CCR Distribution Question

• There are 2 common film distribution strategies, 1.) Bidding war at a film festival, and 2.) selling your movie to a streaming platform.

1.) The bidding war at a film festival:

• In this scenario, it would go sought of like this. You would premier your movie at a film festival so it can be seen by big movie distributors, who would then bid millions for a full buy out of your movie.
• However, bidding wars rarely happen now, due to the fact big streaming platforms like Amazon and Netflix have changed the road to distribution. 

2.) Now we come to the option of selling your movie to a streaming platform like those of Netflix and Amazon: 

• Because of the 150 million subscribers to Netflix, now it is probably even more of a dream come true to have them distribute your movie, because of the massive publicity you would get. Now don't get me wrong, those big distribution companies like Lionsgate and 20th Century Fox would also be a dream come true, but with all the people watching from home now, the publicity you would get would be phenomenal.
• Although route number one would be amazing and life-changing, it takes a lot of effort to get a signing with these bidding wars, because you need to know your movie and its audience inside and out and, it involves a lot of research.
• When you are trying to get those big distributors on your side, it's all about numbers and making them feel secure that your product will keep their reputation and make them feel good about the decision they have made.

The 6 steps to successfully distributing your indie films:

1.) Funding the distribution campaign

• Use crowdfunding platforms to your advantage.
• Asking for funds to bring your film/product to a larger audience/ group of people is an admirable goal.
• Provide instant downloads when you are done with your indie film through some sought of private link to get the incentive of investors behind you and back your product.
• If you would prefer not to add a link of the movie, show teaser, and trailers, or even share footage from the making process of the movie. this generates a great fan base.

2.) Prepare the film for distribution:

• Make sure these things are on the list of to-do's 

         - Digital Files: Most cinemas accept deliverables as digital files in .mp4 and .mov files. .mp4 is             the international standard, while the .mov is Apple’s preferred format.

         

         - H.264 format does a super job of encoding high-quality video and audio for streaming online,             but it won’t do your movie justice on the big screen. Apple ProRes 422 codec or the Avid                     DNxHD codec. Outputting either as a .mov file will yield the best results.          

         

         - 1920 x 1080 (“1080p” for short) is the preferred resolution for cinema screenings with an                   aspect ratio of flat (1.85) or scope (2.35).

• Formats required to distribute a film online

         - As with cinema, online streaming and download-for-purchase platforms accept Pro-Res 

            422.mov format.

         - In addition, files may be submitted as AVC/H.264 in .mp4, m2t, and .ts format.

         - MPEG-2 formats are also accepted.  

3.) Deciding on an online release strategy:

• Third-party aggregators, vendors who specialize in movie distribution, aggregators also take care of everything else, like encoding, packaging, and delivering your film to the digital platforms. Aggregators also charge steep rates and usually own part ownership in your film.
• DIY,  You can still find a home for your independent film by way of one of the dozens of VOD distribution platforms, best of all, if you do end up securing VOD distribution, you will retain ownership over your film rather than splitting ownership with a third-party aggregator.

4.) Target the VOD distribution platforms:

• indie filmmakers have plenty of avenues to find their viewership via the various VOD platforms. 
• Ad-Supported Video-on-Demand (AVOD), Ads that viewers must watch before, during, or even after the video. These include Youtube, Hulu, and crackle.
• Subscription Video-on-Demand (SVOD), This includes platforms like Netflix, people fork over monthly subscriptions to use the library of content which can sometimes make it harder to get your indie film in, as people are paying to get the best and Netflix will often pick films that have probably had a few film festival wins under their belt. Or have a large viewer following in things like youtube and social media.
•   Transactional Video-on-Demand (TVOD), in this pay-per-view model, audiences pay for each film they want to watch. There are two options: Electronic Sell Through (EST): With EST, the consumer downloads the film and has unlimited viewing access. Download to Rent (DTR): Download to Rent is the digital equivalent of renting a movie for a very short period of time. Platforms leveraging the TVOD model include iTunes. iTunes extends filmmakers 70% of the profits, with Apple retaining 30% for every movie download or rental. Amazon Video is another TVOD player, however, at profits 50/50, the split is less generous than iTunes for the up-and-coming filmmaker.
• Cable Video-on-Demand, premium channels pretty much buy the rights to your movie and stream it on their platform, examples include, HBO, Starz and, showtime. Providers also distribute media through cable boxes at hotels. 
• Free Video-on-Demand, these are platforms like youtube and Vimeo, this pathway is usually for people who are trying to get as many eyeballs as they can in front of their product, as quickly as possible.

5.) Determine Whether You Want a Theatrical Release:

• If you’re intent on getting your film on the big screen, there are some things to consider, 1.) it's pricey, essentially, you are working with a theater to “book” a showing for a flat-rate. And 2.) The cost can range from $250 and up to secure such an arrangement. Although expensive for a single showing, if you can pack the house you may even come out ahead. 
• Theatrical Booker, there are theatrical servicing companies that specialize in booking, advertising, promoting, and collecting the tickets. While costly, the trade-off may be worth it for their expertise and contacts.

6.) Promoting Your Independent Film:

• Building audiences for your film is key to generating buzz. If you can tap into a niche audience who will get behind your movie and act as ambassadors, you can plan for crossover into broader audiences. it comes down to a few key ingredients:
• Promote your film with a trailer. If it’s shareable, your fans will do the legwork for you.
• Put together a press kit. Your press kit should include a one-pager (synopsis of your film on one page), images, and a personal story.
• Create a website for your production. Keep things personal and include authentic stories of your major above-the-line team members, factoids about your film, and news on upcoming screenings.
• Be sure to cultivate an email list of your fans. You can announce to your minions when your film lands distribution and where they can view the film. Your email list can also come in handy when it comes time to promote your next film coming down the pike.