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Linda Nelson from Indie Rights discusses what's hot in digital distribution and how Amazon Prime fits into your overall strategy.
Indie Rights, Inc. is an American distributor of independent films, based in Los Angeles, California. Indie Rights is a subsidiary of Nelson Madison Films and was incorporated in 2007 to act as distributor for other independent filmmakers.[1] The corporation began as a private MySpace group where the makers of independent films could get information about the changing face of film distribution; founders Linda Nelson and Michael Madison created Indie Rights so that distribution contracts could be signed by a legal entity. The corporation distributes films largely through video on demand services, though more recently it has overseen suchtheatrical releases as We Are Kings and Fray, both in 2014.
Nelson Madison Films has produced three features: Bigger Than Live (2002), Shifted (2006) and Delivered (2011).[2][3]
Background[edit]Linda Nelson is a former investment banker and computer systems analyst based in Los Angeles since 1980;[2] Michael Madison moved there in 1999 from Duncanville, Texas, to work as an actor and film producer.[4] They first partnered in 2000 to create and distribute the NSYNC concert film Bigger Than Live for IMAX theaters. In 2003, they formed their own company[1] with the goal of making independent features using local talent. Madison acts and handles writing, producing and directing duties; Nelson writes and produces[4] while developing distribution plans for other filmmakers.
Lawsuit and recovery[edit]Bigger Than Live broke even during its theatrical run, but Nelson and Madison "failed to tie up the necessary rights in our initial contract" and lost home video distribution in a lawsuit that shut down their production office. They moved into "more humble digs" and tried again with the crime thriller Shifted, learning the ins and outs of distribution while attending film festivals.[3] Nelson soon discovered that the chances of getting a film seen at a major festival such as Sundance or Cannes without having connections in the industry "are slim to nothing."[5] The company began a private group on MySpace called Indie Co-op, where filmmakers could get details on self-distribution, including attendance at smaller festivals where films are likely to benefit from local coverage and reviews.[6]
Nelson believed that film distributors didn't have any systems for accountability in place[2] and that they tended to buy the rights to entire catalogs rather than individual films,[7] so she and Madison decided to do it themselves. Since they needed a legal entity to make distribution contracts valid,[3] they incorporated Indie Rights in 2007.[8] Nelson said doing both film production and distribution gives them a greater understanding of the challenges that filmmakers face than would a company that focuses only on distribution.[9]
Film distribution[edit]By 2013, Indie Rights had built up enough name recognition that video on demand providers began approaching the corporation for information on available independent films rather than waiting to be contacted.[10] Those features are steered mostly to such platforms as Amazon Unbox, Google Play, Hulu and iTunes,[11] where the filmmakers can earn up to 50 percent of the revenue.[12] Innovations include searchable film rentals on YouTube and through video game consoles, allowing filmmakers new sources of incomeâin 2011, Indie Rights had "little films making five grand a month on PlayStation".[13] In 2014, the company was the first independent studio included on MâGO, a subscription service supported by "all six of the major studios" that offers films for home viewing that are still playing in theaters.[14]
Filmmaker and Baylor University professor Christopher Hansen turned to Indie Rights in 2015 when his film Where We Started failed to make the major festival circuit. After a short run at the Arena Cinema Hollywood led to favorable reviews, the film was released via digital platforms.[15] Theatrical releases by Indie Rights also include 9 Full Moons (2013), featuring Amy Seimetz and Harry Dean Stanton;[16] We Are Kings, the feature-film debut of America's Got Talent winner Bianca Ryan;[17] and Druid Peak, starring Spencer Treat Clark and winner of Best Feature Film at the 2014 Omaha Film Festival.[18]
Indie Rights became part of the Independent Online Distribution Alliance in 2008.[19] Nelson and Madison also conduct seminars for independent filmmakers looking to build an audience through social networking.[20] DocumentaryTelevision.com said Nelson "really gets what it takes to win with Facebook."[21]
Filmmaking[edit]Starting in 2010, the budgetary constraints of independent film-making required that Nelson Madison Films go tapeless. Delivered, their second "crime thriller", was their first to utilize Red Digital Cinema cameras and Adobe CS5 production software.[22] Madison directed, and played the lead role in an "uneven performance" where "at times he's spot-on".[23]
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Simon Cade is the founder or DSLRGuide, a popular blog and YouTube Channel. To learn more about Simon you can visit his webiste at http://dslrguide.tv/ or check out all of the great videos on his YouTube Page. At the time of writing this Simon has 221,946 subscribers.
On this episode we talk all about YouTube as well as how to start making short films.
You can also follow Simon on Twitter. @DSLRguidance
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In 2013, David F. Sandberg made a little horror short film "Lights Out" for an online Horror Short competition. The film not only won, but became a viral sensation. Not too long after that, Sandberg started getting calls from Los Angeles from agents and managers.
Fast forward to Sandberg sitting in an office with James Wan (The Conjuring, Saw) talking about making "Lights Out" into a feature.
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On today's show we're talking with Pat Flynn of SmartPassiveIncome.com and the Ask Pat Podcast. Iwas extremely excited to introduce my audience to Pat because hehas been so instrumental in the founding of the IFA as well ashelping me to understand the world of online marketing. One of thekey concepts we discuss is the way that filmmakers can start tobuild their audience and look at their films as passive incomegenerators.
The concept of passive income is pretty straight forward.Instead of generating an income through hourly income, passiveincome is income generated from things like ebooks, videos,affiliate marketing, etc. over time. One of the most alluringaspects of passive income is the idea that at some point, you willcreate enough passive income that you will not need to work for anhourly wage. Although this sounds nice, I have found in my ownexperience that most people typically like to have something theydo to earn a living as well. Pat himself hasn't let a monthly a 6figure monthly income slow him down. But I do think it's importantfor filmmakers to learn Pat's techniques to be ahead of the gamewhen it comes to sales and distribution.
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A few years ago, I was blown away by the Indie Film "Spring". It was a nice break from the long line of horror films that were basically cookie cutters of other better horror films. This is the second film collaboration between Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. They started with the love budget surreal thriller "Resolution", which they paid for out of pocket.
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In this episode I am talking with Jeremy Gardener and Christian Stella. Two of the creators behind the wildly popular zombie film "The Battery" and the upcoming "Tex Montana Will Survive". We discuss what it was like to make an indie film for 6k dollars, what happened after the film came out, and how their experiences have made them want to change the way they approach distribution by offering their latest film for free.
To learn more about their crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter go to www.texmontana.com
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Nancy Gerstman is co-president and co-founder of Zeitgeist Films. She has worked in all aspects of film distribution and exhibition including a stint at Landmark Theatre Corp., the largest independent theatre chain in the US. She is in demand as a juror, panelist and commentator on issues related to independent and foreign language film and is Permanent Artist-in-Residence in the Master's Program in Media and Communication Arts at CCNY. She was born in Queens, New York.
Zeitgeist Films is a New York-based distribution company founded in 1988. We acquire and distribute the finest independent films from the U.S. and around the world.
Zeitgeist has distributed first films by such notable directors as Todd Haynes, Christopher Nolan, Francois Ozon, Atom Egoyan and the Quay Brothers. Our catalog includes films from the world's most outstanding filmmakers including Agnes Varda, Guy Maddin, Olivier Assayas, Jia Zhang-ke, Abbas Kiarostami, Derek Jarman, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Peter Greenaway, Philippe Garrel, Yvonne Rainer, Jan Svankmajer, Andrei Zyvagintsev, Laura Poitras, Astra Taylor and Raoul Peck.
Zeitgeist is renowned for ground-breaking documentaries which include THE CORPORATION, TROUBLE THE WATER, LAST TRAIN HOME, MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY, BALLETS RUSSES, MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES, INTO GREAT SILENCE, THE GLEANERS AND I, DERRIDA, UP THE YANGTZE and BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK.
Six Zeitgeist films have been nominated for Academy Awards and one, NOWHERE IN AFRICA, won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Our films have been honored by festivals throughout the world with Grand Prizes at Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, Tribeca, and IDFA in Amsterdam.
The Museum of Modern Art honored Zeitgeist with a month-long, 20th anniversary retrospective of our films in 2008.
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https://www.pinterest.com/indiefilmacdmy/roger-corman/
Today I'm talking with one of my heroes, legendary film producer Roger Corman. In this interview we discuss what filmmaking is like today for the Hollywood veteran and we discuss some of Corman's favorite memories and films.
We also hear from Jonathan Demme and Ron Howard about their experience working with Mr. Corman as well as a fun clip from Conan.
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PILAR ALESSANDRA is the director of the popular writing program âOn The Pageâ and author of âThe Coffee Break Screenwriter.â A sought-after teacher and lecturer, sheâs traveled the world teaching screenwriting, pitching and story analysis. As a consultant, Pilar has helped thousands of writers create, refine and sell their scripts and was named âCream of the Cropâ in Creative Screenwritingâs Script Consultant Survey. Her students and clients have sold to Disney, DreamWorks, Warner Brothers and Sony and have won prestigious competitions, including the Austin Film Festival and Nicholl Fellowship.
Pilar jump-started her career in film as a script reader for Amblin Entertainment. With the formation of DreamWorks, she became Senior Story Analyst and a reader liaison between the studio and Robert Zemeckisâs company ImageMovers. Her expert script analysis was also sought out by The Robert Evans Company, Cineville Entertainment, Handprint Entertainment and Saturday Night Live Studios. Work at Interscope Communications led her to a position as Senior Story Analyst for Scott Kroopfâs production company Radar Pictures.
Pilar was later bitten by the âteaching bugâ while teaching screenwriting and story analysis at the UCLA Writersâ Program. In 2001, she started her own company âOn the Page,â and in 2004 opened the On the Page Writers Studio in Sherman Oaks, California. In the interest of expanding access to her teaching tools, Pilar created the instructional DVD âOn the Pageâ and presents the weekly âOn the Page Podcastâ with guests from within the industry. Recently, Pilar was listed as one of LA Weeklyâs top 100 people in their âBest of LA Peopleâ issue.
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Today we're discussing comedy in writing with Steve Kaplan. Steve is the author of the book "The Hidden Tools of Comedy" as well as the founder of the HBO Workspace and the HBO New Writer's Program.
He is a consultant and script doctor for Dreamworks, Disney, Paramount, Touchstone and many others. and is also a highly sought-after instructor at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other top universities.
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The 90 Day Screenplay with Alan Watt
When it comes to learning screenwriting, it is rare to find a book from someone who is actually a working writer. In this episode of the Indie Film Academy Podcast, I talk with Alan Watt about his career as a screenwriter and many of the ideas in his book The 90-Day Screenplay.
Alan is also the founder of the L.A. Writer's Lab and can be followed on Twitter.
Show Notes:
Free Film Audiobook
Secrets To Sell Your First Film ($50 Off!)
L.A. Writer's Lab
The 90-Day Screenplay
It's A Wonderful Life
Star Wars
Rocky - Montre plus
