I’m often surprised at how many filmmakers actually want to distribute their own films. They are filmmakers, don’t they want to make films? However, I’m sure they’ve heard the stories (two that come to mind are the motorcycle movie and the wrestling movie - see any connection between these two films?) of how you can sell thousands and thousands of dvds by just doing a little research, a little marketing and a little posting. And viola!

In a matter of weeks - errr - better make that years - you may or may not have made back the money you’ve invested in producing your film let alone the expenses you’ve incurred distributing and marketing your film. The success stories you hear about are very far and few between. And you never really find out “how” these success stories actually became successful. You’re given a vague idea but nothing really concrete. You’re given the hope and the optimism that it can be done - and it is possible - but not without a huge personal sacrifice.

What you don’t hear about in these success stories is that it will take at least two years of your time and more money - much more money - to do the research, promote, set up your distribution arm, produce the dvds, produced marketing material, mailings, advertising, public relations, festival submissions, on and on and on. While distribution is not rocket science it does require knowledge, experience, money, and more
than anything else: time. Lots and lots of time.

Isn’t it easier to find a good distributor with whom you can work to make money? Let’s be honest, not all distributors are good. However, there are excellent distributors out there that can do the right thing for your film. The filmmaking process has always been and always will be a collaboration among many people. Why then would distribution be any different? In this day and age, I find that the art of collaboration is the most important element in successful distribution.

More about collaboration, or the lack thereof, in my next post.