I know I'm a newbie wading at the deep end of the pool, but I wanted to know what to look out for when possibly selling a film to distributors. A friend who heads a film festival in Florida has pretty much told me my film would be screened. This is also my first film.
Now I have visions of grandeur, but if someone were to come to me with an offer of distribution, what should I be aware of and what are the core things I should know? If my actors signed contracts saying their images would not be used outside of promoting the film, how do I insure that any possible distributor honours this?
Also, how much money should I be looking for and how much could I realistically get? Thanks in advance.
When it comes to contract negations I suggest you contact a lawyer rather than the denizens of a messageboard.
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Now I have visions of grandeur, but if someone were to come to me with an offer of distribution, what should I be aware of and what are the core things I should know?
The distributor is going to try to give you as little up front as you will take. That?s not underhanded - that?s good business. But the more they have to pay out up front, the harder they will work to get your film out there. Be careful of a low up front fee and hight back end points. A good lawyer will be able to make the deal more fair.
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If my actors signed contracts saying their images would not be used outside of promoting the film, how do I insure that any possible distributor honours this?
Show the distributor the contract and make sure what ever YOU sign has kept this clause intact.
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Also, how much money should I be looking for and how much could I realistically get?
You should be looking for the highest up front fee you can negotiate. Say at least 60% of the total budget - but hopefully 150% of the budget so you end up in the black right away.
Realistically, you will only get what the distributor thinks they can make back.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Yeah, if a distributor is serious about your movie, you should make at least enough to pay a lawyer to go over the contract :).
Several producers I've met have said that for their first feature distribution deal they basically never got any money other than the up-front payment... any time they asked the distributor they'd claim marketing costs and the like meant that they were distributing it at a loss. So, as mentioned above, try to get as much as you can that way.
There is no way in hell, heaven or middle earth tha I would not do this without a lawyer, but I just wanted to know what things I should just be aware of, moreso in the initial meeting of distributors. I won't have a lawyer in hand when I meet potential distributors.
Things such as average or expected price for first-time films, signing with first interested distributor or working the film festival circuit harder first, and what not to say during initial contact are what I wanted advice on, but cheers for everything I've received so far.
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Things such as average or expected price for first-time films,
To be honest, I don't think that's a question that can be answered, since it all depends on how good your movie is and how many people want it. If, say, you shoot a movie for $50k, then I doubt you'll get much more if you sell distribution rights... but, on the other hand, 'Blair Witch' got a few million because they hyped it up and got a lot of distributor interest.
