Independent Film Distribution: That critical endgame.

In chess the endgame is most important because one wrong move will cause you to stalemate.  For an independent filmmaker it's the same problem.

 Every year countless indies are submitted to film festivals where one of two things happen.  Either they get in or they're rejected.  I could go on a rant pertaining to film festivals.  That's a blog for another time.  Film distribution has always been complicated because there are multiple ways to get your work seen.  Think of distribution as an open flea market where your trying to sale your digital product. 

Start by asking yourself what are you looking to accomplish.  Are you seeking fame or money?  Both are noble but there are benefits and limitations.  Fame will get you work but it might not get you money and fame costs money.  Money will get you paid but you'll be scratching for another gig so it's important to know what you're trying to accomplish with your content.  I'm going to list new distribution models that I think work in the internet age.

 
Mass email blast (assuming you know lots of people who like you)
Get mainstream success and acclaim (Wining the Oscar helps)
Blogs (Create a great blog)
Podcast-create an awesome show and grow a fan base
Showing your film on a portable device at a networking mixer
Sticker/graffiti projects
Priemum digital download/Try before you buy version (Mdot Strange)
Become a celebrity and sell directly your audience
Upload to Itunes/road trip your movie promoting it in theaters
Win awards at prestigious film festivals because your movie is that damn good.
Tom Leykis method- Create your own web channel provide your own content/premium content exclusive to subscribers and paid advertising (must become a celebrity)

The main idea here is to cultivate an audience and sell yourself and your content to them because your that damn good or interesting.

Inide Game the movie review

"Indie Game the movie" is a documentary film that focuses on independent video game development.  Audiences get a glimpse into the would of indie video game development. After raising funds with two successful kickstarter campaigns directors James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot utilized dslr cameras to create a modern look for the documentary.

Heart break and faith seem so to be the through line of this this documentary.  It opens with a developer anxiously awaiting the release of his game on Xbox Live only to be disappointed.  We follow the developers as they create Super Meat Boy  for its 2011 as well as Fez a game struggling in development hell for the past seven years.  Without getting too much of the mundane we get an intriguing look into the process of video game level creation and witness it's emergence as a new art form.

Every artist faces doubt both external and internal.  This film is really good at showing the risk of being an artist.  The people in this documentary risk wasting years of their lives toiling away on a project that may never be published.  Everyone wants to be that one in a million but the important message of the film is never give up.  My only issues with this film is that its a bit long in the middle but rewards those who watch the credits with a look at various games indie developers are working on.  I learned about a unique world and will be downloading steam (indie game site) to stay up to date with what out there.

Whats unique about this film is that it is part of a trend of bypassing studio distribution and marketing itself exclusively through the internet and limited theatrical exhibition.  Released on iTunes July 1st this film is firmly in the control of its creators.  It seems to be making a statement that the independent world is here and it's possible to earn a living as a independent content maker.

The film won the World Cinema Documentary Editing Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. and has gone onto critical acclaim. 

Movie Grade A

M Dot Strange - The new face of do it yourself filmmaking.

M dot Strange is a director who is silently on the come up.  If you've heard of him chances are your thinking outside the box.  Originally from California M dot is redefining what is to be an independent filmmaker.  With his skill set he could easily land a job at a reputable post production facility doing animation work but he is sticking to his guns and putting his visions on screen via the internet.

I have mad respect for this brother because he is a true artist in every since of the word.  He first appeared on the radar with his innovative film "We Are the Strange" which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2007.  Budgeted at $20,000 M dot created a unique animation style called St8 anime---inspired by 8 bit Nintendo video games.  His style has been shamelessly ripped off by many copy cats but he continues to innovate.

His latest film "Heart String Marionette" has taken five years of his life to develop.  M dot has bypassed studio distribution and decided to released the film himself over the internet.  He has uploaded a try before you buy version and a premium download for $5.00.  According to his website he's sold 438 downloads as of this posting.

M dot is interested in moving onto other projects as of now but I suspect that "Heart String Marionette" could have done better if it was marketed a little bit more.  I haven't seen the whole film so I wont do a review but I feel that most of his fans like him as a person and artist.  I believe they will over look the narrative quality of his work and respect the effort. 

M dot's work isn't going away and cannot be ignored if he keeps putting stuff out there and doesn't quit he will reach his goals.  Countless unknown artists have inspiration to draw from thanks to M dot's work.

In numbers obsessed Hollywood it's refreshing to see someone creating visual art for the love but I hope his work finds a way to the big leagues.