Independent Film Production & Distrubution Interview

Lights Film School recently had the privilege of sitting down with David Prior who has written, directed and produced many feature films made with a budget range of $50K to 1 Million. David’s extensive experience and independent mind have allowed him to carve out a busy and successful career as a filmmaker.

We interviewed David on both the development and distribution process as it relates to independent films. Our conversation is below:

1. In the past you and your team have developed, written, directed and produced over 30 feature films. I’m assuming because you’ve shot so many film you have some type of financial template that you try to hang each film off. You mention that you try to keep production costs low and attach names to each production. Can you tell us more about this process? What do you find is your budget ceiling for your films and how important, in you opinion, is attaching names?

There has never really been a financial template other than trying to keep a production under the amount the movie can comfortably earn back and Producers can learn this by meeting with and talking to distributors before making their movie.

As far as putting name talent in the movies, this is critical.   Without the name talent you movie gets lost in huge sea

of low budget movies out there and most will never make a dime.  Again, as far as what talent to use, speak to distributors and find out who is worth paying the money to and who is not.  They will know this.

2. You’ve also been involved in the film distribution process. This is a very complicated area for many filmmakers to get their heads around. However, you mention that you’ve always made your money back plus some. Can you tell us a little bit more about your distribution strategy?

This is a very much misunderstood part of the process.  People have to understand that distributors really aren’t distributors, they are sales agents and the people they sell the movies to, around the world are the real distributors.

First of all, for low budget movies, most sales made are going to come from foreign countries and not the U.S..  The competition in the U.S. is simply too fierce.  It used to be (In the 80’s) that almost any thing you put on film had a value in the foreign market of around 600K so there was money to be made, but in today’s market that is not true.  There are a few fundamental differences in today’s worldwide market place.  First of all, buyers from around the world are no longer buying video rights…all they want is television rights.  I can’t tell you why I can only tell you that it is what is happening right now.

One thing I know for sure is that today’s marketability of a movie depends more heavily on quality than it ever has before.  Quality in every aspect.  Most buyers want movies shot on film.  But you can shoot a movie on video but you better make it broadcast quality, true HD video.  The market if saturated with the lower end stuff and the buyers are just not interested in it.

I am getting ready to make a small movie this spring and we are going to do the DVD release ourselves through a website and magazine ads and things like that.  A friend of mine did this with a movie that was not very good and made almost three million dollars.  But keep in mind that he spent nearly three years promoting the website until he had enough interest to sell some 80,000 units of his movie.  When raising money for your movie, include money in your budget for the marketing of the U.S. DVD and you can try this yourself.  I am going to try this, this year and if it works, on any level, I will probably open a new distribution company.

3. Do you seek both theatrical release, DVD distribution and broadcast for your features or do you have a strong pull towards one over the others?

Theatrical distribution for the most part is a pipe dream.  It just doesn’t happen for small movies.  At least not very often.  I’ve had a few of my movies open theatrically in a very small way, but we did it.  My own company at the time booked it into certain theaters around the country as a way of pumping up the future video sales.  Other than that, it probably won’t happen unless you have made a truly phenomenal movie.  I have a friend who made a movie on 35mm and could not get the theatrical distribution he dreamt of and because of that he never released the movie in any format.  Now that movie sits and it has been sitting for over 15 years.  The lesson here is not to go out there thinking you made the next “Gone With The Wind”.  Be realistic about what you do or you won’t last long in this business.

4. Do you ever maintain any ownership rights to your films once they are created, or do you always pay yourself a salary as a director / producer / writer and hand over the rights to a distributor? Have you had any experience independently distributing your own films? If so can you tell us a little about this experience.

This questions doesn’t really work.  Distributors do not ask for ownership of your movie.  Pay yourself and hold onto ownership.

5. What do you feel is the most commonly overlooked distribution area by independent filmmakers?

The most commonly over looked thing is not meeting and talking to them (distributors) before making the movie.  The worldwide market place goes in cycles like anything else and you should find out what the buyers are buying before you decide what movie to make.

6. Can you tell us a little bit more about your promotional process? Do you start the process when the flm is still in development? Have you used the internet to help promote your films? Have effective have you found your film’s trailers?

Trailers are usually only made by film-makers to sell a distribution company into taking their movie.  After that, the distribution company is going to make their own trailers.  Like I said earlier, I am about to try the internet promoting fro the first time.

7. Do you secure film financing to your films independently. I notice on your website that you currently have a call to investors for a $350,000 film that you’ll be shooting shortly.

Yes, I have always raised the money for my movies privately.  Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes it’s not.  But don’t waste a lot of time on packages and business plans.  Serious investors rarely want to see all of that.  It’s YOU they invest in.

8. You mention your “team”. Do you find yourself working with the same (or similar) production crew on each of your productions?

It’s easier of you can do this.  Obviously a set runs smoother with a bunch of folks that know each other.  And at times when I have had several productions over a short period of time I have used as many of the same people as possible.

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David A. Prior offers a production consultation service for filmmakers

David has Directed And Edited Movies Ranging From $50k To Over 1 Million
He Has Also Been A Co-Owner Of Two World Wide Distribution Companies And A Home Video Company.
He Can Help You Make Your Movie By Advising You In Every Aspect Of Your Production From A to Z
Visit his website here

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