"Homeworld" (Sci-Fi Feature shot w/ DVX & M2)

Phil H.

Phil H.

Active member
Hi Everyone.

During 2006-2007 I shot and directed a science fiction feature using the DVX100B and Redrock M2.

During the AFM of 2007, I signed over rights to a sales agent who then sold the film to a few territories. After poor communication and some misleading, I decided not to renew the contract with them. Normally I would've had no choice because they usually do contracts for 15 years. However, I put a limit of six months into the contact and got them to agree to it.

Well, almost two years from the original contract, I finally have all rights back, thank goodness. After much research, I've decided to self-distribute.

Our film is now available on DVD (and soundtrack too if you're into that). If you're interested, please check it out:

http://www.homeworldthemovie.com/

Or you can find it on Amazon.com's Video On Demand service. 7-day rental is only $1.99. Or digital purchase for only $9.99.
http://www.amazon.com/Homeworld-Dir...ie=UTF8&s=digital-video&qid=1261039459&sr=1-2


Thanks,
 
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Also, be sure to check out the two 4 minute clips from the movie. One is the first 4 minutes of the film. The other is taken from about halfway in.

http://www.homeworldthemovie.com/videos.html

You can also view them right here on DVXUSER:

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.
I AGREE
 
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Wow, nice job.

One of the best looking films I've seen on the DVX.

Production value is tremendous, aside a little form the special effects, but that's hard to pull off.

Robbie
 
Glad you enjoyed those clips, Robbie. Would love to hear your thoughts if/when you get to see the whole film.
 
We only spent about $25K hard cash on the production. We had over 30 people donate time and resources to the project that would have cost well over $250K. Over the last two years, for distribution, marketing and legal fees, we've spent at least another $25K.

Where did this money come from? We raised about $12K from friends and family. The rest came out of our pockets from money earned as freelance producers & filmmakers :)
 
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Would love to hear more details from your experience with sales agents.. the whos, whats, etc. If you don't want to be specific here with names or numbers send me a private message but, I am about to be heading into the same realm after several festivals with my feature and would love any info on your experiences

Great looking stuff by the way

Russ
 
Clay_H said:
Got my DVD copy today, about to give it a watch.
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Awesome. I hope it does something for you. We all learned a lot from the experience. Making and distributing it.

@Russ, I'm planning to do a series of podcasts in the future that chronicle my experience from conception through to distribution. There's so much to tell.

In the meantime, I can try to answer any specific questions you might have. I will say this though, if anyone utters these words:

"Industry Standard"

Turn and run like hell! Seriously. DO NOT do business with them. They either have no idea what they are talking about, or they know EXACTLY what they are talking about and plan to take you on a ride you'll regret. The truth is, there is no such thing as an industry standard when it comes to contracts. Every single contract can be negotiated in whole or in part.

An example: the very reputable sales agent that I signed with had a very daunting 15 year contract. I changed about 70% of the contract, including knocking the 15 years to 6 months. However, due to a loop hole in the contract that I missed, they had rights for slightly longer than 6 months, but still, in the end, I have the rights back and am now being smart and working on marketing and distribution myself. Because in the end, marketing is the single most important factor in determining if your film will be a success. There are lots of other factors, story, cast, filmmaking, genre, and so forth, but marketing is key.

If you don't already, I suggest starting a rigorous website and social networking campaign. You can do most of that work yourself for almost nothing.

Until the I get around to the podcasts (because I'm working on my next feature), please feel free to throw questions at me.

Cheers.
 
I've heard you can get pretty good royalties from broadcast. Maybe not HBO, but there is a growing list of specialty cable channels. , plus pay for on demand stuff. That's what your sales agent should have taken care of.
 
zeke said:
I've heard you can get pretty good royalties from broadcast. Maybe not HBO, but there is a growing list of specialty cable channels. , plus pay for on demand stuff. That's what your sales agent should have taken care of.
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Actually, most sales agents are in the business of selling to foreign markets. Yes, they still submit to a few domestic buyers (if you allow them domestic rights as well as the international rights), but they definitely don't query every cable channel. As a matter of fact, most of the sales agents I dealt with don't even care if you allow them to sell domestic rights. They want the international rights business.

Interesting thing was explained to me about the SciFi or SyFy channel: They don't even want movies with aliens or space travel. They want "Creature Features" with a creature that is not alien or unfamiliar. It should be something common to Earth's creatures (just bigger with more teeth) or mythology (like gargoyles or something). Sad, but true.
 
Phil H. said:
Interesting thing was explained to me about the SciFi or SyFy channel: They don't even want movies with aliens or space travel. They want "Creature Features" with a creature that is not alien or unfamiliar. It should be something common to Earth's creatures (just bigger with more teeth) or mythology (like gargoyles or something). Sad, but true.
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That's a shame, this look s better than 90% of the crap on Syfy.

I guess they are more interested in showing "wresting".

Sad.
 
Phil H. said:
Interesting thing was explained to me about the SciFi or SyFy channel: They don't even want movies with aliens or space travel. They want "Creature Features" with a creature that is not alien or unfamiliar. It should be something common to Earth's creatures (just bigger with more teeth) or mythology (like gargoyles or something). Sad, but true.
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Then what the hell is Battlestar Galactica and Stargate? Sheesh. What a bunch of morons over at SyFy.

If I were a multi-billionaire I would start a "real" science fiction channel. Unfortunately, I'm not a multi-billionaire.

Homeworld looks really good though. I remember seeing some info on this a year or so ago. I'm glad to see you guys are getting the film out there.
 
I know what you've been through.

The business has changed; but there are many filmmakers still pursuing the old distribution models of the 80s and 90s.

I don't even look for distribution anymore. I put my movie THE RED QUEEN on Amazon immediately. I'm going to the foreign markets myself. The first one up next year is the Berlinale in Germany.

I will continue to go to all the markets that I can afford to go and distribute all my movies. I don't make exclusive deals anymore. I will sell directly to international buyers.

The reason why the small distributors and agents go to the foreign market is that it's the only movie market that's structured. The domestic market is totally unpredictable; it always has been. If you research it you will find all the reasons.

Read the chapter on distribution in my book FILMMAKING A TO Z. It's on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Filmmaking-Z-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260117981&sr=8-1

Nate designed the cover :)
amazon_filmmaking_a_to_z_icon.gif
You can read any chapter for free. You don't have to buy the book.
 
Showtime has a couple of channels that show scif. There are also relatively new channels like 'Chiller'. Wishwe did have a real alternative to syfy. A premium channel that would show scifi movies uncut would be great.
 
I wanted to mention that before we got the rights to our film back from the sales agent, they had sold international rights to a few countries including Japan, Germany and a few others. Within a week of delivering the product to the buyers, our film was pirated all over the internet.

I've found several torrent sites with thousands and thousands of downloads of our film. *sigh*
 
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