Posted by Michael Raben at spider-mtc-ta083.proxy.aol.com on March 31, 2001 at 21:39:10:
In Reply to: Er, can I ask Kevin some advice? posted by Oli J on March 31, 2001 at 15:29:29:
: Can you offer me some advice on how to sell my movie to a distributer.
It helps if a distributor is interested. Couple of questions:
1) Does your film have any "names" in it (primarily cast, but producer/director will do)?
2) Have you played any major festivals? ANY festivals at all?
3) Do you have any "friends" in the industry?
If the answer to these questions in "NO", then you've got some serious work ahead of you. If you don't have any name talent, that's pretty much out of your hands - so don't worry about it. You can apply to festivals and if your project is good, you'll get some screenings. And there are agencies and distributors that will look at a VHS copy of your flick; you can research that on the web and make a bunch of phone calls. In the end, the flick has to stand on its own two feet. If you've really got something, then the cream will rise. You might not even sell the flick; it may serve to get you bigger financing on your next project.
: Or can I ask how you managed to get to sell Clerks and make it big?
'Clerks' was a bit of an anomoly; it was truely unique for its time as well as being well written and acted. Then the influx of "talkie" independents really flooded the market. 'Clerks' made it because a couple of major players in the indie scene, John Pierson and Bob Hawk, helped it along and Miramax took a chance on it because of what they saw at Sundance.
The harsh reality is that 99%+ of independents will NEVER find distribution. Whatever chance you have rests in your project and your drive to get people interested in it.
Always
Michael Raben