CHANNELS
The journey of a feature film production travels through a series of channels, commencing with the development of a script and ending with theatrical showings and DVD sales. More specifically, the production of an independent feature film flows through precise and exclusive channels to take into consideration its limited financing options and by extension, its lower desirability for distributors.
The movie industry indicates three main methods to launch the film from a script to theatres. The first method is collaborating with major film production companies that own their own studios (i.e. Paramount). In this method, the studio provides complete financing and distribution services for the movies. It is also typically reserved for blockbuster Hollywood movies with major budgets and celebrities. The second method is to search for independent financing sources such as private investors or distributors who want to become involved with the film through its early stages. The third method is to submit the project in film festivals where the film competes for potential distributors and buyers of the film’s rights. In this method, the film is already assumed completed; however, film markets a simultaneous event to film festivals are channels through which producers create awareness of their film to attract investors and distributors.
As it is extremely competitive to gain accessibility to the studio method without sufficient reputation and experience, most films concentrate on methods two and three. Independent films must especially follow these paths because they are disadvantaged by their low filming budgets and through extension, their lack of celebrities and awareness. CMHL’s movie L’ombre Du Soleil falls under this category. Because it is a very small and relatively new company with limited experience and networks, we will concentrate on the independent financing and film festival methods.
Here is the series of channels that this independent...