The Coming Indie Revolution: Just Sell it Yourself!

Posted on January 19, 2010 in Selling Your Film | No Comments

Manohla Dargis contemplates the new world of indie distribution – how technology and social media is affecting the way indies get distributed and, more importantly, how content creators can get paid. The answer – much like many things in the indie world, is DIY.

…In the Old World of distribution, filmmakers hand over all the rights to their work, ceding control to companies that might soon lose interest in their new purchase for various reasons, including a weak opening weekend. (“After the first show,” Mr. Broderick said, repeating an Old World maxim, “we know.”) In the New World, filmmakers maintain full control over their work from beginning to end: they hold on to their rights and, as important, find people who are interested in their projects and can become patrons, even mentors. The Old World has ticket buyers. The New World has ticket buyers who are also Facebook friends. The Old World has commercials, newspapers ads and the mass audience. The New World has social media, YouTube, iTunes and niche audiences. “Newspaper ads,” Mr. Broderick said, “are mostly a waste of money.”

— New York Times| Read The Full Article