So, you want my opinion on the short film release? By the way, just right out of the gate I should say, shorts do not make money. They are for the purpose of promoting the director and getting experience and credit for the cast & crew. They might make enough back to pay for the production of the short but I do not expect that to fully be paid from any sales you might get from the film itself. They are, however, good practice for everyone and they can also help the director establish a distinctive style if enough effort is put into the craft of the film.
So, this is how I feel shorts should be released, let it be said that I haven't fully stayed on track with "Death Do Us Part", but there it is…
1. Get a budget for the release of your short. It could cost from $800-$5000 depending on how big you want to go. Either focus on your local movie premier by putting on a party or attempt to get sent to Sundance. Either way you need to have goals based on what you want but mostly based on realistically how good your film is and how much money you can set aside to promote this film.
2. Cast & Crew Screening (a Private Screening).
3. Festivals: if you believe the film is comparable in quality to similar kinds of films you've seen at local festivals, you should try to mount a festival campaign. A festival release must be done properly because prestigious festivals will help your film gain publicity better than other festivals. This is especially important since you will have a limited budget for submitting your film and for traveling expenses to festivals. Try to premier your film at the best festival you can, unless you are focusing on local festivals or you have a specific goal. If you think the film was a good practice for you but honestly does not work out all the bugs, then skip step 3 and go on the number 4.
4. After doing as much as you think you can with festivals have a Public Screening at your hometown to announce the movie's release on VOD or on DVD or both, and to celebrate the film's release!
5. Release the film on DVD/BD, or VOD or both. Vimeo on Demand is a good one for VOD.
6. Release the film online for free if you made a negligible amount of money on your VOD/DVD release.
7. Advertise your film on YT & FB for about $50 or so to get more eyeballs on your movie and to build relationships online around your film. I've heard the Ads are worth it!
Oh and all along the way, during all of these steps you ought to be posting on social networking sites... and trying to build relationships with other filmmakers and fans.
There it is… my current seven step program! ;)
Do you think these steps leave out something or do you think something about it is off? What do you think?
