone else these days, the New York Times is onto the notion that distribution is a-changing. Manola Dargis profiles Peter Broderick tomorrow and positions him in the New World and all those turnkey distributors as the Old. No matter, I suppose, that Broderick has been saying the same thing (and possibly delivering the same Power Point- no offense, Peter) for many years at various festivals and seminars.
I’m guilty of being one of these people who are offering to help filmmakers develop a strategy if they choose to hoist the mast of their own Niña or… [more]
- 2010: Odyssey Two (Or, it’s my year)
The year is starting out with big news for me- I’m leaving my job as Director of Home Media Sales & Marketing at Zeitgeist Films, where I’ve been in charge of selling DVDs and the move to internet and VOD licensing.
I’ve decided to return to the equally if even less logical pursuit of making docs, consulting, and looking for a sustainable day job. I’m very excited and I hope I’ll be able to give readers of this blog an even more first-hand take on the challenges and opportunities for filmmakers today.
Stay tuned!… [more]
- What is the DVR of Indie Film?
On his Blog Maverick site, Mark Cuban addresses the illogic behind opposition of the DVR by big media companies like Viacom and Disney.
For some reason they want to kill off the DVR… Do you not realize that the DVR is the one device that can save all things traditional and holy to your business and stock price?… Let me ask a simple question, if everyone had a DVR that could record any and every series they liked, enabling them to watch the shows they missed immediately, why would they go to Hulu ever again?
When new technologies come along… [more]
- Real time, as it were
I’ve decided to set up an “all-infinicine-related” twitter account for your bite-sized enjoyment. Please follow me @infinicine
- Think Outside: Jon Reiss tells you how to release a film today
Think Outside The Box (Office): The Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution and Marketing in the Digital Era is the new book from filmmaker/author Jon Reiss (not yet available at Amazon.com). For readers of this site, the book is probably both utterly essential and potentially old news. It provides a step-by-step guide to creating a strategy for your film in the digital age, and how to exploit different platforms and techniques to reach an audience.
I haven’t yet read the book but overall, if you care considering a DIY strategy for your film release, this looks like a fantastic… [more]
- Will the MPAA destroy theatrical? Selective Output Control and the FCC
News from Washington- the MPAA filed with the FCC to encourage the approval of technology that would allow Hollywood studios to transmit theatrical films directly to consumers hi-def before their video or broadcast windows begins. Called Selective Output Control (SOC), this would compete with piracy but would supplement or undercut theatrical runs depending on your viewpoint. A take on this seems to be that this will destroy the theatrical system and put exhibitors out of business.
I’m not one to defend the MPAA, but this seems a little silly in a number of ways. For one thing, theatrical… [more]
- Killer Aced; sponsorship could help finance your indie film
There are all kinds of schemes and innovations emerging in financing and marketing, and it’s no surprise that veteran producer Christine Vachon and her production company Killer Films are at the forefront. Vachon has teamed up with online film production network Massify and the uberhip NYC Ace Hotel (the Seattle and Portland locations are favourites of mine) to produce a series of short films- with sponsorship money from the hotel and the website but basic creative freedom (the films are set in a hotel, but that is hardly a constraint).
At tonight’s IFP fete for
- Comcast talking to NBC- what does it matter to indie film?
Comcast is negotiating with NBC to assume 51% ownership of the TV giant, with holdings including the broadcast channel NBC, USA Network, E!, and a number of other cable and local stations. They would also be the owner of Universal, the movie studio, and its subsidiaries.
Stockholders didn’t seem too pleased with the plan , as shares dropped on the news of the talks. That would probably have something to do with the unsuccessful Time Warner merger and the fact that NBC has been slipping in the ratings and ad revenue game as of late.
However, Comcast’s… [more]
