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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Film Makers Needed !

T

Tom Fallon

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I'm building a self distribution web site.
Works like YouTube on the upload side...
Works like iTunes on the download side...
Take a look at http://www.grapetreedigital.com
Isn't finished, the column on the left is for construction purposes only.

If you could give me your feedback at http://www.youdio.com I'd be grateful.
Or just kick up a conversation here!

My investor is seeking film maker input before we go into production.

Your thoughts on self-distribution on the net would be extremely helpful.

Gratefully Yours,
Tom
 
well make sure it is ad-sense optimized, for pre, post and mid roll ads, that way long form films can benefit from advertising. What is lacking on the net is a site for Advertiser supported long form (minimum 45 minute features). The only one out there belong to the majors, hulu, hdnet, 2929, clipstar. The current crop of Hd cameras plus the upcoming Scarlet, coupled with the sheer expanding number of film and video education online will provide you with promising content.

You don't guarantee anything, just workout a filmmaker /distributer 50/50 split. There are so many good no budget features out there and a huge world wide audience that can offer over 2 billion impressions (views in ad speak). just spend time researching, optimizing and guaranteeing impressions for your advertisers. thats how youtube, google and face-book make money.

webisodes, shorts, homevideos etc etc should be on your affiliate site.
 
Thanks for your input and advice, Sash! We were aiming at shorts, which have never had a place in the market until the internet, but after some Hollywood advice, we're expanding to long form. But we're going for an iTunes type sale, not ad supported, although we think advertisers will like it if we gather film makers. What do you think of a Purchase site vs. an ad-supported/ free streaming site?
 
Tom Fallon said:
Thanks for your input and advice, Sash! We were aiming at shorts, which have never had a place in the market until the internet, but after some Hollywood advice, we're expanding to long form. But we're going for an iTunes type sale, not ad supported, although we think advertisers will like it if we gather film makers. What do you think of a Purchase site vs. an ad-supported/ free streaming site?
Click to expand...

do some research, its very unlikely for short film without Stars attached to make a sale, people will pay 99 cents or whatever you charge and freely distribute it. Ad money is good money, really really good money. Be smart spend most of your money on what is known prestige PR, critical write ups by PR firms claiming how awesome your very not so original Idea is. Show business is buzz bizzness
 
Dear Tom,

I'm an independent filmmaker currently residing in Lebanon. It's uncomfortable, and not very easy as far as making money off a/v technical work, and it's also harder if not near impossible to get funding/permission/approval to do any work in town and have it shown here.

I'm finishing a permitless shoestring shoot and would not mind contributing if its good enough to your site.

I have no idea how this works or would work though, as internet is awful here, i have never managed to upload anything in the four years i've lived here.

Any work I've done before I've actually bootlegged deliberately in beirut to get it around. If my next project doesn't pan out as far as goin anywhere, I think I'm gonna do the same.

What would I do to be involved? I also help in organizing several short film festivals, I could provide you with a ton of filmmakers here facing the same problem of exposure and censorship.

In order for one's work to fly here foreign bodies insist the subject matter be tagged and ID'd as coming from war-torn lebanon. If anyone wants to make a film about anything else that doesn't pertain to current events or war trauma, it won't receive a penny, and won't air anywhere cause its not interesting.

In a time where 'you are where you're from' I'm kinda bent on finding places people can be themselves with their work. This sounds really cool, and the fact it's on reduser is cool as well.

Not that its a bad thing to uphold where you're from, but it's borderline 'hey produce my film cause i'm arab' these days over here and in europe.

I don't own a red unfortunately, some friends got their hands on one to shoot something this week. I either work with super8mm or a nikon d90 (difficult but fun to learn with).

Let me know if any work from lebanon sounds interesting to you and I'd love to do anything to help.

Cheers

Tarek
 
Thanks again, Sash! The idea for our site is for film-makers to sell their own films, using existing social networks and fans. If they can have them pay two bucks for their film, then they'd have revenue to start the next one, not much, perhaps, depending on their friend list, but more than nothing.
You sound like you speak from experience. I'm sure theres some film makers making money from the 50/50 ad revenue split on popular sites like funnyordie.com - do you know any? do you know how much their making from the streaming sites?
Many, Many thanks for your thoughts and input.
 
Greetings Takek - Thanks so much for your post and your input. As for filming in Lebannon, I can only imagine what you go through. I've delivered talent to the set by dog-sled in the Yukon, but nothing compared to that!
I think our site would be perfect for you, if you have friends, or people who'd be willing to get stories out of Lebannon without government oversight. Simply upload, then tell your friends where to buy it. We won't make any "quality" requirement, just screen for hateful or profane content. The quality is up to you. If you think someone would buy it, you could sell it on our site. But you would have to upload, but we won't be ready for a few months.
Many thanks and I'll keep in touch !
 
Tom Fallon said:
Thanks again, Sash! The idea for our site is for film-makers to sell their own films, using existing social networks and fans. If they can have them pay two bucks for their film, then they'd have revenue to start the next one, not much, perhaps, depending on their friend list, but more than nothing.
You sound like you speak from experience. I'm sure theres some film makers making money from the 50/50 ad revenue split on popular sites like funnyordie.com - do you know any? do you know how much their making from the streaming sites?
Many, Many thanks for your thoughts and input.
Click to expand...

I am sorry Tom I misunderstood, I had the impression your site was for aspiring filmmakers, and FHTA as pointed out by Mike, was on my mind as an example. I know a few filmmakers who have made about $70 dollars on 50/50 splits on net profits, from google video. they did not read the fine print. See google subtracts the download bandwidth cost, and other operating expenses. Corporate greed.

Anyway there are many filmmakers that would be willing to put up their feature length projects as consigned investment collateral for 50/50 gross splits.
 
The films are for sale? We can make cash? This is sweet. I assume I should stop posting anywhere else like youtube etc...

Tell me more Tom, what does a trailer get you... can we have an account each?

If it makes money Lebanon would be an issue if we have to go through a bank or credit card, as Lebanon is not authorized on paypal or something.

Would really like to hear more details. If you'd like my email is tarekkandil@gmail.com

Pleasure to meet you Tom. Looking forward to your next reply.

T
 
Tarek S. Kandil said:
The films are for sale? We can make cash? This is sweet. I assume I should stop posting anywhere else like youtube etc...

Tell me more Tom, what does a trailer get you... can we have an account each?

If it makes money Lebanon would be an issue if we have to go through a bank or credit card, as Lebanon is not authorized on paypal or something.

Would really like to hear more details. If you'd like my email is tarekkandil@gmail.com

Pleasure to meet you Tom. Looking forward to your next reply.

T
Click to expand...

Use YOUTUBE to steer traffic to the pay site. Put the trailer on YOUTUBE.
I would never load full programs on YOUTUBE.
 
Thanks Mike, Sash, & Takek for your help, advice & support. Your post about FHTA took me back to their site, and I'm glad they've gotten the film-sale component working, with links to b-side, indieflixx & others. Guess my approach is more simple - and e-bay for movies, where we take a share of the sale, currently being debated. We are allowing the film-maker to set the price, and we're looking at them getting 80% clear. We are hoping to pay out through Pay-Pal, or Amazon Payments, Tarek, so I'm not sure that would work for Lebannon. We'll find a way. We're trying to do something simple, you upload - you sell from your own page, with great user interface & community to boot. I need positive comments to get the thing built, but would prefer honest evaluation of the idea.
Your help is most sincerely appreciated!
Tom
 
Fire your web developer... the use of frames makes me want to cry.
 
Michael Schrengohst said:
Use YOUTUBE to steer traffic to the pay site. Put the trailer on YOUTUBE.
I would never load full programs on YOUTUBE.
Click to expand...

Thats the idea Mike. We'll have trailers on our site, which can be embedded in facebook, etc, but film-makers already know the power of youtube for promotion.

And YouTube is getting in this game as well, having started testing on paid downloads, but we think quality will matter to people.

Many thanks!
Tom
 
I'm not a developer, Noah, do you mean the column on the left? Its just there for construction purposes... and the designs were just converted so we'd have a semi-clickable version to show potential partners... it's not built yet!
 
Hoping for mid-summer, David. We were about to pull the trigger on production, when we decided to get feedback from film-makers to tweak the idea. Any and all suggestions welcome and encouraged!
 
Tom, Arin Lance and I have been working hard on a similar project.

Fromheretoawesome.com

we got a bunch of filmmakers synced up with a bunch of outlets...

I'd love for Lance and Arin to chime in on your new project.

Can I put you guys in touch?

Mike
 
What kind of information can each short have posted:

Trailer?
Screen Shots?
BTS Screens?
BTS Footage?

Or is any of the above required (I assume some kind of Poster or atleast an image of the film would be). I think a trailer could help sell the costumer... or would you guys set it up like iTunes and just play a random thirty second clip? If so can that clip be specified by the submitter?
 
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