4 basic quesitons about our project asked by a film student

Arin: When we started making the film we had no distribution goals. We just wanted to make it. If we were to do a second project, then I’d say we’d be thinking about distribution from the start and be able to do an even better job preparing the film to be released by letting audiences be a part of the project very early on before the movie is even done.

Question 2: How vital of a role has the internet and websites like Youtube, Myspace played in helping promote this film?

Arin: We made a video podcast of online episodes that weren’t the film but were additional material that extended beyond the film. These were released to MySpace and then once YouTube was created we started posting them all there as well. We started amassing major audiences that we asked to give us their zip code and email and we used this data to go to theaters to release the film in cities with a lot of interest in the movie.

Question 3: What is your main marketing plan for self-distributing this film? Are you still seeking out a distribution company to purchase the film?

Arin: The film has been distributed on DVD using bside.com, neoflix.com, and theatrically using emerging pictures as well as working directly with select theaters and we also released the film on MySpace and YouTube. The next step is releasing the film to stores and putting it on TV which will happen in the spring using a distribution company most people have heard of that we will soon announce.

Question 4: Through your experiences what would you say was the most difficult part making the film?

Arin: Making it good is one of the the hardest things and at the end of the day is the only important thing. You can nail the technical side of things, but there is always the challenge for what you create to actually be good. But we’ve found that if it contains important ideas that really matter to us that all we have to do is make sure those ideas come across and then it will become “good” and be relevant to people.

For more information about the creation and distribution of Four Eyed Monsters please watch our DIY case study presentation we gave at the London International Film Festival in October 2007.