Online Distribution?

K

ksduded

Active member
Hello,

I am planning to release my film, and I was thinking of an online distribution model.

I have seen iTunes stream tv shows for a minimal fee. Then there is this website available
http://www.rajshri.com

through which you can download movies for $4 - $9

After three days the movie is automatically deleted from your computer. I wanted to know how this works.

Or even otherwise, If a user downloads the movie, is there a way to make it protected, i.e. it cannot be uploaded or ripped in any other form.
 
The best internet driven model I've seen so far that brings money into the producer's pocket is the one used by Sam Balcomb and Jesse Soffe for the release of their short "The Ore".

They built a website and let the world, "behind the scenes" and then pre-sold DVD's for fifteen bucks a pop, plus shipping. What I love about the model is there are no middle men. You get direct return and premium dollars to boot.
 
I agree with craigbowman. Why would anyone buy any film that will delete itself after a few days?? That's a hard sell even for well known big budget blockbuster films. DRM isn't the answer for them, and it isn't the answer for you.

You could offer a low-resolution version of the film available for free on your website. If they like it, they can purchase the DVD directly from you. There's no risk to you if they upload it anywhere, becasue most people won't want the low-res version anyway. Plus, any unauthorized distribution they do will only help drive people to your website to buy the DVD...

If your film is really good, you could even have the low-res. verson cut short by 15 minutes, and pop up a message saying "to see the ending, buy the full quality DVD for $X.XX".
 
The delete after 3 days is a rental model at a lower price point; $1.99 - $3.99 kind of thing, where purchases will start at the $9.99 and up depending on the value of the content. There are many business models being out together, there is one is pay by the hour - pay for what you watched so far...

I don't know if a low rez and come back for the hi rez works for some content. If the film is a story/actor driven one then the low rez could deliver that experience and be "good enough." The hi-rez works well for big screen, action, effects driven type films where the picture quality makes a difference in the experience. For example - "Lonesome Jim" would work fine low rez and still get the story across - but a "War of the Worlds" would not be the same experience.

And I don't know if the "cut off the last 15 mins" works that well either for buying the hi-rez since it means I have to watch it all over again, or find my spot. Neither one of them a great viewing experience in my opinion.

In all cases, regardless of the distribution mechanism in place, it all comes down to marketing and knowing that a film is available for the market that would be interested in seeing it. That is the bigger challenge in self distribution.

Michael
 
MichaelP said:
The delete after 3 days is a rental model at a lower price point; $1.99 - $3.99 kind of thing, where purchases will start at the $9.99 and up depending on the value of the content. There are many business models being out together, there is one is pay by the hour - pay for what you watched so far...

I don't know if a low rez and come back for the hi rez works for some content. If the film is a story/actor driven one then the low rez could deliver that experience and be "good enough." The hi-rez works well for big screen, action, effects driven type films where the picture quality makes a difference in the experience. For example - "Lonesome Jim" would work fine low rez and still get the story across - but a "War of the Worlds" would not be the same experience.

And I don't know if the "cut off the last 15 mins" works that well either for buying the hi-rez since it means I have to watch it all over again, or find my spot. Neither one of them a great viewing experience in my opinion.

In all cases, regardless of the distribution mechanism in place, it all comes down to marketing and knowing that a film is available for the market that would be interested in seeing it. That is the bigger challenge in self distribution.

Michael
Click to expand...

ya i don't believe in the low res version. If i see a movie once, regardless of how good it is, i won't be getting the dvd for the high-res version. But thats probably my take on it.

Deleting the video might not be a good option, but that was before I did some research regarding Digital Rights Management.

I think DRM is a very good model, as it adds a license key to the file, and it can only be played on the computer it was purchased. So I think that is a good option to try out.
 
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