Independent Film Distribution

An independent film is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced and/or distributed by subsidiaries of major film studios.

INDIE RIGHTS FILMS: NELSON MADISON FILMS

Indie Rights Films is a subsidiary of Nelson Madison Films

Evidence for the shift of the longtail in action - more and more smaller films are becoming distributed and receiving awards. 

It enables smaller productions to receive a global audience by having videos posted on YouTube. 

Indie Rights offers distribution and technology services to filmmakers who have feature-length films that have not yet found an audience. We also arrange licensing of film content to qualified buyers for broadcast and cable TV. 

An example of a trailer:

YouTube Channel: Global Audience

Blog: Share with audience's and allows them to contribute to ideas and respond to the works 

ORCHARD MOVIES: YouTube channel allows for a global audience 

However, you have to rent the film - which is positive as it enables the distributors to receive a profit and gain a global audience at the same time. 

Kickstarter and CrowdSourcing

• Is an example of crowdfunding
• It was created to help bring creative projects to life
• More than 5 million people have supported over 50 000 projects
• People donate money to help fund video games, designs, music, journalism or movies 
• People who back kickstarter can receive tangible rewards for backing projects 
• Some notable works, including 'Sun Come Up' and 'Incident in New Baghdad' have been nominated for academy awards 

The veronica mars movie stars Kristen Bell and is a carry on from the tv series - it is not backed by warner bros. 

Release date: March 14th 2014

Budget: $5.7 million 

CROWDSOURCING:

Individuals sourcing their project and then gathering a crowd to help contribute or fund. 

Obtaining needed services, ideas or content by soliciting contributions from a large group.

Star Wars Uncut:

•  473 fifteen-second segments created and submitted from a variety of participants.
• As of 2013, all scenes for the next film, The Empire Strikes Back have been submitted, and the "uncut" film based on the scenes is under production.
• You have 30 days to create a scene once you have chosen one
• Nearly a thousand fans came together to participate and the resulting movie is equal parts fun, kooky, and dearly nostalgic.
• It won a primetime emmy in 2010

What has been the impact of the internet on media production?

• It has allowed more people to come together to be a part of a big project that receives large recognition
• The media gods...conglomerates no longer control which films can receive funding. 
• They can be consumed for free
• It raises more recognition for existing films, such as: Star Wars

Effect of Media in the Online Age

David Gauntlett Theory

• People (media consumers) used to have to be subsiding to the media. They would have to arrange their lives around the media - however now time isn't an issue because of things like Sky, On Demand and iPlayer. People can consume media whenever they want. 
• Before media needed big broadcasters for backing, now we have phones, YouTube - anyone's music can be seen online without the need of a media conglomerate backing.
• The media used to send messages down to the 'little people' now it is a different story. When the media sends something out - e.g a news article or video online, people can instantly comment back or use social networking sites to trend their opinions
• Web 2.0 has only recently been active in the last 7 years, originally in the early 90s no one would contribute on the 'world wide web' which is what the inventor wanted originally. 
• Traditional uses of the internet now merge with new uses
• Television views are now dropping as more people are accessing programmes online 
• The web can be used for Presidential Elections e.g Barack Obama on YouTube and people made parodies about him. 

Issues and Debates on Media in the Online Age

Impact of the Internet