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Independent Film Distribution: How to Make a Successful End Run Around the Big Guys

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It is always a bitter pill to swallow when I tell my students that after all their hard work, time, energy and passion that they will eventually end up with a product. It is not necessarily a bad thing for them to realize that, once they are done writing their screenplay, they have to treat it like it is the newest product out on the market. And, yes, they have to market it. To market it, they have to distribute it.

The book "INDEPENDENT FILM DISTRIBUTION" does a great job getting to the core of what this journey entails. With a mix of interviews and commentary, Phil Hall, explores this process from the ground up. He delves into the roots of Independent Film and then shows how those roots have grown into the apple tree of today.

What is "Independent Film?" Well, it depends on who you ask. Phil Hall explores that question and then takes it further into: "You've made your film, now what? How do you get your product out to the masses?" Do you go to the comprehensive list of distributors in the back of the book and contact these companies? Or do you do it yourself? Create the website, the marketing kit, the word of mouth? How do you get your product out to the consumers?

Film Festivals? What of those? Mr. Hall devotes a chapter to the pluses and minuses of going the festival route and then, what about "Direct to Video?" Do you want to go that path?

Again, Mr. Hall peels away this onion through interviews of some of the top independent film-makers, producers, publicists and distributors working today.

If I had only one issue with the book, it is the lack of mentioning Roger Corman. Either via interview or his own chapter. In my opinion, Roger was one of the first and most influential independent film-makers who distributed his and other films.

All in all, Phil Hall rips the lid off the Independent Film canister to show you what it takes to distribute your independent film. A great book for anyone planning to take this journey.

After years of watching movies and perhaps having friends, family, and acquaintances tell you that you should write a screenplay or make a movie, you've decided that that's what you want to do with some of the months or years ahead. First, don't panic. Lots of people have had this epiphany before. It's a long journey, but the rewards can be rich if you remember that it's step by step, and not javelin leap by javelin leap. It takes time and much effort, and even more patience.

You'll need a few things before you even begin to direct. Obviously, you need a camera, a screenplay, some actors if necessary, and locations where you'll be allowed to shoot. But besides all that, you'll need some books too, some guides to show you how indie filmmaking is, and what you can do to make your experience an enlightening one, perhaps even more exciting than you might have imagined. That's where Phil Hall comes in.

You pick up a copy of his book, Independent Film Distribution, and prepare to read Phil's educated, calm prose that I'm confident will get you through any worries you might have. It might not solve them all, because an indie film production still has lots to be concerned about during it, but you'll look at how Phil sees independent film and not only perhaps see even more names you might have not recognized at first, but see how to market your dream film, see what it takes to shout at the world, "See my movie!"

Phil's greatest quality in his writing is that he's aware of the filmmakers like you who might read this book. To make an indie film is hard work, but to get people to see it is even more difficult, and he makes sure you know. He does not discourage, but rather guides you through what's out there, also covering what film festivals are all about, and the pros and cons of it.

But it's not only him! No, no. You'll be fortunate enough to read interviews with various, esteemed indie filmmakers, and quotes throughout the chapters from countless others who have been entrenched in indie filmmaking and other aspects of filmmaking and film distribution for years and can speak from where you might want to be one day.

This is where you go for all you'd want to learn. And Phil, being the understanding, considerate writer that he is, he includes a list of distributors in the back, for you to see who is in the business of getting indie films out there. Believe me, there are many books you could possibly have on your shelves about indie filmmaking, lots of authors talking up the history and perhaps also the distribution, but Independent Film Distribution needs to be one you keep close at hand and heart. You'll learn more than you ever thought possible, even if you know a whole lot already.

Independent Film Distribution: How to Make a Successful End Run Around the Big Guys is all about distribution for those on a low budget - and distribution is so key to movie success that any and all film library holdings needs this as a basic reference. Chapters introduce all the basics of distribution and blend these with tips from leading marketing experts, festival programmers, film critics and more. From what should be considered for a web site promotion effort to understanding the film publicist's role, all aspects of marketing success are covered in depth in this 'must' guide for any involved in film production.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Never easy, but the author provides sensible, practical, cogent strategies that make it possible. Tall order in the ultra-competitive world of film distribution. As this comprehensive, clearly written book makes abundantly clear, there are as many ways to facilitate distribution as there are filmmakers. Kick-start the process as expeditiously and inexpensively as possible by starting with this excellent, informed guide.
Jeffrey M. Freedman
Writer
'Vivaldi'

Phil Hall's Independent Film Distribution is an invaluable resource for any underground or indie filmmaker with a movie to share with the public. Making that end run around the big guys (as per the subtitle of Phil's book) is not such an easy thing, but it can be done.
With effort and dedication.
One of the first steps can be to read this book. Once you've finished your film and are ready to embark on a journey with your labor of love, there are a lot of things to know and to do and Hall's book is an excellent place to glean the knowledge you'll need.
Of course, even with this knowledge, you'll need your own dedication.
Somehow, Phil Hall has managed to collect seemingly ever piece of necessary advice into one readable volume.
And it is very readable. This isn't a dry, crusty tome of information that is useful but difficult to digest. Rather, it is amiable yet professional and lays out its info in very user-friendly fashion.
And Hall calls upon various people in various parts of the film distro world to share their advice via interviews, which make for interesting punctuations in the midst of the chapter's in Phil's book. Though it's probably not fair to call these inties punctuations since they are as integral a part of this book as anything else.
All told, Independent Film Distribution is a compelling, entertaining and, above all, informative foray into the world of indie film distro. It's a must read if you're serious about getting your film out there.

Phil Hall's new book is an absolutely must-have for anyone trying to navigate the treacherous and maze-like waters of the film industry. Through deep analysis and interviews with both filmmakers and distribution veterans, Hall's book gives the reader great insight into how to make a film, how to get it seen, how to strategize the festival route and how to determine what form of distribution works for a film.

While most other books give advice on how to make a film, Hall's book focuses on the advice filmmakers so sorely need: how to get it seen and distributed. It is perhaps the most thorough and useful book I have seen as a filmmaker when it comes to this area.

Highly recommended and indispensible!

Independent Film Distribution - How to Make a Successful End Run Around the Big Guys is a practical guide that would be useful to any independent film maker.

The book is less a "Dummies Guide to Distribution", and more a survey based on interviews with successful independent producers and distributors. While that perhaps leaves the reader with more thinking to do, that's probably a good thing. The fact is that there is no "right way" to make money from an independent movie (if there was, everyone would do it), and the strength of this book is that it recognizes that. While it does talk about the traditional approach to independent distribution -- film festivals, rights sales to specialty/independent distributors etc. -- it also spends useful time on non-traditional distribution methods, including self-distribution, direct sales online, and even how to make a living from niche markets such as health videos.

For every different market, Phil Hall interviews people who have had success in that area, and their insights can be invaluable. In truth, there are a few interviews that could be skipped, but since none take up more than a page or two, the book never gets bogged down in irrelevant details. I also appreciated the background stories on film festivals, self distribution and so on... while film history of the 1910s-1960s might not seem of direct use to today's go-getter independent producer, I think these sections help to put the current industry in context, which is important for anyone hoping to have a career in film.

To make best use of the book, it's worth making some notes, and using some post-its to mark useful sections. Personally, I would recommend reading it through once quickly, and then going back to use specific sections to help plan a strategy for your individual circumstances. As "Independent Film Distribution" makes clear, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for the independent producer, but the book gives you some useful tools to put together the approach that will work for you.

Phil's book is a vital source for understanding the current landscape of independent distribution. I wish that I'd read this book two years ago before I'd started on my first feature. He's an excellent writer, but it's not just the writing that shines through - it's the interviews. He gets the salient questions in and avoids the starry eyed fluff that has a tendency to creep into industry interviews. I highly recommend it!

Phil Hall's book is a great combination of practical advice and fascinating reporting. Hall gets independent filmmakers, distributors, programmers, publicists, and critics to speak frankly about the "indie" scene today; they give some tips, tell "war stories," and reveal what really goes on behind the scenes of productions. I was impressed how many "names" opened up (Larry Fessenden, Mark Cuban, etc.), but the lesser-known industry pros also offer helpful information. Hall's overview at the beginning is very entertaining. The appendix is a major resource of company names (with websites and annotations). Hall has done a valuable service to anyone interested independent filmmaking.

Phil Hall has created the ultimate guide for those filmmakers who are seeking inspiration, knowledge, pratical guidance and realistic pragmatism in an effort to get their movie not only seen, but distributed to a world wide audience. Phil's talented, limitless energy and effort to help the filmmaker achieve their dream of getting their movie seen by people has really paid off in this great book that is packed full of details of information and great interviews from some of today's TOP independant filmmakers. I will keep this book handy in my film book library for the times I need knowledge, inspiration or more know how on getting movies seen by the public! Congrats Phil on another great book!