Fan films continue to be the best route for short film exposure

Brian_Rice

Brian_Rice

Carbonite Member
As with any film, fan films usually need to be good to go viral. Or really funny, I guess.

This one, posted a mere month ago, is already approaching 7 million views. I've seen countless short films that are just as good that have barely breached 700 views.

Views aren't everything, but they do dictate exposure.

 
Some of my friends have a great show on YouTube, but as soon as they did a fan film for Dead Island, their subscribers increased 50 times, and all their statistics shot up as well. It's more that your fan film has a pre-determined fan base already, so there's less market penetration you have to do to get your film seen. If you've ever wondered why Hollywood continues to make sequels and comic book films, well, this is exactly it on a smaller scale.

Here's my friends' short, if you're interested. They're really awesome After Effects editors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLK2yD5kvmA
 
There's no better way to gain fame then to let someone else get famous and feed off of their success. Hollywood has known this for a long time.
 
ASchear said:
Some of my friends have a great show on YouTube, but as soon as they did a fan film for Dead Island, their subscribers increased 50 times, and all their statistics shot up as well. It's more that your fan film has a pre-determined fan base already, so there's less market penetration you have to do to get your film seen. If you've ever wondered why Hollywood continues to make sequels and comic book films, well, this is exactly it on a smaller scale.
Click to expand...

Jon Starr said:
There's no better way to gain fame then to let someone else get famous and feed off of their success. Hollywood has known this for a long time.
Click to expand...

I think we are getting close to the days when aspiring writers and directors will have to make a fan film or write a spec script the way the TV world does it (write a spec script for a show that is on the air to show that you can "grasp" writing for a set of existing characters and story arcs). There will probably be the select few, the big time writers and directors that can pitch an original project, but for the rest of us it will be all about proving that we can work within the confines of an established brand or IP.
 
ASchear said:
Some of my friends have a great show on YouTube, but as soon as they did a fan film for Dead Island, their subscribers increased 50 times, and all their statistics shot up as well. It's more that your fan film has a pre-determined fan base already, so there's less market penetration you have to do to get your film seen. If you've ever wondered why Hollywood continues to make sequels and comic book films, well, this is exactly it on a smaller scale.

Here's my friends' short, if you're interested. They're really awesome After Effects editors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLK2yD5kvmA
Click to expand...

[tangent]That short was awesome.[/tangent]
 
ASchear said:
Some of my friends have a great show on YouTube, but as soon as they did a fan film for Dead Island, their subscribers increased 50 times, and all their statistics shot up as well. It's more that your fan film has a pre-determined fan base already, so there's less market penetration you have to do to get your film seen. If you've ever wondered why Hollywood continues to make sequels and comic book films, well, this is exactly it on a smaller scale.

Here's my friends' short, if you're interested. They're really awesome After Effects editors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLK2yD5kvmA
Click to expand...

Great short!

I hope it continues to help them get more views of their creator-owned stuff.

I think with what's available on your desktop it's such an awesome time to be doing fan films. From video games to comic books to television -- there's just so much material out there to choose from to showcase your directorial skills.
 
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