zoostory
Well-known member
This topic is too general. Distribution varies vastly depending on genre, budget, connections, approach, et cetera. I'm not saying I agree with it, but I think just about any A level distributor is going to slam the door in your face for just about anything... period... especially drama... UNLESS you have connections, a name, or some other proof (in their minds) that it will sell, as Barry mentioned.
You're dealing with half-humans that live off of fear. Fear of getting fired and having to give up their Z4's, condo in the hills, and their outkast CD collection. You have to think like them... if you want to distribute. So you have to really evaluate your project. The Genre, the actors, the medium shot on, your connections.. .EVERYTHING. And if you don't know something, you'de better learn it fast. You have to critique yourself and you have to be realistic with yourself. If you want to do something because you are passionate about it, great, that's how I operate all the time, but my passions don't necessarily line up with market sales, and I know that.
If you want to sell, you HAVE TO understand the markets out there. Foreign pre-sales, predistribs thru lions gate, studios, etc. Sadly, from my experience, in the low budget world of narratives... horror, sci-fi, and sex sell. They'll give you way more lattitude with your shooting format if you make a crappy horror film that is similar to some big release, has a C actor, and som T&A. But is that what you want to do?
There is also the festival world, which is, arguably, in America, THE form of distribution for short films, and the only place an indie drama is even going to have a shot. And if that is the case, you better bring something NEW to the table, or have a worldwind cast (like Little Miss Sunshine), good connections, and a lot of money to self market.
If you're doing docs, whole different story...
So in short, it would be unfair to respond to someone asking if they can shoot their movie on DV, HDV, HDCAM, film, or whatever. It's up to you to do the research, be informed, and make your own decision based on what you want to do with your film.
You're dealing with half-humans that live off of fear. Fear of getting fired and having to give up their Z4's, condo in the hills, and their outkast CD collection. You have to think like them... if you want to distribute. So you have to really evaluate your project. The Genre, the actors, the medium shot on, your connections.. .EVERYTHING. And if you don't know something, you'de better learn it fast. You have to critique yourself and you have to be realistic with yourself. If you want to do something because you are passionate about it, great, that's how I operate all the time, but my passions don't necessarily line up with market sales, and I know that.
If you want to sell, you HAVE TO understand the markets out there. Foreign pre-sales, predistribs thru lions gate, studios, etc. Sadly, from my experience, in the low budget world of narratives... horror, sci-fi, and sex sell. They'll give you way more lattitude with your shooting format if you make a crappy horror film that is similar to some big release, has a C actor, and som T&A. But is that what you want to do?
There is also the festival world, which is, arguably, in America, THE form of distribution for short films, and the only place an indie drama is even going to have a shot. And if that is the case, you better bring something NEW to the table, or have a worldwind cast (like Little Miss Sunshine), good connections, and a lot of money to self market.
If you're doing docs, whole different story...
So in short, it would be unfair to respond to someone asking if they can shoot their movie on DV, HDV, HDCAM, film, or whatever. It's up to you to do the research, be informed, and make your own decision based on what you want to do with your film.