Cinesouq Blog

Film Distribution: How to find the right distributor for your film?

The Cinesouq Team — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:41:22 +0000

There’s one word that hangs the heaviest in every filmmaker’s head, and that word is “distribution”. Let’s look at the definition of the word according to the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary, because the fifth definition of “distribution” explains it perfectly for the film world as “the marketing or merchandising of commodities”. Film may be an art form, and it may be a collaborative medium of expression, but at the end of the day, no matter what the film is like, it’s a product. A product is something that is produced. So, when a film gets completed, it is then the product of the hard work and artistry that made it real. Distributing it to end consumers or audiences is the primary goal for any production. The film distributor is the one with the actual means to make it happen.

It’s not easy finding the right distributor, but it can happen when a filmmaker is properly educated about distribution. There are so many companies out there that release films. Distributors handle different rights, and distribute their titles in different ways. Some distributors release films theatrically, some only on DVD, while others are now only handling digital streaming or VOD rights. All of these are avenues for your film to get more widely seen, and are also ways to make revenue from the cinematic product you’ve created. Finding out how and what a distributor releases is essential to your search for the right distributor. If a distributor releases only family films, for instance, don’t send them your bloody slasher film! At the end of the day, it’s more than time and money that’s at stake. It’s also your reputation as a filmmaker.

Certain films are better suited to certain distributors. It’s no surprise that just like a Country/Western music company releases Country/Western music, or a Hip-Hop record label releases Hip-Hop music, film distributors are sometimes just as specific as their target audience’s needs are. Now, if your film is a Drama or a Comedy, you may have better or worse chances than films in other genres of finding distribution, depending on which distributor you’re sending your film to for consideration. The more information you’ve gathered on a specific distributor, the better off you’ll be. It will save you time and money to submit your film to the right companies, while avoiding the ones that are most likely going to pass on your film.

Wait, what does “pass” mean anyway? When a distributor uses the depression-inducing word, “pass”, in regards to a film, it means they’re not interested in acquiring that film. This can be due to various reasons. Most filmmakers immediately take it the wrong way, thinking that it means that their film is terrible, and will never get released. This is not true in the slightest. More often than not, the film did not fit into the genre categories that are working for that company at the time, or perhaps found the film to be too small or too big for their respective release patterns. What it does mean is that the film still needs to find the right home, and you might have to do more research to get it there.

The road to distribution is not necessarily an easy one, but it is just as important as the road to getting a film completed in the first place. Whether it’s a major studio or a smaller niche distributor, your film has to get to the right people for it to move ahead. Many filmmakers take this road on alone, achieving mixed results. There are, of course, filmmakers who did it all themselves, and get lucky, but most films need additional help to get released properly. This is where Sales Agents and Producer’s Reps can help you. They can strategize around your film, and get your film further down the road than you can imagine. Again, if you’re armed with the right contacts and information, you may just as easily be able to sell the film yourself, but like we mentioned before, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Of course, there’s no guarantee when you make a film that it’ll find distribution at all, no matter what you do. That being said, you’ll want to cover every base to give your movie the best life it can possibly have, whether it’s released theatrically, on DVD, via broadcast, or digitally.

Cinesouq gives you a launching point, and publicity-garnering mechanism to help you go straight to the source. We help you, by giving you the sales tools to help you achieve your distribution goals. Whether it’s the contact database that you gain access to, or the online screener that’s available 24/7 for distributors to watch, or the community of industry professionals that you can share information with… We’re making it easier for you to be truly independent, while spreading the word about your film to its prospective audience around the world. Find your future sales agent, producer’s rep, talent agent, or distributor, with the help of Cinesouq. We’re helping you market your film the right way, and giving you the foundation to do it with.

Every film needs to find a home. We Welcome You!

Cinesouq – The World’s Online Film Market.

Slushai by director Bogdan Darev – the first short film to be added to Cinesouq.

The Cinesouq Team — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:08:07 +0000

From director: Bogdan Darev

Description:

Haunted by time. By ideas, nightmares of utopia, love to be found and love that was maybe once lost. Haunted by fears realized in himself, projected into a dire world, He encountered the girl, the music, the silence in reflection that could set him free.

Cinesouq – The World’s Online Film Market: How It Works.

The Cinesouq Team — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:13:20 +0000

Cinesouq puts all the distribution tools in your hands and empowers you to market and distribute your films globally!

How it Works.

Register with Cinesouq
Create your own unique Profile Page with your photo, bio, resume, and awards.
Create a Movie Page, fill out your contact info and the title’s information, upload trailer, add synopsis, cast and crew, key art and stills, reviews and awards.
Instantly publish your title to go live for buyers/distributors, sales agents, and producer’s reps to see.
Interested buyers will contact you through your private chatbox.
You negotiate the licensing fees, terms and rights with the buyers directly. Upon closing a sale, you will draft the contracts and send to them for approval and signature.
Upon execution of contracts by both parties, the buyer wires the payment to a bank trust account setup by Cinesouq.
You deliver your video masters to our partner lab.
The Lab manufactures the delivery materials, and collects the materials costs from the buyer.
The lab ships the delivery materials to the buyer.
The buyer has 30 days to inspect the materials.
At the end of 30 days, the bank releases the license fee to you.

Cinesouq will not have access to the bank trust account nor to your video masters.

Cinesouq to democratize film distribution!

Cinesouq: One of the most important sales tools when marketing a film, is the Key Art.

The Cinesouq Team — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:19:27 +0000

Key Art Design

One of the most important sales tools when marketing a film, is the Key Art. Initially, it is the key art that draws the distributor’s attention, to make him or her want to screen the film, and potentially license it.

When you go to the video store, what compels you to pick a movie up off the shelf to look at it? Most likely, the box art.

Let Cinesouq create a marketing campaign for you that will help minimize your risk and maximize your returns, and get you the exposure your film deserves.

All of the examples of official key art displayed here are from our designers’ portfolios.

Imagine what they could do for you!

Add Your Short Films To Cinesouq For Free And Showcase Your Work To The Entertainment Industry Worldwide!

The Cinesouq Team — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:05:36 +0000

4 easy steps to instantly have your short film playing on Cinesouq.

Register with Cinesouq
Create your own unique Profile Page with your photo, bio, resume, and awards.
Create a Short Film Page, fill out your contact info and the title’s information, and add video, description, cast and director’s name.
Instantly publish your title to go live for the world to see.

Cinesouq helps filmmakers market their films to the entertainment industry worldwide.

www.cinesouq.com

3 Days In L.A. new theatrical key art created by the Cinesouq designers!

The Cinesouq Team — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:25:05 +0000

Cinesouq, is proud to be presenting the feature film 3 Days In L.A. to worldwide buyers and distributors.

cast : Carlos Martinez, Zak Kilberg, Sara Raftery, Susie Bracken, Wallace Dorian, James McCarthy, DJ Harner, Shawna Waldron, Kirsten Berman, Jerome Smith
director : Marco Capalbo
producer : Jeremy Elliot
writer : Sean K Smith, Marco Capalbo
director of photography : Mike Testin

Synopsis:

A chance of encounter between a Latino day laborer and bigoted boss… A married professor’s affair with a student… A young girl’s self-destructive relationship with a slacker musician… A middle-aged actress’s struggle with her director… All of them are linked into a chain reaction. They’re Angelinos on the crest of change, their fates inextricably connected.

Originally conceived and shot as two separate self-contained films, “3 Days in L.A.” pushes the boundaries of filmic storytelling. Its two-part structure follows ten characters over the course of three days, examining them from two points of view as they shuttle between love and betrayal, loss and triumph.

Together, the two parts of “3 Days in L.A.” form a three-dimensional portrait of a living but turbulent city, one in which every person’s actions influence those around them. It’s a portrait of how we all are forced to confront our own moment of change and redemption… Whether we like it or not. This is life.

Cinesouq launches its new short film section in support of independent filmmakers everywhere!

The Cinesouq Team — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:36:08 +0000

Filmmakers everywhere are now able to add their short films to Cinesouq, and showcase their work to the world.

What makes Cinesouq unique – it caters only to the entertainment industry. Here, filmmakers can reach potential talent agents, producer’s reps, and film festival programmers. In addition, they can connect and share useful information with other filmmakers and industry professionals.

With the launch of our short film section we are fulfilling our mission – “to fortify our commitment to keeping the spirit of the independent filmmaking alive throughout the globe”.

Ballistica action film starring Paul Logan, Robert Davi, Martin Kove, Andrew Divoff on Cinesouq.

The Cinesouq Team — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:54:10 +0000

cast : Paul Logan (Mega Piranha, The Terminators), Martin Kove (Karate Kid, Rambo), Robert Davi (Die Hard, Licence to Kill, The Goonies), Andrew Divoff (Indiana Jones, Wishmaster, Air Force One), CB Spencer, James Lew (Traffic / Collateral / Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Simon Rhee
director : Gary Jones
producer : Tony Kandah

Synopsis

BALLISTICA – THE CIA’S MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON.

DAMIAN has been trained in “BALLISTICA;” a deadly form of hand-to-hand combat using ballistics and firearms. He is one of the few Americans who has perfected it, which makes him the CIA’s best weapon against International Terrorism.

But now, a deadly organization known as the “Hand of Truth,” have developed an experimental bomb that threatens the lives of millions. Together with his Operations Commander, RILEY, Damian must embark on an international manhunt to find the Micro-Pulse Bomb and the sinister man who wields it. His arch nemesis, DRAGOMIR. The only problem is that everyone capable of disarming the bomb have been killed, save one; the beautiful DR. ALEXA ZANNER.

Now Damian must protect Alexa from assassination, find the bomb and get her close enough to disarm the weapon before it can be detonated. But in a world of Spies, intrigue and international terrorism, who will be the last one standing in the Duel of BALLISTICA.

Scout’s Honor a comedy feature film starring Chris Kattan and Fred Willard on Cinesouq.

The Cinesouq Team — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:42:57 +0000

Cast : Chris Kattan (A Night at the Roxbury / Foodfight! / Saturday Night Live), Fred Willard (WALL·E / Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy / Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Electra Avellan (Grindhouse / Death Proof / Planet Terror), Kip King (A Night at the Roxbury / Babylon 5: Thirdspace / Corky Romano), David Schultz, B.J. Bales
director : Jesse Bryan
executive producer : Trey Fruge, William Park
producer : William Park, Electra Avellan
writer : Jesse Bryan , David Schultz

Synopsis:

Scout’s Honor is the story of David and Tim Appleorchard who work for their dad at Camp Bear Claw. They care about three things: Making sure their evil older brother doesn’t take over the camp, knowledge of extinct plant life, and earning at least one badge before they turn 30.

C.L.A.S.S. a thriller feature film starring Tom Sizemore on Cinesouq.

The Cinesouq Team — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:32:13 +0000

cast : Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan / Black Hawk Down / Heat), Sheldon F. Robins, Katie Malia, Percy Daggs III, Paige La Pierre, Randy Irwin, Dante Basco
director : Michael Phillip Edwards
executive producer : Shaeda Moghaddam
producer : Sheldon F. Robins
writer : Sheldon F. Robins

Synopsis:

When a brilliant female law student Fiona Reid signs up for Professor Mark Sloan’s criminology class, she quickly realizes she has signed on for more than what she bargained for. Fiona discovers there’s more than theory behind the good professor’s seemingly masterful way of getting into the heads of the criminals being studied.

“How does he know those details?”

“Why does he refer to mass murderers as ‘artists’?”

Within days of Fiona joining the class, a series of sickeningly violent random killings rise up striking fear in the hearts of the local college town student body. The Sheriff believes a mass murderer has come to town.

With a passion for solving crime, fueled by the unsolved murder of her father’s death at the hands of a mass murderer days before she was born, Fiona sets about the task of catching the town’s new mass murderer. She is surprised, however, to receive assistance from the mysterious Professor Sloan; He calls her at all hours with clues and missing elements of the crime. He speaks to her in code from the podium, pointing her in the necessary direction to either move closer to the killers capture or to avoid being the
killer’s next victim.

As the murder victims in town grow less and less random and more and more closely connected to Fiona’s own life, she starts to suspect her hermitlike younger brother, her rich cheating boyfriend; her creepy professor’s assistant and most certainly, the man who appears to be assisting her; the professor himself.

With a surprise ending no one will see coming, the twists never seem to stop in this shocking dark thriller.