Selling a movie? at DVinfo.net

Vishal Gurung · September 17th, 2006, 08:07 PM

Hey all
So i haven't posted in a long long long time as i've been absolutely swamped with filming my first 10 minute short for a local asian film competition.

However that's all done and over with. Alas, we didn't win, but we learnt a ton (myself as director/editor) and thoroughly enjoyed the competition (1 week to film/edit a 10 min movie).

Now my producing partner and i are absolutely motivated and totally psyched to start pre production on a longer more interesting character driven piece and we'e already begun writing.

What's this got to do with the business forum, you ask yourself?
Well in order to make another movie, we need moolah.. not tons, but at least some for equipment rental and hopefully to pay some peeps.

Question is, would it be possible to sell our 10 min short? and howabouts would we go about doing that? It's not the greatest movie ever made but it's definitely watchable and fun- basically a 10 min suspense thriller flick with awesome acting and a decent storyline.

We'd love to be able to make some moolah off of it to finance our next project so any ideas would be much appreciated.

Btw we're based in Vancouver canada but we're not against selling our souls to any american based tv stations :D

Emre Safak · September 17th, 2006, 08:11 PM

I would say the value of your film is educational. Do you honestly expect to be paid for your first short? Maybe I am wrong and it is fantastic, but you have to be realistic.

A simple way to market your film is to put it on your Web site, open a PayPal account, and and provide a link to the film in your receipt for payment page.

Vishal Gurung · September 17th, 2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emre Safak

I would say the value of your film is educational. Do you honestly expect to be paid for your first short? Maybe I am wrong and it is fantastic, but you have to be realistic.

A simple way to market your film is to put it on your Web site, open a PayPal account, and and provide a link to the film in your receipt for payment page.

*nods* nopes don't expect to be paid @ all for my first short- You're right in a way that we learnt SO much in those 3 days of filming, much more than the $15k i spent for 1 year of film school.

However there's an actor i was acquainted with who had the worst filming skills *or lack thereof* and would make these really odd 'self filmed' little shorts with no lighting/on board camera sound and like no real story but just himself being in different characters and he apparently used to sell these shorts for like $5g's apiece.

Just got me thinking that's all

I do like your paypal idea but if one person downloads it, all the gotsa do is smack it on youtube and anyone/everyone can watch it right?

Emre Safak · September 17th, 2006, 08:33 PM

Again, you have to be realistic. People are going to put your video on Youtube? After paying for it? If they really do, just notify Youtube and they will remove it.

Vishal Gurung · September 17th, 2006, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emre Safak

Again, you have to be realistic. People are going to put your video on Youtube? After paying for it? If they really do, just notify Youtube and they will remove it.

Hmm i guess.. either way, thanks for your advice.

Don Donatello · September 17th, 2006, 11:55 PM

in general shorts usually do not make $$ ..
cable channels play shorts to fill in the minutes when main program is a bit short of that hour ...
PBS has some programming for shorts ... i've seen shorts on HBO & showtime ...
most of the time shorts are calling cards to show what you can do .. most of the time shorts are entered into many festivals over a year period ...every now & then somebody gets a call from a producer or agent ..

Josh Bass · September 18th, 2006, 11:10 AM

Some film fests have cash prizes. You can find out which ones, and enter it in there.

I got paid a small fee to license my first short to travelling film festival.

Michael Plunkett · October 12th, 2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Bass

Some film fests have cash prizes. You can find out which ones, and enter it in there.

I got paid a small fee to license my first short to travelling film festival.

Pardon the newbie question- but where can one find a list of fests and comps?

Mathieu Ghekiere · October 12th, 2006, 12:47 PM

I think this thread would be very approperiate in the Techniques of Independent Production too.

Djee Smit · October 13th, 2006, 02:28 AM

I have no idea how things are arranged in Canada, but what about film and cultural funds? In Holland for example there are a lot of funds fur film and cultural stuff. With your first short film to proof that you can actually make films, you might be able to get some money that way.

(almost all films in Holland are supported with money from filmfunds and other cultural funds)

September 17th, 2006, 08:07 PM	#1
Vishal Gurung Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 237	Selling a movie? Hey all So i haven't posted in a long long long time as i've been absolutely swamped with filming my first 10 minute short for a local asian film competition. However that's all done and over with. Alas, we didn't win, but we learnt a ton (myself as director/editor) and thoroughly enjoyed the competition (1 week to film/edit a 10 min movie). Now my producing partner and i are absolutely motivated and totally psyched to start pre production on a longer more interesting character driven piece and we'e already begun writing. What's this got to do with the business forum, you ask yourself? Well in order to make another movie, we need moolah.. not tons, but at least some for equipment rental and hopefully to pay some peeps. Question is, would it be possible to sell our 10 min short? and howabouts would we go about doing that? It's not the greatest movie ever made but it's definitely watchable and fun- basically a 10 min suspense thriller flick with awesome acting and a decent storyline. We'd love to be able to make some moolah off of it to finance our next project so any ideas would be much appreciated. Btw we're based in Vancouver canada but we're not against selling our souls to any american based tv stations :D __________________ 2ndshooter.blogspot.com

September 18th, 2006, 11:10 AM	#7
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Some film fests have cash prizes. You can find out which ones, and enter it in there. I got paid a small fee to license my first short to travelling film festival. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

October 12th, 2006, 12:47 PM	#9
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	I think this thread would be very approperiate in the Techniques of Independent Production too. __________________ http://productionsofthe3rdkind.com http://pr3k.com

October 13th, 2006, 02:28 AM	#10
Djee Smit Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Breda, Netherlands Posts: 141	I have no idea how things are arranged in Canada, but what about film and cultural funds? In Holland for example there are a lot of funds fur film and cultural stuff. With your first short film to proof that you can actually make films, you might be able to get some money that way. (almost all films in Holland are supported with money from filmfunds and other cultural funds) __________________ www.wanah.nl

September 17th, 2006, 08:11 PM	#2
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	I would say the value of your film is educational. Do you honestly expect to be paid for your first short? Maybe I am wrong and it is fantastic, but you have to be realistic. A simple way to market your film is to put it on your Web site, open a PayPal account, and and provide a link to the film in your receipt for payment page.

September 17th, 2006, 08:33 PM	#4
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Again, you have to be realistic. People are going to put your video on Youtube? After paying for it? If they really do, just notify Youtube and they will remove it.

September 17th, 2006, 11:55 PM	#6
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	in general shorts usually do not make $$ .. cable channels play shorts to fill in the minutes when main program is a bit short of that hour ... PBS has some programming for shorts ... i've seen shorts on HBO & showtime ... most of the time shorts are calling cards to show what you can do .. most of the time shorts are entered into many festivals over a year period ...every now & then somebody gets a call from a producer or agent ..