ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXFee to show film?
9 years, 8 months ago - Tim Benjamin
Hi folks,
Having approached a number of venues, festivals and some chains (including some of the large cinema chains) we are having a lot of interest in showing our opera-film. We are holding them off at the moment, a bit, as the question that is coming up, to which we don't really have a ready answer, is "how much does it cost?", i.e. how much should we, the producers, charge a venue to show the film?
- The film itself is going to be about 2 hours long (less, if anything)
- It's a film of an opera (see previous SP discussion...)
- There's an option to have a talk in person beforehand, or to have the talk included in the film, or not to have a talk at all and just show the film
- This is basically the same kind of thing as when cinemas show the big opera houses' / ballet companies' work, except that we are a relatively small company and the work is brand new, and that we are offering a talk.
So, any thoughts as to how much we should ask for? What is standard? What's the ballpark? Is it like £50 or is it £500 or is it £1000? I assume it would vary depending on the number of venues in the chain, number of showings, are they big or small, etc. Is it common to do a split deal on ticket sales instead?
We just don't want to make fools of ourselves in opening the negotiation too high or too low. Any advice or similar experiences greatly appreciated! I understand there'll be confidentiality, so even a ballpark figure would be handy to know.
Thanks,
Tim.
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9 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
I'd offer 50/50 split on box office if they handle promotion to their members (mailing lists etc), and you provide promotional materials. Remember, that'll be 50/50 after VAT, so you'd take a fiver on a £12 ticket. 50/50 is the deal distributors generally do, so the risk is shared, they provide staff and overheads but also get to sell popcorn, it works out pretty fairly all round :)
9 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
PS Congratulations on getting it made! It's great that you have multiples wanting to show it already! Great work :)
9 years, 8 months ago - Tim Benjamin
Thanks very much Paddy, so that's a similar deal to stage theatre then. It's not actually made yet though! It will be shot in September, post-produced in October, then shown in November onwards... nice deadlines :)
9 years, 8 months ago - John Lubran
I'll second that. The big conversation we had last year about this makes viewing the film immensely interesting. Other than being able to go to one of the venues screening the film are there any plans to release the film on line or on DVD/BlueRay after theatrical distribution has been completed?
9 years, 8 months ago - John Lubran
Just missed your response to Paddy. But considering that big conversation I'm sure many of us would be keen to learn what you finally opted for in terms of camera format, shooting plan, numbers of cameras and particularly that issue of the clash between minds eye and cameras eye (wides and close-ups) that formed a big part of that conversation?
9 years, 8 months ago - Tim Benjamin
Thanks for the interest! Well it's still a matter of some discussion, but basically 3 cameras recording 2 live nights, plus one extra tech/dress day where there is no audience and the cameras can be more intrusive. You'll be pleased to know that I have more or less conceded the point about screen vs stage and it won't just be one fixed wide shot! There's a separate director for the film unit, I will just be directing the stage side (with a view to it being workable for the film side). There will be a lot of thought going into the precise shots that are to be done on each night, and the piece has "interludes" which will be a combination of CGI and stock or period Antarctica footage. The stage shots will also be treated in post in some way (for example adding ice / mountains in the background). The theatre has broadcast quality sound facilities (used by BBC etc) and they'll handle that side (for a bargain price, as it happens). The script is in the bag and casting is underway, institutional partnerships in place, funding applications in... the results of which we await with nervousness. No money, no show, no film!