Been meaning to blog this since it came out last week during Independent Film Week. Some of you may already be familiar with the new distribution strategy that Peter Broderick advocates but he lays it out very clearly in this two part article for indieWIRE. Part 1 Part 2 This chart illustrates the differences between what Broderick calls the old and new worlds of distribution. And he finishes with some solid tips: Be strategic – In the Old World, most…

Another great event for future-minded Shooters. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT ENDS THIS FRIDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER! Register now to save 25% off the full ticket price.We’re bringing together pioneering visionaries, filmmakers and entrepreneurs who are changing the way that independent films are financed, created and reach audiences. This year’s speakers who will be participating at both the Conference and the Workshop Sessions include: YOMI AYENI, Creative Director, Expanding Universe ARIN CRUMLEY, Award-winning Filmmaker ADAM ERLEBACHER, Co-Founder, PlaceVine JAMIE KING, Filmmaker and Digital…

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and Shooters present ‘Short Sighted’, an intensive day devoted to helping you get your short film exhibited and distributed. Sunday 14 September, at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London. Shooting People and BAFTA members pay only £15; everyone else pays £30. The price also includes a little black book of useful contacts and websites. shootingpeople.org/shortsighted This is a whole day event of sessions, workshops, surgeries and networking opportunities aimed at people who have…

Manohla Dargis has an interesting piece in The New York Times about the current state of independent film. She traces a brief history of indie film in the US, and, reaching the present, draws a line between the “independent” of speciality divisions (basically cheaper, artier Hollywood) and the truly “independent” of filmmakers like Kelly Reichardt, Ronald Bronstein, Lance Hammer and Azazel Jacobs. The news [of speciality divisions shutting down] has inspired passionate response, as well as the usual gloom and…

MovieMobz is a Brazilian iniative that allows film fans from the Moviemobz social network to choose the films they want to see by clicking an “I Want To See It” button. If enough people select a certain film (both classics and new releases are on offer) then it is programmed and they are emailed about the screening. About 2.5 people attend for every member who’s voted. As Arin Crumley remarks, this is similar to the Four Eyed Monsters heart map.…

Another piece from Anne Thompson at Variety about the changing distribution strategies indie producers/distributors are pursuing: [F]ilmmakers with an easily defined niche and some marketing flair can still assemble a distribution plan. After doc “Beautiful Losers” debuted at SXSW in March, the filmmakers considered traditional offers from distribs but decided to release the doc on their own. Sidetrack Films partnered with Nike Sportswear to sponsor art workshops, and a shoe and apparel company helped pay for its Aug. 8 launch…

I’ve been meaning to blog about Anita Elberse’s Should You Invest in the Long Tail article for a while now because it highlights some key misunderstandings about what the long tail actually means for producers and aggregators/retailers of niche content ie. it absolutely does not mean that niche content is suddenly turning into blockbuster material and neither does it mean that niche content producers/aggregators no longer need to worry about big, mainstream successes. In fact the hits are vitally important…

The Independent Filmmaker Conference takes place during Independent Film Week in NYC September 14-19. The Conference covers lots of great areas: Making Your First Feature, Filmmaking 2.0, The Global Marketplace, Alternative Distribution, The Truth about Non-Fiction, Film and Philanthropy. Click here for full schedule. You can also hear conversations with Kevin Smith, Robert Greenwald (Brave New Films) and Rick Allen (SnagFilms).

Scott Macaulay had some interesting things to say about how the way that we watch stuff affects our impression of it in the latest Filmmaker newsletter. He writes about a comment left in response to Noah Harlan’s post about new business models: Rather than debate business models, this poster said, why don’t filmmakers just focus on making a good picture? He (or, perhaps another anonymous poster) wrote, “I don’t see distribution as the thorn in indie’s side. I see quality…