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Quick Tips on Distribution Deals: How "Not" To Get Robbed of Your Product


If you are an independent filmmaker here's some tips on the deals you can vie for when negotiating with a distribution company. For your first deal, try for a 50/50 split, the distribution company makes the product and place it in stores, called a PMD (Product, Marketing, Distribution) deal. Distribution companies do very little marketing for indie films, that's really up to you to push your film as hard as you can. If you do market your film it will be to websites, radio mainly. Most will offer 20/80 royalty deal which is crappy for filmmakers, but it puts your product out to the world. On this deal you can try for an advance payment, 10, 20 or 30 thousand dollars on delivery of the film. Most will talk their way to giving you nothing. At that point you're literally signing your movie away. Another option is half on delivery and half on street date (Tuesday the DVD drops). FYI: They God of war starts battles on Tuesday, which is why all products are released on Tuesday. Just keep in mind you'll receive very little royalties if any. It's literally called creative accounting, legal term. If you have money to produce your own 25 thousand DVDs and enough capital to put a Marketing campaign behind your movie then hire a producer's agent. They will do all the leg work with selling your product to buyers, that split will look like 85/15, 90/10 or more popular agents 75/25 your way. Derick Thomas/director/DA Vision Pictures Indie film professional.



Check Out My Films:
Charm City©2006 is about 3 friends trying to make a better life for themselves in the gritty city of Baltimore may have turn back to their old ways when trouble hits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTyl68LWy64

Raising Wolves©2012, is about young black teens rites of passage in a violent city can turn deadly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_321186&feature=iv&src_vid=gTyl68LWy64&v=u5-tQC_DK-g

Life In The Game©2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XimDjRxoNg0
Follow me on Twitter: DerickAthomas
Friend me on Facebook: Derick Thomas
Subscribe to my Youtube channel: Derick Thomas
Peace and Blessings. 

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