Can you sell a film to a distributor if it's already out there?

M

Mickey Munday

Well-known member
if you make a feature film, sell individual copies yourself (online, whatever), can you still get distribution from a company or do you need to be able to guarantee them they have the only exclusive copy?

it seems if you have several hundred/or thousand copies or so out on the street already they won't want it even if it's good - no?
 
It depends on the distributors. Some won't touch something that's already out there, since it really screws them over. Especially at the indie level, where most of them aren't expected to get a huge draw. The only thing that matters is if they think they'll make their money back and look good as a brand. So the question is if they can make enough sales themselves to cover that, if it fits into the business plan.

Also, they might want to modify their copy. That would be an issue if it's already 'out there'.

I'm not saying they won't, and with no personal experience I don't know; but I know the basics of how business works, and that particular situation could be a bigger hassle if it isn't substantially better quality than the other options.
 
The short answer is no. So don't sell for small money if you can afford not to -- especially if your film 35mm. You can eventually make more money by marketing the movie yourself even if you don't find the distributor to pay you up front money.

However, if you have investors and other pressures (such as actors who did it for a credit), then you're forced into selling yourself short.

There are myriad exceptions, but you have to be careful when you take money from anybody or make people partners in your production (that's why I discourage filmmakers from handing out "producer" credits.)

If, however, you have a movie that's shot on digital and you can revamp it, then you can treat it as a "work in progress" and re-release it or sell it as a new movie. The paradigm is changing. The new rules of distribution are different. Just say "viral" and you're good to go.LOL
 
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