I was reading Nikki Finke’s article about IFC’s new offering of HD Video on Demand. She ponders whether VOD will kill art house theatres. Interesting, I would think the lack of diverse products have eaten away at the indie film market and art house cinema, not just VOD.

For those with an IFC deal, day-and-date seems like a sweet deal. Knowing that your films play a little theatrical run (which make indie directors happy) and simultaneously playing in towns where there isn’t an art house theatre (or would never screen your films anyway) makes sense to me….

I totally advocate day-and-date, and if you could have DVDs available as well, even sweeter. I had a non-film industry friend tweet after watching The Hangover that he would have bought the DVD immediately had it been on sale in the lobby. It’s time to start thinking about alternative ways to get your films to an audience, and letting go that theatrical is the only venue…because the audiences aren’t buying it (only).

I was reading Nikki Finke’s article about IFC’s new offering of HD Video on Demand. She ponders whether VOD will kill art house theatres. Interesting, I would think the lack of diverse products have eaten away at the indie film market and art house cinema, not just VOD.

For those with an IFC deal, day-and-date seems like a sweet deal. Knowing that your films play a little theatrical run (which make indie directors happy) and simultaneously playing in towns where there isn’t an art house theatre (or would never screen your films anyway) makes sense to me….

I totally advocate day-and-date, and if you could have DVDs available as well, even sweeter. I had a non-film industry friend tweet after watching The Hangover that he would have bought the DVD immediately had it been on sale in the lobby. It’s time to start thinking about alternative ways to get your films to an audience, and letting go that theatrical is the only venue…because the audiences aren’t buying it (only).

I’m back in the blogger seat after a must needed vacation in the South (and Texas, are they southern). Today, Ted Hope sent a tweet (I follow him and would suggest you do the same) regarding PBS Thirteen posting his talk called The New Model For Indie Film. He has been a big advocate of filmmakers using this new atmosphere to create a new paradigm for your films.

Although the economy still sucks and the independent film landscape is further collapsing, I am really excited about the possibilities to create films without the typical barriers. Those of us indie producers that have diverse projects or just stories that don’t fall neatly within the studio indie formula have reason to roll up our sleeves and control our projects. It won’t be easy, but it could be more profitable than what distributors have been offering lately.

According to DHD, Matthew Garrahan, the Los Angeles Bureau Chief for the Financial Times has written an article about Time Warner absorbing the cost of production b/c Village Roadshow is still seeking a credit facility. Although this might seem oh so irrelevant for indie producers, especially African American indie producers, I want to point out why keeping track of this is important. As I’m approaching the end of post production on Children of God, additional funding was needed to finish post. I went to pitch to investors and most had committed to additional funding. Two weeks later the economic climate continued to sour with wealthy investors holding their purses, and we had to wait months (missing a number of festival deadlines) to secure the final funding.

In essence, I’m just stating that if the Majors are having trouble…it trickles to private equity investors as well. Really don’t be fooled, the economy is horrible. But don’t be discouraged either, there are investors willing to make the risk (that’s how they got super wealthy in the first place). You’ll see the box office on fire the summer, albeit with BIG budget hits, and that will be quite a selling point for a meager indie film. So, read the Financial Times article and keep abreast of the nature of the industry. It does affect all of us even the low budget of us.

Unfortunately, I am traveling next month, and will be unable to attend the NYWIFT Power Breakfast w/BETs Stephen G. Hill on May 13. Yet, I encourage you to attend. As a member of NYWIFT and an enthusiastic Power Breakfast attendee, I find the Power Breakfasts inspiring. Generally held in an intimate setting, the speakers tend to understand the audience, women filmmakers, and provide insights into their experiences. So I urge you to check it out!

Having just returned from the historic African premier of his debut feature film Blueprint at FESPACO in Burkina Faso, Kirk Shannon-Butts is now featured in the “Generation Next” March 2009 issue of L’Uomo Vogue.

If you can find one, check it out…then transcribe it to SFF! SFF is still amazed by the love Blueprint continues to receive. The DVD release will be announced in the next few months. So, we appreciate more love in the Fall!