“The greatest roadblock to success for an independent producer is not access to name talent or a great script or even money – it’s distribution.” That’s the view of Mark Byers, independent writer/producer, and co-creator of the S2ScreeningRoom.com website. Byers has worked in the independent film industry for over 25 years, both in the United…
At a time when international cinema and DVD revenues are declining and TV audiences are dwindling, why would a young company spend time signing up distribution rights for all sorts of independent content from all over the world? The answer might elude, confuse or scare many of the traditional media giants, but this is exactly…
Each year the Marché du Film (Cannes Market) publishes Focus, a summary of key facts and figures for the international film industry from the previous year. Focus 2007 provides box-office and admissions statistics for all of the world’s key film markets from 2006. » Download Focus 2007 (PDF)
Piracy – no, not the eye-patch type, but the copyright infringement variety. Product piracy has been with us since the industrial revolution, but today it is most common in the distribution of music, films and television shows. Compared to the film and TV industries, those music bods have been there, done that, bought the t-shirt…
In order to speak of appropriation we must first answer the question: What do we mean by film text? As Christian Metz put it since the 1970s in his article “The Imaginary Signifier”1 published on Screen, film implies the entire institution of filmmaking: the creation, the distribution, and the exhibition of the work. The term ‘text’ derives…
HungryFlix.com, the Internet’s first distributor of premium, independent video content exclusively targeted to portable media players such as the Apple iPod and Sony PSP, is re-launching a live public beta. HungryFlix.com is drawing video content providers from across a wide range of genres. The site accepts feature length and short films, documentaries, animation, how-to videos, sports videos…
Right this very second, in the heart of every struggling, undiscovered screenwriter, in the dark, hidden corner deep within, there is a voice, a clear whisper, saying one thing: You’re never gonna figure this out. And this is not referring to the story with its gaping hole, the finale missing a payoff, the hit and…
Finding foreign distribution for your independent film is an entirely different beast than finding domestic distribution. While it’s true that foreign distribution used to be responsible for 70% of the sales that were made on a film, unfortunately the same is not true today. Once upon a time you could rely on good ol’ foreign sales for paying your…
I can easily understand why most of the libidinal guys would inarguably prefer a technically sound Pamela Anderson to a Miss Plain Jane next door with a 31-32-33 figure. But most of you work it out with Miss Plain Jane. It’s the same with technology. We all strive for the best, the biggest, the brightest and the…
The British Academy of Film & Television Arts have launched a new short film competition – 60 Seconds of Fame, run in association with Orange. This new BAFTA competition has the support of BBC Nations and Regions and the Regional Screen Agency network and is open to anyone aged 16 or over. Shortlisted films will be shown…
