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Truly Free Film

Diary of a Film Start-Up: Post # 45: VOD Myths vs. Reality

By Roger Jackson
KinoSmall

Previously: $45 Billion by 2018

At Kinonation we talk to dozens of filmmakers every week, and often discuss myths about Video-on-Demand. Here’s my top ten…

1. Myth: Every VOD outlet will accept my film.

Reality: Most outlets select or decline films at their discretion and rarely give reasons for a “NO” decision. In the USA, only Amazon and Google Play accept all films. (Amazon is limited to Amazon Instant Video. Amazon Prime will typically reject films that contain drug use, sex, nudity, violence, etc.)

2. Myth: Theatrical creative will work for VOD

Categories
Truly Free Film

The Digital Recession, Pt 4: The Future

By Jim Cummings

(This week we have enjoyed this discussion on The Digital Recession. It concludes with this post.)

Should schools still charge so much for things that you can learn on youtube for free? Will anyone be able to in 20 years?

Categories
My Films

Thanks To You, DARK HORSE Is In The Top Ten On iTunes

DARK HORSE cracked iTunes top ten independent films last night. It’s because of you. But only you can get it up…

http://ituneschart.com/itunes-movies-chart/independent-movies/

Categories
My Films

Ride DARK HORSE In The Digital Corral

Todd Solondz’s latest is on digital.  You can watch it on iTunes, VUDU, Amazon Instant, YouTube (Movies), Microsoft Zune, Sony Playstation.

Please do.  I produced it.

Categories
Truly Free Film

Podcast: Everything I Know About Producing (A Start)

Courtesy of Screen Australia, you can now have access to everything I know about producing.  I gave two days of lectures in Sydney at the end of August, and the mic ran into a recording device.  It’s just audio so you don’t get to see my colorful outfits or all the nifty slides I never prepared, but it is the next best thing to being there.

Categories
Truly Free Film

Is The Hell Worth It? Content Licensing for Digital New Media Platforms

Guest post by Wendy Bernfeld, Managing Director, Rights Stuff

It’s no surprise for producers and distributors, that revenues from traditional sources such as TV and DVD have generally been declining, along with minimum guarantees for international sales. Despite earlier disappointments, we have seen that the digital marketplace (web, mobile, IPTV/vod, etc) has now become a source of real revenue, although requiring careful attention to suitable platforms, ’windowing’ and deal structuring.

Rights Stuff has spent the last decade dedicated particulary new media platforms , or traditional platforms expanding into new media dealings, as well as filmmakers/distributors/ content owners, helping them in content acquisition/licensing and maximising revenue streams. There are a wealth of opportunities arising from non-traditional/digital platform buyers and funding sources, outside the comfort zone of your usual buyers database .

Categories
Truly Free Film

Who Can Really Help Indie Film?

There are a lot of people who in a position to improve our culture — if they want to.  If they don’t, does it mean they really want us to suffer?  And if they want us to suffer, does that make them our enemy?  And if they are our enemy, how are we supposed to respond to them.  Well, that’s all something to discuss, but for now I was just more interested in who can be indie film’s savior.  

Why don’t more people do more things to make this world a better place?  If you ask me, they could even do well while they are doing good — or in other words, I bet it would be profitable if they put a little more effort into making sure we saw the best work in the best, most convenient manner possible.  Maybe if we talk about them, we can motivate them to act.
I hope to make this a regular feature at TFF and would love your suggestion on whom, with a little effort, could make a big difference to us all.  Let me know your thoughts on this.
Today’s suggestion is the unknown editors who pick what is featured on the iTunes store home pages.  They wield tremendous power.  Just by featuring a short film, app, or film prominently they influence purchasing habits in a very big way.  Check out this article that I was tipped to by Variety’s Anne Thompson.  It pretty much says it all.  Unfortunately, we don’t know their names so for now they are but gods who names we can not speak.  Yet imagine if they took initiative to save indie film.  Think of the good will they would have in the community.  Wouldn’t it entice more filmmakers to want to work with them?  How sweet would that be for everyone, eh?