Finding the Right Film Distributor: Key Factors to Consider
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- and my pick for the best overall distributor for low budget films.
Today I'm talking about the three most important factors in considering an independent film distributor. And I name the top distributor out there for films budgeted under 100,000 dollars. (IMO)
I Make Movies that Make Money.
My mission here is to help independent filmmakers earn more money doing what they love, making movies, and to make a positive impact in the filmmaking community through the power of video. I publish weekly videos on Indie Film Marketing, Indie Film Distribution, and independent filmmaking in genera to help other filmmaker make money with independent films.
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Finding the Right Film Distributor: Key Factors to Consider
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Mr. J. Horton. Your channel is simply incredible. There are many people who make videos about how to make films but there are few people who make videos on what to do with your film. While it is the responsibility of every one of us to find our own path, your contribution really helps many lost filmmakers out there. I'm trying to find my own path and I won't take your input lightly. Thank you so much for all your hard work.
I won't take your input "highly". I assume you meant "Lightly"
@@theaterama3361 yes!
This is some handy info for budding filmmakers who want their films to reach a wider audience.
That's why you're respected in the indie world my friend.... at least in my eyes.
thank you Chris... I really do appreciate that.
I have a film I produced and it's being edited and I am looking for a Distributor and this was great information! thank you!!!
Thank you for your wonderful insight on independent filmmaking. Please i want more insight on getting genuine distributor to get my african movie out there.
Thank you so much for sharing this information!
Great Director, interviewer and presenter J Horton - very powerful information for filmmakers 👍
Thank you for sharing your insight and experience!!!
Great video and as always sound advice!!!
thank you very much. Thanks for watching.
Excellent information, thanks
Great video, I think you are absolutely right when it comes to horror/genre films that are below 50k. I don't think I would go with either one for my film though, which is poetic drama. I do prefer to self-distribute it on my own with a custom/bespoke approach that the film requires. I would say it always depends on the film, especially if it's not a horror film.
Two of the biggest genres for those are dramas with underrepresentive casts and documentaries. Horror does fine as well. It's not just a genre thing. And why wouldn't you use filmhub after you do your initial windowing with self-release? It's non-exclusive.
@@JHorton My feeling is that they don't do any marketing, so why bother? If I'm the one doing all the marketing then why do I need them? Maybe I'm wrong.
@@Art-ificial_I-ntelligence to place the movies. Platforms like tubi don't take self submissions. And distributors do very little marketing in general for low budget films. I've used traditional distributors for years, multiple ones. And with very few exceptions none do much in regards to marketing. It's a huge misconcception that they do much at all.
@@JHorton So basically they both serve as aggregators. I see your point though. I'm just not sure if giving them % for placing the film on Tubi for instance is worth it. I probably would be better off spending that % on marketing it myself and gaining followers. Again, I might be wrong but that's kinda how I see the big picture.
@@Art-ificial_I-ntelligence i really don't follow your logic train here. the % given up for tubi is from money you wouldn't otherwise have. You can't self distribute there. By not using it, you are literally just leaving a potential income stream on the table. Having it on tubi doesn't prevent you from doing self distribution. It's non-exclusive. It's not all or nothing.
Thanks Jason -- great insight, as always.
My pleasure!
Excellent!
Many thanks!
J. Horton, I have a question!! I’m not sure if you’ve answered this already so forgive me. I have my film already up on Amazon but I can’t seem to get it up in Latin America anywhere! Including through Amazon. Is there some roundabout way to get it up in Spanish speaking countries??
Great video. Thanks!
You bet!
You sir are an inspiration. I appreciate your truthful tips and advice. May we meet one day. My feature will have a special dedication to you in the credits (if you okay it) . You'll see
As always excellent content. Thanks.
My pleasure! thanks for watching
Thanks for this useful information but wat advice do u give me since am not in the USA but I want to make money from my movies on these platforms
well, unfortunately I'm a US based filmmaker and my experience is pretty much limited to that. I try to educate myself on foreign markets, but I'm far from an expert there.
Good info. I have a season of a new show which will be ready for broadcast next month. After doing my research I think I'll pass that kind of distributor. Going to start with Amazon PVOD and then later to services like Tubi. I'm not sure getting another distributor involved would actually result in a higher return. Thoughts?
you can't reach Tubi and most other major platforms other than Amazon without a distributor, aggregator or service like Filmhub (which now refers to itself as a distributor).
Now that the movie is out, what are some lessons in retrospect? Thanks!
Great content.
right on!
@@JHorton Would this advice be the same for a sales agent or is that a different video topic? :).
@@soothingsounds7859 in general I am not a fan of sales agents. I think in the past they had more value. But today it's just too easy to find a distributor or use a distribution outlet like filmhub. I just don't see the upside for most films.
@@JHorton what about ones that have connections to top tier festivals and can get your film viewed/into the conversation.
@@soothingsounds7859 In all my years doing it, I've seen that method work out financially for very few filmmakers. unfortuately it's the few OUTLIERS that do make it like that we hear so much about. it's not the norm.
What about Glass House? I like them a lot.
Do you think this also applies to non English language films? or US markets only?
this is predominately focus'd on US markets as that's where I mostly sell.
I'm already overwhelmed, confused and not sure where the hell I start.
I'm a writer/author. I have written scripts a long time ago..I was hoping I can pitch my story idea..find someone who loves it..and takes it from there.
Not possible??
It certainly possible but it’s very hard. I learned a step at a time to produce my own stuff. It’s the only sure way to do it.
Great info! Is it possible to use Indie Rights and Film Hub? Or do you have to choose between the distributors?
IR is a distributor and asks for exclusive rights. FH is an outlet and is non-exclusive. YOu can't do both.
@@JHorton Thank you. Much success with your horror film.
You need a book!
Why couldn't I have found you before the pandemic!
i started these about 6 months before it. maybe a year. Glad you're getting something out of these.
@@JHorton Yes, i'm getting a lot out of your content. Every once in a while I'll view something from your catalog on TUBI
Do/Can Indie Rights do deals with Filmhub?
Whoops I see you answered this below in the comments!
Anybody has experience with Bitmax? Can’t seem to find much feedback on them. Also, do they distribute to Hulu? The FAQ on their website says no but there’s a Hulu logo on the homepage
I haven’t used them. Try Alex Ferraris protect yourself from predatory distributors group on Facebook pretty sure I’ve seen posts about them there
Will you be putting Craving into festivals?
Probably not.
J., could you say what distributors are specialized for horror genre?
I don't like to name names... i mention filmhub and IR because I've worked with them a lot and can make an educated argument in their defense if someone has a bad experience. I can't say the same for other distributors. Two that I have 'heard' are good for horror Uncork'd and Terror Films. But if you google horror film distributor, that's a good place to start.
Can you give the same movie to IR and filmhub to distribute?
I swear if you're making real indie movies, under 100K, you should just become the distributor... if all a distributor does is sell the movie to a streaming service, you can likely figure that out on your own, given you figured out how to make a movie.
generally speaking, it's just not how it works. Most major platform where money is made, just don't deal with individual producers. Becoming a distributor and bulding those connections is a complicated long game, and a losing battle for most that try. That said, there are those that a make a go selling or renting off their own websites ect... but in my 20 plus years of doing this, i've found it much more financially vialbe to stick with distributors or aggregators, less work, more money .
Hello,
Do you have any experience selling your films on DVD? Is it worth it? If physical media is as dead as many people say, do you think a distributor would complain if you asked to retain physical media rights?
I don’t think it’s dead. But generally speaking it isn’t where I focus. Everything with a distributor is a negotiation it never hurts to ask