Comments on: Part 23, From DIY to distributor to domestic release http://www.thesensationofsight.com/part-23-from-diy-to-distributor-to-domestic-release.html When life becomes a second language … Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:27:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Buzz McLaughlin http://www.thesensationofsight.com/part-23-from-diy-to-distributor-to-domestic-release.html/comment-page-1#comment-806 Buzz McLaughlin Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:25:28 +0000 http://www.thesensationofsight.com/?p=564#comment-806 Hi John-- What our distributor ran into with our theatrical release is something that they had never experienced before--and they'd been releasing indie art films for thirty years. Of course, now it's clear what happened and the trend has escalated, but back then it was just starting to happen--at least in the indie release orbit that we were operating in. And I'm not convinced that other times of the year would have been any better, given the crowded marketplace. My experience in talking with bookers myself (some major ones) is that they were looking at a crowded field most of the time and the much bigger "indies" with lots of $$ behind them were always putting pressure on them, even when the bookers told me they loved our film. The sense I got then and now know for certain is that the indie landscape in distribution has totally been turned on its head. But still, the future looks bright for us if we can weather the storm we're in right now--even for THE SENSATION OF SIGHT, a film that's been out there for over a year and continues to find its audience. As you say, it appears that the pay off for us with this one is over the long term. Hi John– What our distributor ran into with our theatrical release is something that they had never experienced before–and they’d been releasing indie art films for thirty years. Of course, now it’s clear what happened and the trend has escalated, but back then it was just starting to happen–at least in the indie release orbit that we were operating in. And I’m not convinced that other times of the year would have been any better, given the crowded marketplace. My experience in talking with bookers myself (some major ones) is that they were looking at a crowded field most of the time and the much bigger “indies” with lots of $$ behind them were always putting pressure on them, even when the bookers told me they loved our film. The sense I got then and now know for certain is that the indie landscape in distribution has totally been turned on its head. But still, the future looks bright for us if we can weather the storm we’re in right now–even for THE SENSATION OF SIGHT, a film that’s been out there for over a year and continues to find its audience. As you say, it appears that the pay off for us with this one is over the long term.

]]> By: John W. Bosley http://www.thesensationofsight.com/part-23-from-diy-to-distributor-to-domestic-release.html/comment-page-1#comment-799 John W. Bosley Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:03:58 +0000 http://www.thesensationofsight.com/?p=564#comment-799 Summer of 2008 I also did my tour in Maine with AMNESIA. Interesting enough one of the key theaters I established as part of my tour had recommended me something that know I wished I had listened to. He said that many of the independently owned theaters are now being strong-armed by the big studios that tell them they can't run an indie for an entire week during blockbuster time (Summer) because they (the studio films) will loose seats. It's an all or nothing kind of game with them. It's not that we, the indies, are any real competition. But to the studios it's like we took their parking spot, even if it didn't have their name on it (if you get what I mean). But if you run it during the fall, winter or spring, then the independently owned theaters are able to take a risk on your film because the studios don't care then. The Summer of 2008 was a bad year for independent film altogether in my opinion. People just didn't really want to spend money if they didn't have to. It effected alot of things, tourism and entertainment being hit the most in my honest opinion. But the story of TSOS is awesome! And it's out there for the world to see. Most films that came out in the Summer of 2008 will just fade away as they always do, but I think you made something that had a more long term impact. It's the long term that really matters for indies, Hollywood is all about Box Office sales. Summer of 2008 I also did my tour in Maine with AMNESIA. Interesting enough one of the key theaters I established as part of my tour had recommended me something that know I wished I had listened to. He said that many of the independently owned theaters are now being strong-armed by the big studios that tell them they can’t run an indie for an entire week during blockbuster time (Summer) because they (the studio films) will loose seats. It’s an all or nothing kind of game with them. It’s not that we, the indies, are any real competition. But to the studios it’s like we took their parking spot, even if it didn’t have their name on it (if you get what I mean). But if you run it during the fall, winter or spring, then the independently owned theaters are able to take a risk on your film because the studios don’t care then.

The Summer of 2008 was a bad year for independent film altogether in my opinion. People just didn’t really want to spend money if they didn’t have to. It effected alot of things, tourism and entertainment being hit the most in my honest opinion.

But the story of TSOS is awesome! And it’s out there for the world to see. Most films that came out in the Summer of 2008 will just fade away as they always do, but I think you made something that had a more long term impact. It’s the long term that really matters for indies, Hollywood is all about Box Office sales.

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