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j oiningthedots Independent Film For Independent People

j oiningthedots.tv Independent Film For Independent People. Tim Sparke Mercury Media Presented to AIDC February 21st 2008. Background . December 2006 Study shows 0.1% of weekly UK prime-time programming is acquired documentary Loose Change 2 attracts 4 million viewers on google video

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j oiningthedots Independent Film For Independent People

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  1. joiningthedots.tvIndependent Film For Independent People Tim Sparke Mercury Media Presented to AIDC February 21st 2008

  2. Background December 2006 • Study shows 0.1% of weekly UK prime-time programming is acquired documentary • Loose Change 2 attracts 4 million viewers on google video • Idea for documentary portal begins to form - based around independently sourced film and combined with existing print offerings. • Clear interest in docs online yet broadcaster reluctance to support genre on TV.

  3. Background March 2007 • Commence site build with technology partner -Aggregator TV. • Attract interest of Guardian Newspaper. Decision: • 50/50 Partnership with Aggregator. • Guardian reject concept of site as ‘unworkable’. • Start acquiring documentary films for site

  4. Background • Launch: April 2007 • Cost: $100,000 • Delivery: 40 Docs for download only service from 350 offered. • May 2007: Aggregator goes bankrupt – site collapses! • July 2007: New technical partner MPS Broadband found Independent Newspaper now interested

  5. Today • February 2008 – Soft launch of new service. • Offering 50+ films with 100 new films including Oscar winners and nominees in process of coming on stream. • Independent service to launch Spring 2008 melding on-line journalism with documentary. • Significant marketing budget support contracted. • Agreement with major Movie House to launch 1 film per month from site theatrically in the UK.

  6. What Are We Looking For? • Author Driven Docs with a point of view that fit into any one of our eight strands. • Outstanding production values coupled with great storytelling. • No subject off limits • Ideal length 50 - 100 minutes. • Delivered in DVD format. • Non-exclusive streaming and download rights + download to burn rights in future. • Can accept territory exclusions as site can be geo filtered/blocked but must be available for most countries – we are a world-wide site! • Realistic expectations from producers and distributors..

  7. What Do We Offer? • Opportunity to have your film seen by a worldwide audience • For producers: 30% net revenue royalty split after streaming, VAT and currency costs. More for distributors offering 10+ titles. – No upfront advances yet! • Possibility of UK theatrical window for top titles. • Marketing and Editorial support from major branded worldwide newspaper. • TV buyers already taking notice of films on site. Web stats will increasingly inform buying decisions.

  8. Audience Opportunity • A haven away from ‘Big Media’. A club for doc lovers. • Great films made by great film-makers. List of producers/distributors already committed reads like a who’s who of documentary film. • Off limits subjects available 24/7. An online film festival. • A place where the power of film on the Internet can create interest, and lead to informed, real-time discussion.

  9. Challenges • Persuading Audiences to ‘pay’ for documentary films online where there is no tradition of doing so. • JTD offering needs to be persuasive - content, branding, and viewer experience needs to meet expectations. • Has to work alongside ‘Big-Media’ - complimentary not competitive. • Audience interactivity coupled with technological advances will drive success. • Opportunity to raise production funding for new films through membership base.

  10. Conclusion • The traditional distribution model (theatrical… DVD…TV… Internet) is dead. A new model (Internet… DVD/TV…theatrical) is emerging • Joiningthedots.tv is just one place for documentaries online, though the public has yet to feel comfortable paying for content in the way they pay for DVD’s. This will come with set-top box distribution. • Specialised audience interest groups can find content on niche topics easily on the Internet. • Email, blogs and forums are the new water-cooler • Broadcasters do take notice of what is going on online Successful Internet distribution can lead to mainstream success. • The internet represents a new uncontrolled universe which threatens the very basis of traditional media control • We are at the very beginning of the online journey – your future as film-makers will be increasingly governed by its development.

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