When to Send to Distributors?

[Martay]

Okay, nearly finished post-production on Battle

We have picture-lock and 95% of Soundtrack and Score Locked.

What's left is the fine sound mix and audio sweetening but we have a servicable copy of the film in our hands.

Conventional wisdom is to wait until completely finished, am I right?

However, there are dozens of distributors clammering to get a screener ASAP.

What are the thoughts about sending a near-complete Work-In-Progress screener out? Is there a difference between submissions to festival in this stage as well?

I just want to hear others thoughts on this.

Check out our trailer as this is all anyone has seen thus far and there seems to be a lot of interest at this stage and I know we're nearing Market times.

Thanks,

Martin Kelley
Producer, Battle

 

[capitalP]

As much as your itching to get it out there to distributors, don't. Because there's no do over. Just wait until you and your team are absolutely sattisfied with the finish product to submit. I don't mean having a perfect film because there's always gonna be some things you wish you could change, I mean once you've tweeked everything you think you can possibly tweek, that's when I would send it out.

Same goes for the festivals. And if those distributors who are clammering down on you to get a screener are that interested, I'm sure they will be willing to wait a little longer.

 

[mastermind]

I disagree.

Beat the iron while its hot. For all you know there's another beat producer movie on its way with a much higher budget that kills your chances of signing a distro deal, or a slew of different variables which will change the status quo once you're ready to show them your film.

Let them know its a work in progress and what needs to be done and send them a copy.