Skip to main content

Getting your movie to streaming

You’ve done the research, read a couple of articles (hopefully this one too 😊 ), asked some experts and decided to self distribute your movie, at this point you’ve probably found that there are a lot of options, from a small premiere with family and friends to seeing your movie in the top 10 of your preferred streaming service, so to help you out a bit, here are some ideas on how to get your movie to the world of online video on demand.


Prime Video Direct

A division of Amazon Prime, allows you to upload your own content and decide how you want to get paid for it, with a variety of Licensing options. You maintain your rights, keep creative control, and have at your disposal many marketing tools straight from the giant of online retail. Prime Video Direct also provides you with metrics and information about your viewers that will help you understand your audience and market your content properly. This is no doubt a great way to get to distribution with no middle man.


Youtube/Vimeo/Own website

Another interesting option for self-distribution are online video platforms, such as Youtube and Vimeo, but also your own website, Facebook, or even Instagram. These platforms allow for your content to be seen, reach a wider audience and get feedback, but will not really help you monetize. This is not necessarily bad, but going this way or not will depend completely on your goals and plans for your project as well as its features. 


If this is a super commercial, easy-to-understand romantic comedy, this will be (in my opinion) an absolute no-no, because, c’mon! This is the kind of movie that you can make money from, so going on a free platform will just be hurting your work. However, if we’re talking about a more insightful short film, that touches certain topics or shows a more independent/artsy vision then, by all means, go for it. This will allow you to show your style, talk to a much closer and familiar audience and help you gain momentum that can eventually help you to reach other distribution alternatives and give your career traction to reach those companies we talked about before.


Aggregators and getting to (basically) every other streaming platform

Say none of these options work for you (and your project, mostly, your project) and you still want to have your movie on iTunes, Hulu, Google Play, and whatnot, you will need an aggregator. Aggregators are basically sales agents for VoD, they are companies that for a percentage of your revenue or fixed fee, will get your movie to streaming platforms. Just like exhibitors and movie theaters, these platforms don’t deal with individuals directly so you can’t really pitch your finished project and get a contract, but aggregators can. 


We’re not getting into detail as of what aggregators are best or what kind of deal you can expect, but - in theory - they can be easier to find than sales agents or traditional distributors, also aggregators do the work of encoding and preparing your film for streaming, while a sales agent/distributor will require you to provide that, so there’s that too.


Hope this gives you some insight on where to go with your project, in any case, always make sure to consider distribution from the start and include it in your budget even if you go for free or low-cost alternatives.


Happy writing!




If you like my content and would like to support me, you can buy me a coffee here 💖
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Teen Me Was a Creative Genius (and How Adult Me Can Be Too)

I’ve never felt more creative than when I was a teenager, and lately, I’ve been wondering why that was. It's not a single reason, of course, but I can pinpoint a few key factors. Firstly, I was in school. Every day, I attended a place where I could meet people, learn new things, and participate in group dynamics. Most importantly, I felt a sense of belonging among like-minded peers. High school and college created an environment where I felt safe and confident to imagine and create. I could write for long hours, often late at night or between classes and activities. It wasn’t something I forced; it just happened naturally. Being around real people and situations sparked inspiration for my stories. I wrote plays, novels, poems, screenplays—anything and everything. I didn’t always review or share my work, but I put it on paper and constantly sought stories everywhere. I don’t think I had more spare time than I do now as an adult, but somehow, I found the time to write. Which brings m...
Post a Comment
Read more

5 habits you can change TODAY to be a Better Screenwriter

Introduction: What Makes Habits So Powerful? Habits give order to our lives, they help us reach our objectives without feeling overwhelmed, and allow us to prioritize the many things we have going on. With all the options we have on a daily basis, having habits and routines in place can save us valuable time since they help us make immediate decisions, based on choices we've made in the past.  When you determine that you want to go to the gym every day, the choice of waking up early is easier to make, since you have already made the bigger decision of working out. How the Power of Habit Changes Our Creative Lives Creative minds tend to wander around and sometimes it's hard to stick to routines or create new habits. However, habits have a powerful effect on our creativity and can really make a difference when it comes to reaching our artistic goals.  Procrastination, creative blocks, and other affections for creativity can easily be shifted by implementing simple, but efficient...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Write a Screenplay Outline the Easy Way

Writing a screenplay is a difficult process, but it’s made easier with an outline. An outline is a roadmap for your script. It gives you the full story from beginning to end and helps you understand how each scene fits into the story. This way, you can see your story and make sure it works without distractions such as dialogue or descriptions. It's also a great way to get your thoughts in order and figure out what direction to take next if you get stuck. Why You Need a Screenplay Outline A screenplay outline can be challenging, but it's also extremely helpful. You might think you don't need an outline because your story seems clear. However, you might end up with scenes that don't work for the story's flow, or get confused in your subplots. Because there are so many moving parts, without an outline, it's hard to keep track of everything when writing a script. An outline doesn't have to be fancy; it just has to tell you what happens in each scene and how they...
Post a Comment
Read more