Producing Features for the direct to video market.

M

MikeZas

Active member
Is this sort of thing done? Is it a commercially viable route for indie filmmakers? How does one go about selling their project to a video distribution company either before or after the film is completed? What are a handful of companies that do this sort of thing?
 
Certainly it's done! All the time, in fact. Mostly it's done with horror movies, since they're the easiest to get distribution on without 'names' attached. Want examples? Head down to your local Hollywood Video and look for some of these titles:

Jack O' Lantern
Severed
Vicious
Ghost Watcher
Haunted House
The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra

There are plenty more. Scour the horror section for movies that have no one you ever heard of in them. Chances are they were direct-to-video.

I'm actually in post on a direct-to-video feature -- the romantic ghost story "Afterlife". And I'm writing a book -- "How I Made a REAL Movie For Under $10,000! (And You Can Too!)" With access to a good DV camera, some basic equipment, and some legwork, it's quite possible to make a movie that can be sold to the direct-to-video market.

Good luck!
 
Mike,
I just read an article in VideoMaker or DV Magazine, I can't remember which one. and there was a CaseStudy article of a guy who make a $900 movie in 98' self distributed it and has grossed over 4mil so far. the article spoke more about his new film that he spend 70k on and is also self distributing. so far he has recouped his mone by now he is probably out of the red and well into the black. He spoke of a system that you send your video to and they provide you with a suit case that has your video encoded and you can take the case to certain movie theathers that allow this input. (primarily for indies) this saves you the cost of going to film.
If you are really intersted I can find the article and direct you to the magazine and the web site to that company that provides the case.
 
CustomFlix are advertising on the DVXuser banners above.

Anyone using this method to Direct to DVD release? Looks like an interesting concept. I'd be interested to learn if it is resulting in sales and profit?

Edit: This it the link from the DVXuser banner.
 
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I proceeded to register, punished the 'search' command, feedback read good for CustomFlix. As for distributor or self-distribute, horses for courses.

Thanks for the link Paul.:thumbsup:
 
When do DVD menu's get designed?

When do DVD menu's get designed?

I am an up and coming DVD author and I am trying to figure out which stage DVD menus get designed. If there are people out there looking for distribution or going straight to DVD, when should I contact them about working on their film?


Thanks
_Red
 
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