Why Movie Distributors No Longer Do Marketing - Jeff Deverett
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- Jeff Deverett is a producer, director, writer, and actor known for Full Out 2: You Got This! (2020), ism (2019), The Samuel Project (2018), Kiss & Cry (2017), Full Out (2015), King of the Camp (2008) and My Brother's Keeper (2004). Jeff's successful film and TV career began with distribution with New World Entertainment, Astral Communications, Anchor Bay Entertainment and his own company, Deverett Media Group. In this Film Courage video interview he talks about how to make a profitable movie and briefly touches on AFM [American Film Market], MIPCOM and MIPTV media markets.
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Jeff is just great. His gentle pragmatism is a gift. As Scott Meyers says over at Go Into the Story - "The Movies don't owe you a career." Do consistent good work (along with the requisite bad work, of course!) and keep learning - you'll find your place in all this. And thank you, all at Film Courage, for providing the "keep learning" part!
Excellent advice. Thank you
Thanks for watching!
I understand that this is a business. However, look at what's happening to the traditional publishing industry. The gatekeepers have left so much talent at the gate over the past few years, they've forced people to self publish. Now that the self publishing industry is so easy and so profitable for writers, there is little incentive to sign with a traditional publisher. And that is what they get for not being more inclusive. Network Television and Film has become a painfully predictable sea of sameness since the end of the 90's. With all the boring reboots and remakes being produced, I can see why distributors don't bother watching anything. If the industry continues to fail to foster creativity in it's content, they will suffer the same fate as the publishing houses. The mind numbing social media spin cycle never stops. Audiences want to feel something. If you don't create something that stops them in their tracks, they will keep scrolling. That you can bank on.
@@deanjustdean7818 And what does that have to do with anything? Their job is to write a great story. If they want a professional salesman, then maybe they should expect to have that part outsourced. Even in the event that they do convince them their manuscript is worth the money and effort, that doesn't necessarily mean the product is any good. It only means that they were able to convince them into thinking it was. At least with the self-publishing route you're 100% proving your worth indisputably to the millions of people out there and if successful, F what the gatekeepers think.
@@deanjustdean7818 Everyone is absolutely entitled to their own opinions. I disagree with yours. I don't know you personally, but I'm guessing you either work in publishing or you were successful at getting traditionally published? Or you're just making assumptions? I would appreciate you taking a few minutes to watch the latest video from Writing with Jenna Moreci on her "Top 10 Reasons Why I'm Self-Publishing My Books", then come back and share your thoughts. I've been chatting around the writer community for about a year now and I've heard more than a few tell me that the publishers won't even look at them if they haven't successfully self published first because they need to prove their marketability. If all you get out of it is bragging rights you got traditionally published, I seriously couldn't care less. Happy New Year to you, Dean.
@Grayble's Gringus Something to the tune of $28 billion, I think. However, authors get to keep 50-70% of their profits with self publishing. So how much longer does does their current business model remain profitable? They could do what KDP is doing and create platforms for writers to publish their work. They could combine self publishing with something like Prowriting Aid, and give writers a one-stop-shop platform for all things writing and publishing. Either way, what they're doing now is not sustainable.
But the corrupt agrogates have lied to the public..film makers..just like film festivals..the agrogates of volume sales are corrupt across the board..not only do they deceive ...they can scam you into bankruptcy into submission for any penny..they can take any agreement and break it..because you can't afford an attorney..most filmakers can't on top of it their contracts totally screw you..as did me..they nails me for defamation..and as a result destroyed me and now wait for jail time..careful people they will bait you take you and destroy you
He tells the harsh truth in a beautiful way 😂. Be prepared to do EVERYTHING with your project, just don’t stop dreaming 🎬
Never stop dreaming Tom!
@@IndieFilmCommunity 👍🏾👍🏾
I love how the interviewer stated that most actors and artists don't want to do things themselves that will propel their career (paraphrasing) And I totally agree! As a PR specialist I absolutely despise working with people who don't even want to do interviews to promote their project, they don't want to do radio interviews, they don't want to be featured in the blogs all they want to do is just create and then wonder why they don't get the same results of those that actually hit the circuit and promote their projects. Love this interview
That's totally crazy to hear. I would *love* to have the opportunity to give an interview to someone about my writing. The idea that someone would pass on that as somehow beneath them is kind of astounding to me.
It's always a marketing of yourself...
So the irony of the film industry and his feedback on the model is those people selling the product never engage with it but expect to make money regardless. People watch TV and film because they emotionally engage with it. Anyone else seeing the disconnect? No understanding of the product or audience, no effort to engage, let's throw a pile of productions at people and see what makes us money. Does that even work in any other industry these days? Wow nelly.. processing this and beyond concerned.
I totally agree. My fiancé had a movie with a UK release, and a streamer USA release. UK was amazing there was marketing etc, but the US release has no marketing at all. Usually if it’s released theatrically there will be a marketing campaign, but streaming services have so much product they won’t release it unless it’s a big movie/tv show with bigger names actors.
Great video. Thanks. Fear not creators. People will always need to make and see heartfelt art.
Amen
The scary uncertainty isn’t the value of art. The scary uncertainty is only our personal ability to create it
I’ve come to the realization in the past several years that I have lived through a great era of movies, music, and culture. The 1980’s and 90’s. Something began slipping away after those decades. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something was lost.
I concur I’m still discovering Films even though they were not mega hits at the time but have great concepts from the 1980’s alone
The 80s were already the beginning of the end. It was finished by the late 90s. It's actually pretty easy to "put one's finger" on what's happened -- The Matrix totally prevailed. Which affected everything...
There’s still hope for a revival…
I’ve noticed that a lot of modern films have absurdly long chase sequences with no stakes. There’s so much action occurring on the screen, I don’t feel anything. My senses are overwhelmed. Films have lost the art of quiet moments, of slowly building tension.
@@batman5224 This is exactly right.
In the last several months, I've noticed how uninteresting movie marketing campaigns have become. They don't put any effort into promoting their movies. Because of that, nobody talks about these movies or has organic conversations about them. This is why a lot of movies aren't doing well at the box office lately. Studios should really study the marketing campaigns of movies that have been box office hits and take inspiration from those campaigns to promote their movies.
so right. it makes me not even want to see great movies. They all look the same the way they're pushed...ugh
For clarification: In California, it's illegal for agents and managers to charge a retainer fee. So, that's not going to be a problem.
I don't see much good reason for distributors to get emotionally involved in movies. Most new movies are utter crap.
Most distributors are as well. Majority of them don't even pay the filmmaker.
@@therealfrankwhite As a former sales agent employee, that is 100% true from my experience. Outside of receiving your initial minimum guarantee payment, good luck on seeing any more money come through
In my experience also, if you are working with a low budget film. The festival route is a good way to go to get that exposure too
I just made a great moviegfor 9k..id love to hear you opinion
The worst thing is not the attitude of the "suits" -- there's nothing new about that stuff. But modern technologies made it so easy to observe that the "understanding" and "loyalty" of the audience is also nothing but illusion. It's not that the businessmen don't care. The thing is, with a couple of exceptions :), no one does...
excellent point
I don't make movies, but I've been watching them for close to 60 years and over that time I have seen a precipitous decline in ideas. So much of what is produced these days is rehashed crap that I go to see one, maybe two movies a year now. I have never been into comic books and beyond the original Star Trek TV series I'm not that keen on science-fiction. But I love good stories. Like this guy points out, how about movie makers get back to making movies that tell a good story. I think everyone has gotten lazy on a creative level, that includes film-makers and distributors. Now I'm hearing about algorithms being used to predict what people will and will not like, what will and will not sell. It's a brave new world indeed gang and regardless of the wet dreams futurists may have regarding technology and where it is leading us, not all progress is good.
Its actually a great time for movies. You can view independent films and foreign films through streaming devices. Netflix will give deals to just about anyone.
You're looking to the gatekeepers, Hollywood, to produce quality work. The difference is Hollywood and Disney have theaters as a middle man. They need something that's going to fill seats for the theaters.
People want rehashed shit. They like the familiarity. They know when they go to the theater they know what their getting into.
When the consumer base loses interest in reboots, so will Hollywood. They aren't making all of those reboots because their out of ideas. There's platforms for testing original ideas.
@@cuckertarlson5310 I enjoy some of the stuff the independent filmmakers are creating, but the overall quality of movie plots is weaker now than I have ever seen it. Easy access doesn't mean much if the stories are uninteresting. I enjoy the theater experience and my point was there isn't a lot out there that makes me want to spend my money or time. But again, that's just my take on it.
@@itinerantpatriot1196 The theaters are what kill movies. They always have been the problem. Movies have to be catered to the theaters.
The cinema experience is fun when you're a kid. Kids love movies and they like getting out of the house. It's a good place to take a date if you live with your parents.
It's a social experience but it's not one for if you actually like movies. People are always talking or making noise. That's probably why there's so many loud action packed movies.
If a great movie plays in a forest and no one is there, does it make a sound? Cheers Film Courage!
After watching this, it confirms my worst fears as to the future of the cinema industry. So sad.
Don't give up hope yet CB, you can make it happen!
Film courage is my film school
If you want to make a crappy movie and still get an audience then you have to spend $100 million and make it about Comic Book characters
I am very aware of this, specially for someone trying to break into film. This is why UA-cam has been a blessing for me
We love UA-cam University😆!
We are culturally bankrupt. Empty movies made by empty suits.
For empty souls.
The Harsh Truths from Jeff once again he always drops a few gems it's always much appreciated Happy New Year Hope you have a great 2022
Our best to you Jonathan! Happy New Year!
@@filmcourage thanks very much
you should clarify the difference between "distributors" and "sales reps". People don't know and there IS a difference
Story is the foundation of culture and the backbone of a people. Keep substituting violence and gore for emotions and plot and risk losing your people, yourself, your future *and* your money. We stopped watching television because it got ridiculous, and the same thing can happen to movies and books.
Nah, books will never go out of style.
@@forwhy8723 Hope not.
I have seen distributors and international sales agents selling films at major film markets and certainly it's clear from their sales pitches that they know nothing about the film.
But worse, they aren't even making a half-tempting pitch. I could understand it if they were over-hyping, making a film sound more broadly appealing than it actually is, but they really aren't
The stereotype is the brash huckster snake-oil salesman claiming that their wares are the most thrilling, the most action-packed, the most star-studded, the most glamorous, when what they are selling is a mundane snooze-fest. What I saw was more like the reverse.
"If you didn't make a great movie, you're not in the game. Gotta make a good movie", there are people out there who have decent careers in bad movies, directors, actors, technicians, editors, writers. It is possible to make a living making bad movies, just look at Neil Breen, The Asylum movies (Sharknado), Troma movies, Roger Corman movies. Plus these days, so bad it's good movies are hugely popular. So you can be in the game making terrible movies, just might be in a different sport than the Hollywood players.
No
Universal pioneered all this in 1982 when they threw The Dark Crystal away.
Great video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Distributors aren't giving indie filmmakers Minimum Guarantees anymore and for the most part if you don't get any of that upfront money then you won't see another dime from them anyway since they hide any profits under "recouping marketing expenses" -- so what good is a distributor to an indie filmmaker at all? It's the reason why majority filmmakers can't sustain a living from doing it as a career and the reason others just tap out and give up to get a day job eventually.
💯 💯 💯
I think there’s a self-fulfilling prophecy when it comes to the marketing of films. If a marketing department thinks a certain film won’t sell, it doesn’t put effort into promotion, which obviously guarantees a commercial failure. In fact, movies with avant-garde storytelling are in need of marketing the most. A Marvel movie will obviously sell itself. In such a case, a marketing department serves no function. In many cases, marketers are basically being paid not to do their jobs.
But at the same time it explains the massive surge in remakes, reboots, tv shows and spinoffs. It all takes a lot less money to sell.
Why pay some asshole to market your movie; when your own actors will do it for you? Social media has taken the place of advertising. An actor or a fan of the franchise can sell your movie better than anyone else can.
They aren't being paid not to work. They aren't getting paid at all anymore. They have been outsourced.
Well it’s funny because there was a point in time where marvel properties didn’t sell, it wasn’t until Marvel themselves started promoting and filming their projects that things began to happen. You need to advertise your work if you want to be successful, which sucks because we’re film creatives not marketers.
Great interview. This is what so many young and naïve film makers don't know. I have been saying this for years.
It’s what happens when the Bean Counters take over instead of staying in their lane in Stocks & Trades
My Most Anticipated Movies in 2022:
Avatar 2
Samaritan
Nope
Bullet Train
The War Hunt
Memory
Clean
Blacklight
The Woman King
Till
Top Gun: Maverick
Creed 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
The Man From Toronto
The Tiger Rising
It's a weird time for large budgeted films out there that are getting bank rolled and aren't finding an audience because of the glut of films out there. Hollywood is focused on superheroes, adaptions, remakes and sequels. Cinema might be dead, but indie film is thriving - people making cheap low budget stuff all over the place.
Time for producers to market and distribute their own films..?
this is really technical 😟
Jeff is always on point and I feel I learn his lessons first hand 6-10 months before these videos come out 😂 still love the guys advice and wish I could hire him some day. (or work for him)
That's because the "streaming rush" is about bulking up the volume of their catalogue, and they couldn't care less about the indie films they're licensing. It's back to the dynamic where your film isn't going to be valued unless you have a name actor in it.
You don't want marketers overly emotionally attached, because then they call 'fans' Russian bots
0:26 would love to know Jeff's list of "can we make money off this movie" criteria. So us indies can hit some of those marks at least...
If you haven’t already, I think it’d be cool to see you interview Robert Schwartzman regarding his Altavod distribution platform.
How about kip trying to be a film director, get married and become a father to a child?
(With an ironclad prenup of course)
I seen movies looking like 10k budget that the Female with me Loved it ! 😂 its all about the story 😂 lol he is In his Rich World
It would also explain why some movie marketing is failing and does a good job
Art and imagiation are all left up to computers, only greed remains.
...and so we come full circle: how DO you make a GREAT movie?
A great idea, put into even a greater story, proper casting, absolute dedication.
There's a ton of steps involved! Jeff could definitely help you out!
This is literally aging finer than wine week after week.
I'm sure all this applies to all the remakes just to make $.
Great informative video
you don't need 750k to make a good movie.
I love this guy
The core of the advice here sounds a lot like the theme to my current script: If you want something done right, do it yourself.
Unfortunately, you speak the truth.
Truth bombs.
I really like this guy
Sometimes bad is so good
Big reason for a lack of marketing is these film trailers are posted on youtube and spread like wildfire through social media all on their own. Its basically free marketing and the number of hits these trailers get indicates how big the distribution out to be. Nobody goes online looking for toothpaste commercials, but film trailers are a different animal.
But even what he is talking about is no longer true. The makers of the film are some directors for hire who don’t care much for the material they are making. The days of the passion project are over when you hire a Jar Jar Abrams or Zack Schyder or even a Ron Howard in a film like Solo. They are picked because they have a name but it’s not there creation so they have very little
Invested either.
Imagine inheriting billions and opening a Movie Distributor studio to give life to all the movies Hollywood investors turned down because it wasn't a super hero movie, or sequel or part of some franchise. Granted that wouldn't mean everything pitched would be made(for obvious legal reasons) but if the premise was there and it doesn't sound like a cheap B movie, then why not risk it
The term super hero is actually patented so no one else can make a super hero movie except DC and Marvel.
😄😄MANN!!! You'd make *millions*!! [Just joking - "inheriting billions; opening a movie studio; billions turn into *millions*"🤣🤣; just joking - risky business]
People have and they all get bit in the ass eventually, unfortunately
Check out Megan Ellison and Annapurna
No skin in the game.
So distributors no longer have a value add. So what's the point in using them? Everybody along the chain is supposed to add value to the process, not just put their hand out.
I completely understand the whole emotional attachment to your creation thing. And I think it's completely understandable. Nobody pours that much of their time and energy into creating something that says nothing and which they don't care about.
Lack of skill, or miscalculation, or any number of mismatches in the production process can cause failure, but it's rarely a lack of passion.
These Rock!
He is 100% correct.
💎💎💎
I missed hearing from Jeff
This was pure
Perhaps this is unjust of me but I can't help but be skeptical to the advice of the director of Full out 2: You got this
As someone who worked in the industry as a sales agent, his advice and stories match up 100% with what I saw and experienced. His director credits don’t affect the way the business actually is unfortunately.
@@toddkonrad2407 fair point
I didn't realise that so many people watched low-budget movies. If something looks kinda janky I won't even bother. I barely have time to watch $100M movies
And that's why a majority of $100M movies are marketed towards and made for teenagers and kids. Not adults who are "too busy". There's a reason the bar is always so low.
a half a minute clip on loop. pathetic.
The reason why there are so many bad movies are out there is because of the filmmakers delusion of grandeur. Their perception is flawed and they believe their movies are great when in reality they're mostly mediocre or straight up unwatchable.