The first step in distributing online is targeting your audience. The filmmaker would appear at the semi-theatrical releases and sell … DO send in your film as soon as possible. Instead of asking for a meeting to tell a potential agent about your film, send them a link to it. For Dealt, we ran an Indiegogo campaign which helped spread the word. When you are selected, you have the support of that organization who can open doors you otherwise couldn’t. They were pivotal to our success. Instead of asking for a meeting to tell a potential agent about your film, send them a link to it. Sales agents are like curators. We were on buyers’ radars before the film was complete. Before you start planning your Oscarsspeech, ask yourself this: Is your movie actually any good? It's entirely possible for one person to … Does your film focus on a popular subject? on Apr 16, 2018. Ideas for Promoting and Marketing Documentaries. A few months later we received word… it was a no. The purpose of identifying your audience is to help you analyze... 2. These days, making a good documentary is not good enough. Use the following structure to cite a documentary in MLA 8: Documentary title. This instantly increased our exposure and grabbed the attention of several distributors. This will gain you capital and networking, the latter of which could lead to a sale. So, instead of a festival programmer going in cold watching your screener, they have a sense of familiarity. We use the world’s leading content delivery network, meaning your videos will stream to a global audience faster and with less buffering. Make sure to post a release date and follow up to countdown t… And, if possible, try and withhold education rights from the deal. We received several competitive offers for Dealt, and after weighing the options signed with IFC/Sundance Selects. So let’s not waste time and get to selling a screenplay! They have a great reputation, and when we spoke with them they shared our vision. The opioid crisis is not just an American problem; it’s a global one. Next, build awareness during production. Make sure whoever you bring onto your team loves the film as much as you do. No sales agent has time to watch your film two days before Sundance. IFH 044: How to Create Multiple Revenue Streams for Your Indie Film Use one or all. Submit your film to a well-known film festival … Programs like IFP Spotlight on Docs put you in direct contact with sales agents, distributors and festival programmers. Second, try to attach a notable executive producer, or EP, who is currently active in film. This is something we eagerly tried to... 3. So, before making a deal ask other filmmakers for their experience working with that distributor. Netflix is seen as the golden goose of film distribution these days, and many hold the opinion that if your movie isn’t on Netflix, it’s barely released at all. I’ll address Hulu in another article, but for now, let’s focus on Netflix. The normal process for selling a film is through an agent or aggregator. What happens after you’ve finally finished that amazing film you worked on for years? It was a total uphill battle and very humbling. Let’s start at the very beginning. 4. If it is, they want to start conceptualizing a sales and marketing strategy right away. Hey, Welcome to today's video!How you can sell your film? You want to find a way to get it out there and earn what you know it’s worth. These are the people who will organically spread the word and be absolutely ready to buy your film upon release. This decision can make or break your film, so you need to do your research. Very rarely will a channel buy full rights to a finished program that has been brought to them. Today we’re going to cover all the aspects of how to sell a screenplay to a studio, and get into the nitty-gritty of all the numbers that go along with script sales. Doc grants and programs are not just about the money you receive — they are about the support you gain. This could be an individual or a company who invests money in your documentary. Find the Festival where you can stand out. You can sell these to another distributor who specializes in education, and this can net your film more value. Find NGOs and support groups that relate to your film’s message and reach out to them about your film’s release. Superior Support. Target the VOD Distribution Platforms. You can sell in a variety of ways: rent, purchase + download, subscribe, or tips. They manufacture copies of works on video, DVD and film and sell to educational institutions such as churches, schools, businesses, etc. From day one, Know your audience and build awareness. However, my first film took an entire year to find a buyer. It’s not as fun as making your movie or documentary, and it only becomes “sexy” upon getting a fat check from a major distributor for a lucky few. as well as Cinetic and The Film Sales Company. As indie filmmakers, it’s equally important we study the business of film as it is the art of making the film itself. While there are many ways to become a producer, one of the most powerful strategies you can employ involves turning your movie idea into a screenplay treatment, and then breaking your BIG filmmaking project into small steps. During production, we hired a publicist to release a teaser on Deadline. Braun suggests that you should be careful about who ends up having the final say on your film. Josh Braun suggests that you follow protocol when it comes to contacting a sales agent. Awards help you negotiate but don’t usually make or break a sale. Would you like to receive event invitations, news, and updates from the International Documentary Association? If youve hustled a small theatrical deal or a hot festival slot, consider bringing on … Josh Braun suggests that you follow protocol when it comes to contacting a sales agent. A sales agent is not just there to sell your film, to negotiate a deal; they are also crucial in positioning your film for sale. Build your audience online before releasing the film. Not a day goes by where I don’t get an email or call from a filmmaker who wants to sell their movie to Netflix or Hulu. They bring a sense of taste which festivals can trust. 1. Agents get paid a percentage of the sale, so it’s in their best interest to make a deal. When selling a finished doc to a broadcaster, you aren’t really “selling” it at all, you’re licensing them certain broadcast rights for a specified period. Film distribution isn’t a sexy subject. We were so focused on just making a good film that once it was complete we were unprepared to sell it. 7. It has been a solid success. Obtain video production insurance to protect your legal interests in the event that your documentary … Some distributors want films only to add to their content. As it turns out it was a wonderful fit! Finding your audience is the first step on the long … You’ve spent months, if not years, producing your documentary, and now it’s time to market and promote the film. Dealt is currently streaming and available on digital platforms. Start by identifying your core audience. For Dealt, we submitted a rough cut. Getting a broadcast premiere for a documentary is still a much-coveted channel of distribution for documentaries — and with a little help navigating the public television infrastructure — PBS can be a great place to do it. Of course, you could also submit your film directly to a broadcaster, although that's a long shot for a beginner. Directed by Alan Smithee. Remember, it’s oftentimes the intangibles that prove most helpful. For Dealt, we concluded these were magicians, those who love magic, and the visually impaired community. Depending on the medium used to access the documentary, you may need to do additional research to find all of the information listed below. From day one, Know your audience and build awareness. Network Ireland Television) is to get your film seen, so in addition to selling your film they might help get your film into festivals. Hand the ball off. Film festivals aren’t the only way to sell your indie documentary, but they are currently the best and most popular way to do so. These distributors sell to the broadcast, cable and satellite programming distributors at trade shows such as NAB, MIPCOM, MIPDOC, Cannes, etc. A short film distributor is similar to a sales agent, and sometimes they both do the same thing. One suggestion is to stop trying to sell your movie ideas and instead, start selling yourself as a producer. On that note, a top-tier festival does act as a good marketing tool for your distributor. Buy yourself a few books – 1. This is not always the case. So while shooting the entire thing on an iPhonemight’ve worked for innovators such as Sean Baker(Tangerine) and Steven Soderbergh(Unsane), you are not them and you’re going to have to invest or at least rent some decent production equipment, … Don’t go to film school. We want filmmaking to be our long-term career, and a great way to do this is to prepare our films for success in the marketplace. But where do you start? DO send your film, not an invitation to coffee. Is your film going to be right for this company? Everyone dreams of getting into Sundance, and so did we. If a financier or equity partner does not share your vision or has a different agenda, you don’t want to get stuck in a deal that prevents you from making the film you want to make. If your documentary is good, it should get noticed and hopefully get an offer from a TV Network, streamer or agent. They really like discovering new filmmakers! Selling true life stories for adaptation as a Made-For-TV-Movie, Drama Series, Docuseries, or Reality TV Series. Apply for a doc grant or program, and/or attach a notable executive producer. The Visual Mindscape of the Screenplay by Bill Boyle 5. Just because you don’t get into X festival doesn’t always mean your film is not good enough. Identify Your Film’s Potential Ecosystem: "Note by Note" is about the making of the Steinway piano. It showed across the country at one-night-only special screenings and did very well. The purpose of identifying your audience is to help you analyze if your film is niche or broad. Then, look and see what grants, programs,= and EPs supported these films. Keep in mind each festival has its own agenda, taste and brand. For my first film, we didn’t have an agent and that was a big reason for our struggle. Then, we took things a step further. We submitted a picture lock cut and again held our breath. URL for the documentary. We offer effective SEO features, sophisticated marketing tools, affiliate management, multiple payment methods/payment gateways and we handle the complete customer support. Drawing from this experience, I’d like to share with you five tips for successfully selling your indie documentary. It’ll pay off in the long run when they stick with your project for ten years. Securely sell movies in your own shop. Have a little patience with the process. Staff, Techniques and Scheduling Recruit a staff, if necessary. The dedication and intelligent approach to self-distribution and direct distribution has earned podcast guest, Christopher Rufo and his producing partner, Keith Ochwat, the freedom to make a living as filmmakers on their own terms. If plan A doesn’t pan out, don’t worry about it. Click here to read our Winter 2021 issue, featuring Nomadland’s Chloé Zhao, our “Sound & Visionaries” profiles of below-the-lines awards season contenders and more... by Luke Korem in Distribution, Filmmaking Step 2 – Find An Aggregator or Distributor. Having a good rep won’t automatically get you selected, but it helps. Why? Sales agents have personal relationships with distributors and know how to work it. It’s really hard to get them to watch the same film twice, so don’t send a cut that is too long or too far from your end vision. World-Class CDN. For Dealt, we had the fortune of getting aboard Submarine. The film did well in NY playing theatrically. DO your homework before you send that email. Make your own damn Movie by Lloyd Kaufman 4. With Preferred Content's Managing Partner Kevin Iwashina at the helm, we brought together an expert panel including top sales agents Josh Braun of Submarine (US sales) and Annie Roney of ro*co (international sales), as well as David Magdael (publicist), to give you a few insider dos and don'ts for selling your documentary. Making Movies by Sidney Lumet 3. Get a sales agent. Finding the right good distributor is as challenging a process as making a film, a reality of the business I’ve learned the hard way. 2. Keep moving forward. You will continue to own the intellectual property. DO send your film, not an invitation to coffee. Create a Facebook page and Instagram account to post updates and behind-the-scenes photos of the film to get your followers excited about the project. As for the deal itself, this is where your sales agent will prove their worth in spades. A documentary is a film where aspects of reality are documented or recorded. FlickRocket comes with everything you need to start selling movies in your own store. If they like it, they’ll ask for that meeting anyway. Annie Roney of ro*co suggests you know about the company you’re sending your film to. Having an expert on the team made all the difference. You want at all costs to avoid a distributor like this. Submit to them all. Then, identify secondary audiences who will also be attracted to your film. Later that week, we ended up winning the Audience Award at SXSW (another reason we are thankful we premiered there), and that helped us in negotiations. It seems basic, but you need to make sure your film ticks all of the boxes before you start thinking about seeking distribution partners. Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content recommends sending your sales agent a rough cut early in your post-production process. How To Make Money Off Your Documentary Film. Don’t be afraid of sending them your film and synopsis. As previously mentioned, finding a distributor right out of the … When you do find the perfect fit, fully commit to the company. Get Your Independent Movie on Streaming Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon: What You Need to Know. How do I sell my movie to Netflix without extra help? Educational Distributors: Also know as non-theatrical distributors. They really like discovering new filmmakers! Therefore, when you have a cut worth showing the first place to submit is a sales agent. However, I strongly encourage you to try because the payoff can be huge. Groups that relate to your film fits and has a chance to generate buzz gives a... Is something we eagerly tried to... 3 s oftentimes the intangibles that prove most.. Might seem great, but for now, let ’ s not waste time and get selling. Off your documentary towards film fits and has a chance to generate buzz, UTA, etc.,,. Programs like IFP Spotlight on Docs put you in direct contact with sales agents, distributors festival. 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