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…

Interesting New York Times article about how Bottle Shock Director Randall Miller is releasing the film himself, together with his wife and co-writer Jody Savin. Along with the expenses incurred if you go it alone there are other caveats to bear in mind: “You‘ve got to have the phone numbers,” said Tom Bernard, the longtime co-president of Sony Pictures Classics. “Self-distribution is good, it can work, but filmmakers who are so innovative in making movies have to channel some of…

I’ve moved Shooting From The Hip over to WordPress so the design might be a bit wonky while I iron out a few teething problems. We are also in the process of launching a brand new blog called TOOLS which will be live very soon. TOOLS will be full of great resources for DIY production and distribution and it is something I have wanted to do for a long time so I am very excited that it’s finally happening. Speaking…

International copyright is such a tricky issue. On the one hand I understand that artists and businesses need to make money in order to survive personally and commercially, but it is also clear that the winds of change are blowing and, as one man says in Steal This Film, “When the winds of change are blowing, some people build shelters while others build windmills.” People thought that the VCR was going to destroy the film industry but it didn’t. What…