WHERE CAN I SEE YOUR MOVIE?

I get asked that a lot. The truth is, I want EVERYONE to see it. But I can't just throw it up on YouTube - not if I want to see any money from it, at least. How about a little film education...

To get my film out into the world via DVDs, streaming, and (maybe) theaters, I need a distributor. This is the person(s) who will take the film to the companies in charge of the aforementioned platforms (like Netflix, Tubi, or AMC) and try to get them to show my movie for a fee. In turn, they keep some of that fee and I get the rest (minus certain expenses).

Now, I can try to get a distributor on my own or hope one approaches me from a film festival, but if that doesn't occur, I may need a sales agent (aka producer's rep). These folks have relationships with distributors and can supposedly help you find one. In exchange, they take a percentage of the percentage you get from the distributor (unless the distributor is willing to pay you an upfront fee, then the agent takes some of that).

"Wait! With all these people taking cuts, when does your wife Dana get her cut? And will that leave you with anything?"

The truth is, the odds against me making money on this film are high. That's the case for anyone making an indie film. But if you're making films to make money, you're better off buying lottery tickets. At the end of the day, I'd be pretty thrilled if I made back half of what I put into the film, but I think we have a better shot of doing that than most indie films.

I have talked with sales agents. I have had some interest from distributors thanks to the festivals. But this part of the journey is just at its beginning. Suffice it to say, if you don't have patience, don't be a filmmaker. More education to come!