OT: Monetizing routes?

Robert W wrote on 2/20/2009, 3:41 AM

Can anybody recommend any organisation who allow you to monetize from commercially viable works via online downloads. I am particularly keen on finding a route into itunes that leaves me with a healthy share of the proceeds.

Also, what kind of routes are there to getting your work onto a catalog for potential showing on TV etc. I know there are exhibitions circuits etc, but are there other ways?

Comments

farss wrote on 2/20/2009, 5:15 AM

"Also, what kind of routes are there to getting your work onto a catalog for potential showing on TV etc."

From what I know that is not how the industry works.
Maybe if you flog your talents around enough someone might notice it and purchase some of your creative skills for their own purposes. For the small or one man shows your best chance lies with public broadcasters as part of their charter is funding and promoting independant productions. The BBC, ABC, CBC amd PBS are your best shots.
Even then it's hard to sell a finished work unless you've got serious production values and that means a production company behind you. The smaller players / one person outfits they usually want you to pitch an idea with a budget and they'll fund it. We've even tried to give content away to a public broadcaster and it's friggin hard unless they feel the target audience is large enough, everyone plays the ratings games these days.
Anyway good luck and watch your back, just when you think you've made it into the big time you can find you've been sucked dry and spat out. A good agent and a water tight contract can save your skin.

Bob.

Robert W wrote on 2/20/2009, 7:21 AM

Hi Bob. Thanks for your guidance.

Our film has quite high values, or so I am told. Also, the principle figure was the subject of a Sundance winning documentary which has featured on both BBC4 and E4 (the later being a public, advertising funded channel in the UK) as well as being syndicated on Showtime in the US and a few other places around the world. I think our film is an attractive proposition, potentially for those UK stations niche music strands, but I am not quite sure what the traditional route is for such a production to get to TV, or who (in terms of person or job role) I would need to speak to.

However I am also particularly interested in a route to iTunes. I know that there are intermediate companies that have ways of getting the film on there, but I have found it a little difficult to strike up dialog with them. It would really make sense for iTunes to open up the film side of their business to independents such as my company as they do with music. Also, any other established online film provider or distribution method would raise my interest enough to investigate it in depth.