Some Frequently Asked Questions on Film Distribution

So I've been doing a lot of consulting lately (especially for Film Independent www.find.org), and what I've noticed is that some of the same questions keep coming up from filmmakers. Therefore, I thought I'd share them with you since maybe you have the same questions yourselves....

Q: How can I get a pre-sale for my movie?
A: Unless you have a truly A-List cast, you really can't. Unfortunately, the pre-sale market for indie films died down several years ago, especially in the foreign markets. The exception to this is say for example you are making a straight-to-video film, and you have cast 2 or 3 actors who are 'proven' in the straight-to-video marketplace - in this instance, you could probably swing a home video presale from a dvd distributor. How do you know who the 'proven' staight-to-video actors are? Do some research by going into Blockbuster and seeing which actors appear on the box covers again and again of the staight-to-video films - THOSE are the proven!

Q: Can I approach distributors directly or should I go through a producers rep?
A: For U.S DVD distribution in particular, it is very easy to submit your film directly to the distributor. In the afore mentioned example, say you were able to cast a couple of these 'proven' actors in your movie....well see which companies distributed those DVD's you saw in Blockbuster, and contact them directly through their websites. Almost every DVD distributor I looked up online has an email address for their acquisition execs. They are waiting to hear from you!

Q: I've submitted to some film festivals and while I'm waiting to hear back is it ok to pursue distribution in the mean time?
A: YES! Always put as many irons in the fire as possible. I don't know if you've noticed, but many films these days already have distribution BEFORE they even get to Sundance for example.

Q: Are distributor screenings a good idea?
A: Not really. From the feedback I've gotten from distributors, the last thing they want to do at the end of their day is to go to a screening after work. They much prefer to receive a DVD from you and screen it in the comfort of their home or office.

That's it for now! More to come... :)