Comments on: Making a deal to sell your film

By: Linda Nelson

Linda Nelson — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:24:56 +0000

This is such great advise! I will point so many people to this page. I’ve negotiated about twenty distribution deals this year and everything you said is so valid. Every agreement can be negotiated; there is no standard distribution deal; NEVER give away exclusive internet rights, unless you get a big enough advance that you don’t care if you ever see another penny from your work (unless it is for a very short period of time). If you want something, ask for it. The worst that can happen is that they will say no, but most of the time, they say yes. If they’ve offered you a contract, they have an interest in your work and it’s your job to make the best of it and not give your film away. It’s better to get $100 a month from Amazon.com over the next five years than $0 from XYZ, who paid you no advance, but promised you 75% of the gross after deducting their expenses. Trust me, you’ll never see a cent on these deals. I interviewed over 100 filmmakers who were so excited about their distribution deals and not one of them ever saw a penny.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 05:09:06 +0000

Awesome advice guys. It’s important to remember that the digital revolution is a front in which creators and distributors are equally in a position to define its future. Play an active part and take back the control now that you have unbelievable access to it.

By: sarah

sarah — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:51:54 +0000

nice photo! the advice was really helpful.

By: John Moffat

John Moffat — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 01:12:19 +0000

Hello,

So, first of all, thanks for the advice, it was nice of you to share that (I know how tight people in the industry tend to be with their learnings). I am a struggling filmmaker as well. I do not have a feature under my belt like you guys, but I have done a short, and some commercials. I guess the advice I would add would build off yours a bit…

Understand the value of your own work. You know you may have been able to do it cheaply, but that doesn’t mean that in itself is not of a HUGE value. Potential buyers cannot do it that cheaply, and are always looking for fresh, young, creative minds. Also, what’s helped me along are the words “its easy to earn a living, but its hard to earn a living doing something you love”. Meaning, if you wanna live off your art, you’re gonna have to work your ass off, and you’re gonna have to sell it (as much as you hate that part).

By: negin

negin — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 23:52:37 +0000

… and it gets worse and more complicated and more hair-splittingly irritating!
I’m currently in the throes of all these issues. Marking up the docs is key and read them — every word!
Because the real juicy dangerous stuff is always locked away in paragraph 3 subsection A sub-subpoint i,
if you know what I mean…

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:31:31 +0000

Thanks guys. Sweet advice.

By: Wendy Shepherd

Wendy Shepherd — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:09:40 +0000

This info will be so helpful to many people. Nice job putting it together.

Rooting for you. I am sure you guys will get out of debt!

By: Normal

Normal — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 22:07:30 +0000

*swoon* I love you guys.

I’m bookmarking this for when I go to get distribution for my bitty doc.

BTW, I’m on Jaman: http://www.jaman.com/a/people/normal

By: Andrew A. Peterson

Andrew A. Peterson — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 03:30:02 +0000

“This is not the DMV; you’re allowed to mark up the forms and propose revisions…”

Haha. Nicely put.

By: Mike Hedge

Mike Hedge — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 10:01:36 +0000

wow. Great advice!. Good luck on getting things worked out with your prize money. Let us know if we need to boycott them or stage a protest!

mike