Indie films and distribution through theatrical release: trying to fit a square peg into a circular hole

The notion of distributing indie films through the theatrical release model has been broken from the get-go.

Film distribution has focused on theatrical releases because it allows distributors to control which films are released to the public on a nationwide basis.  Distributors have negotiated complex agreements with the cadre of theater owners to control what gets seen. Add to this mix the monumental costs of distributing a film (the average studio film in 2005 was $125 million for negatives and marketing). It's little wonder that indie filmmakers can't participate in the distribution game.

In a nutshell, indie filmmakers have little leverage and the game is fixed.

Distribution based on theatrical release is so costly that few indie filmmakers have the funds to do a national marketing campaign. Also, most indie films are meant for niche, targeted markets which makes it virtually impossible to recoup the expenses for doing a large marketing campaign that a theatrical release requires. Add insult to injury, even if a indie film is distributed theatrically, the filmmakers gets horrible terms, often relinquishing rights and control over the film that he or she risked financial (and emotional) well-being. Most do not see any of the shared "net" profits because expenses are first deducted. In some cases, I think I've heard that filmmakers had to give up their first-borns.

It's almost as if indie films were never meant to be seen in the theatrical distribution universe.

Well, with Internet distribution, that universe has changed - dramatically. In the new world of film distribution, filmmakers DO control their film distribution and they are the ones who reap the fruits of their labor. Isn't that how it should have been from the beginning? If so, I'd like to think Caachi is helping to right the ship. If you don't know what I'm talking about, see my last post.