IndieFlix offers filmmakers web-based DVD distribution
Filed under: Distribution, Newsstand, Movie Marketing
Love it or hate it, filmmakers are getting more and more options for getting their films in front of an audience. Last week, Erik reported on controversial billionaire/Landmark Theaters owner Mark Cuban's plans to allow indie filmmakers to rent screen space in Landmark theaters. This week we bring you tidings of the another development into indie film distribution: IndieFlix, a website that allows filmmakers to submit their films, which are then featured on the Seattle-based company's website. Viewers can then purchase DVDs of the films they are interested in through the site for $9.95, and IndieFlix burns the DVDs on-demand and ships them out.
The service has a great market; indie filmmakers, shooting on shoestring budgets and strapped for cash, can distribute their films at a grassroots level and avoid the potential pitfalls that come with distribution deals. Filmmakers would still, of course, have to market and promote, but hey - they have to do that with distributor deals now.
What do you think about all these changes blowin' in the wind for indie film? Do they ultimately spell the demise of traditional distribution channels, as more artists opt to self-promote and retain more rights? Or will traditional models triumph with their deeper pockets, theater chain connections and marketing moxy?
[Hat tip to reader Ryan, who pointed us to the New York Times story]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-25-2005 @ 10:55PM
FilmmakerBoston said...
I'm a filmmaker and I was on top of both of these developments as soon as they hit the public. After research, they both sound like duds.
For Landmark Theaters, they currently rent their theater in New York for one day at around $3000. If you look at the numbers Cuban offers for his packages (priced for 5 cities, and 20 cities), there's no way that a filmmaker who 'had' the money to pay Landmark could ever break even, much less make a profit. I'd show you my numbers, but I did the work, so anyone interested can do the work too on their own. The Landmark deal is good for rich kids with throw away money, but in terms of a filmmaker actually trying to make money from this film, the Landmark deal is bad, to put it politely.
As for IndieFlix, I like the spirit, but on it's face, I immediately said, "They are not doing anything I can't already do myself with very little resources." At that point, the only thing I could think of that IndieFlix might offer me is promotion. But guess what? In their recent New York Times story, the only film promoted is THEIR FILM that they produced ['Outpatient']. Other than that, I see no promotion/marketing going on for the other films on their site. If a filmmaker is resourceful enough to actually get a decent film done (a very hard thing), then they will probably be resourceful enough to take the 1-2 days to set up a DVD purchase cart on their website or through Amazon (I say this because I've done it, and I know how easy it is).
I'm glad you posted this story, and I love this site, but neither of those developments will be significant in regards to independent film.
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12-16-2005 @ 11:39AM
Pranav said...
FilmmakerBoston,
I am interested to know what kind of promotion/marketing would a filmmaker like you would expect from a site like IndieFlix?
Pranav
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