ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXprofit from interactive web documentary
10 years ago - alan gignoux
I have been approached by a potential investor to invest in an Interactive Web Documentary that I am currently working on, they are looking for a profit, possibly making it into a documentary in order to recoup the investment.
I have also thought about a vizinne, prints of the stills and maybe selling DVD's - does anybody have any other ideas?
I greatly appreciate any ideas!
All the best
Alan
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10 years ago - Giordano Cossu
Hi Alan, very good question, I would say that the answer is not as negative as those who have preceded me, but you do need to be creative in terms of financing plan as the interactivity market is still finding its way (until when? :-).
I make interactive web documentaries (nothing to do with an online documentary) and my recent one has different products attached to it, precisely to tap on different markets and budgets: an itinerant photo exhibition with a tailored-made smartphone application, and a TV linear version for TV channels. It is hard to fund these projects but not impossible, especially if you envisage a co-production with countries (such as France) where public funding is available. Then it also depends on the topic, the objective of the project (any social value, for instance?). I would be happy to discuss more and be in touch, feel free to contact me at name (dot) surname (at) hiryalab (dot) net. Cheers
Response from 10 years ago - Giordano Cossu SHOW
10 years ago - Marlom Tander
Do you want to tell them the truth, or BS them?
BS is simple - keywords are "innovative", "cutting edge", "zeitgeist", "millennial" and "transmedia", "when they see it, they'll buy it".
The truth is also simple - "expect zero revenue UNLESS a TV channel likes it enough to buy it, and then some DVD afterwards". We shoot it, we take it to market.
OR "I know it sounds strange but yes, stream train buffs will pay a tenner for a DVD of a GoPro mounted to give the drivers view of a single route". OK, so I made the last one up, but niche sells, if you know the niche.
Cynic? Moi? :-)
Response from 10 years ago - Marlom Tander SHOW
10 years ago - alan gignoux
Thank you so much for your reply
Response from 10 years ago - alan gignoux SHOW
10 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
A useful thought experiment is to look back at your own history, over the past year, how many documentaries have you bought online? Then expand it to your friendship group, ask around, ask strangers. Of those who did, did they have a 'star' (Louis Theroux, for instance) branded film or a total random? How did they decide which film to buy? Was there a lot of press/adverts?
This is the market you're competing in - most people will simply not pay for a film without promotion or a star/knowing what they're getting. This means extra cost one way or another (or both, more likely), which can dwarf the rest of the production budget.
Response from 10 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW