Harsh Truths For Anyone Who Wants To Sell A Movie - Glen Reynolds

[@RyanBartonGrimley]

As I wrote below in response to Film Courage’s comment… I’ve made 4 features so far. Glen has helped me get all 4 out into the world in a way that was appropriate to each project and budget. Bottom line… They were all passion projects. And... they all got distribution because they were unique. It may not be the “hopium” everyone wants to hear, but Glen’s real-world assessment of distribution and indie film has always been dead-on in my experience. If you think about it, his advice is really freeing. Go make a film you’re passionate about and don’t bankrupt yourself in the process. Take risks and have realistic expectations. Makes sense to me! Go Glen!

[@filmcourage]

Great to hear! Thanks for posting Ryan! And congrats on 4 features made!

[@RyanBartonGrimley]

@@filmcourage Hey, thanks for that! 4 features made and distributed, 1 in post and 1 in the works for a shoot this summer. None of it would have been sustainable without the philosophy that Glen shared here, or without his help getting them out into the world, so happy to support him and I am also very happy to support your channel as well! I've followed it for a while and love what you guys put out. I can't tell you how many times I've watched and re-watched your videos on screenwriting and story telling. You both are amazing resources and allies for independent film!

[@commandercaptain4664]

"Taking risks" is anathema to "having realistic expectations". No balance. It's one or the other.

[@anxietyislandllc]

Glen has been my sales rep. He's got a lot of contacts and knows the business. His market knowledge is what you're paying for. At the least, if he has time, hire him to consult on a project. I did and it saved me from a lot of mistakes. There's stuff that's basic but there are things that happen (changes in the market) you won't know, even being in the business for many years.

[@DillonVibbart]

This has been the hardest reality for indie filmmakers since the rise of streaming and digital cinema... So much content and trying to stand out is insanely difficult. I think every filmmaker should at least just 'go for it' at least once and make that passion project, but they should expect to lose all the money they plan on spending for it.

[@commandercaptain4664]

Branding is the key to attention nowadays. Thus so many filmmakers on KZbin. Case in point: Critical Role.

[@Pietje_Piraat]

If you're smart you male the movie with other people's money.

[@zippymufo9765]

@@Pietje_Piraat There's too many people trying to make indie films for "other people's money" to work. There isn't enough of it to support all these people.

[@abe-love]

I think Glen provides a healthy dose of reality when it comes to the film business. The more you learn about how much it costs to make a feature film the more you understand why investors or distributors would be hesitant getting behind your project. It just cost too much damn money lol, with an unlikely return on investment. But because most people in this industry consider themselves artists, imaginative, and visionaries, I believe we sometimes develop delusions of grandeur about our work and become blind. Not saying we shouldn't dream big, we should, that's how we got here. But don't be shocked Netflix doesn't want to buy your experimental film about a guy addicted to eating newspapers.

[@pchuck1439]

This is why I choose Cinematography & Color Grading. I much prefer to work with filmmakers than to take the risk and being the guy responsible for the entire project from start to finish, plus dealing with investors. Salute to the ones that do it!

[@filmcourage]

Are you committed to making movies which speak to you personally or to what the marketplace wants?

[@EricGraham94]

I’d rather prefer to write stories that speak to me personally in the hopes that it speaks to everyone else as well. What’s a good story without an emotional rollercoaster ride but universally thematic resonance?

[@JrtheKing91]

I write for what speaks to me personally.

[@roathripper]

@@JrtheKing91 hopefully it's also what resonates universally or you're screenplay will be loved by mom and pop and not much more than that. you know what i mean?

[@fredr.]

The logic would be: Make $$$ with the market, then invest that money in your personal projectS.

[@JrtheKing91]

@@roathripper yes

[@GraemeStanfordWilson]

Great insight. Thank you, Glen!

[@MR3DDev]

People have told me not to make short films cause there is not money in it. There isn’t any either in feature films at indie levels lol

[@MargueriteFairProductions]

I agree. Most of us just do it for passion. Money is always the issue. Bottom line, it takes money to afford the promotions. I think we have to continue being creative because that is what life is about. I get more joy out of my little movies and projects. Makes me want to get out of bed in the morning! I don't need for anyone to tell me that fact!

[@varkesh456]

Very nice insight it also gives a good insight into why it takes so long to change course. They always knew so movies would be losses and the winnners make up for that...it may literally take them 2-3 years just to see an issues depending on how out of the norm the results for that movie are. It also explains a thevdesire of larger stuidis for the tent ploes/universe movies because then your lower theshold goes up....even though everything becomes generic fast.

[@williamflynn5984]

Dose anyone know where you can find a screenwriting partner?

[@juanzabal2076]

at uni or a screenwriting course

[@orangewarm1]

Look out for this guy in Heat (1995, Mann).

[@rhyon8530]

Wow. What a dangerous interview, from such a limited mindset. Not a single mention of WHY movies fail - such as: 1) The structure, content, and talent are not commercial enough, or demographic targeted. 2) No international distribution in place before first day of principle photography. 3) No substantial demographic-targeted marketing plan or budget in place before shooting. 4) Nothing of any importance or relevance to say or contribute. Get those four right, while maintaining high production values and artistic integrity - and your film will be in the top 1% of the rest of the garbage, which usually deserves to fail. That is the harsh truth.

[@TheGoldenWildcat]

I am fully inclined to agree on that. There's always a reason your film, book, etc. fails; find out why & make all of the necessary corrections in order to succeed. I approve of this message! 🤩👍

[@philthetremoloking]

Yep...

[@commandercaptain4664]

You forgot... 5) Branding. Branding. Branding. The real estate of art in a commercial world. I'm not convinced that international distribution is so universal a tactic as to account for just any film. Some movies are simply "local" to the core.

[@rhyon8530]

@@commandercaptain4664 Yes, kinda falls under marketing plan - so, yes indeed.

[@andrewfinnigan]

Ironic coming from the guy who wanted to charge me $10,000 to distribute my own movie, all the while, passing on all marketing, promotion and distribution costs to me on top of that.

[@andrewfinnigan]

@Anton Sebastian I spent $100k of my own money (not other people’s money) so I’m fully aware of carrying the risk. What service are you referring to? Aggregation isn’t a service when all the work to promote, market and draw attention to the film falls on the filmmaker; as was the case here. I can pay far less than that to do the same myself. Don’t fall for aggregators or distributors, unless you have leverage.

[@bluerabbit1236]

@Anton Sebastian You have zero clue what you're talking about. What risk? There's no risk or cost in spamming 1500 buyers on an email list which you'll get from any film market that you attend as an exhibitor which will cost you as low as 10 grand. And if someone doesn't have that kind of money to attend, then they're not real sales agents to begin with.

[@primaluxfilms7290]

Unless you have the contacts and personal relationships within the industry that Glen has, he has every right to charge you to get your film in front of them. Its a business and you're paying him to essentially send off emails and screeners that otherwise would have been thrown in the bin. You're paying for his lifetime of connections and access to them. That is pretty much the golden ticket in filmmaking.

[@bobpowers9637]

Awesome 👏

[@kattasandesh7553]

I am form india how much experience do you think i need to become a movie director .Am still 18.

[@Horatio787]

Film movies with your phone, get actors from local theaters and colleges, get scripts there too. It doesn't matter if it's bad, you need the experience and the ability to show someone something you made.

[@The3rdGunman]

I've heard Christopher Nolan and Spike Lee say in interviews to just start filming....Just give yourself little projects to work on. Don't have to be stories just practice getting certain kinds of shots or compisitions ust practive. You'll do great!

[@RolandDeschain1]

This kind of explains how all those terrible Bruce Willis movies get made. Huge tax incentives, the bare minimum of money and effort, and a former A-list star willing to piss his own legacy away for a few quick bucks.

[@gauraprema1932]

Unfortunately truth in every art industry: just because it's good art doesn't mean people want to pay for it...

[@huskendriller5341]

Totally on point! The first $14 million I made from my Ike Turner comedy in 2005 turned heads in Eastern Europe, but critics at the New Yorker were complementary enough to give Netflix a nudge and now I just make adverts for Nestle. And yes, my uncle is Tom Cruise.

[@KayFlowidity]

6:20 👌👌👌

[@leonoradompor8706]

Amen

[@roathripper]

theres just way too much content now. the little guy has a million to one shot. 😪

[@MR3DDev]

There’s youtube. I may not be on Netflix but I have the audience from my channel who want to see my films :)

[@Dayvit78]

Well think how it was in the early days of Hollywood... everything was so expensive, the little guy couldn't even get started! A million to one is better than zero.

[@sullyfox4993]

Most films fail because most people don't care about your viewpoint on some niche subject, no matter how interesting or "edgy" you think it is. If you're not marketing to a 4 quadrant minimum, you're essentially setting yourself up for failure.

[@leonoradompor8706]

During Pandemic Tiktok is trending and KZbin Bloggings also***

[@mandywhorwal642]

Yeah, basically the technology is so good now (cameras, tvs, computers, etc.) that people can make/watch their own content. Movie theaters are disappearing like malls. Why would I want to leave my house to go see Pirates of the Caribbean 16 when I can stay at home and watch a million hours of content specifically designed for my taste on my humongous home studio? The movie industry tried to keep up by making stuff with ridiculously high budgets, but it's just too risky to spend 200 million on something that may not work when some guy with a thousand dollar camera in Idaho is releasing 15 minutes of content about shrubbery a day and has 2 million loyal subscribers. The long formats in life are dying. It takes years to make a movie, and only 30 seconds for some teenager to turn on a video game and get a million views.

[@bluerabbit1236]

And that's why you'll never see a Pirates of The Caribbean 16 but you will see a 150 million dollar Spider Man 14 along with Batman 22. A Spider Man movie grosses millions of dollars even in third world countries where hit local movies gross a few hundred grand tops where your Idaho guy won't even be able to dream those numbers with his 2 million and nevergrowing subscriber base. You must have below zero IQ to think that the long format is dying. On the contrary, the format is getting longer. The majority of the streamer content is switching to SERIES which is 5 to 10 times longer than an average movie. They figured out it's the only way to keep subscribers active because it takes way much longer to consume content when the majority of it consist of several season long mega hits.

[@mandywhorwal642]

@@bluerabbit1236 I agree, I just didn't want to write a book. Movies will always be around, but everything that isn't Spider Man will be online in easily digestible chunks. In other words, your original screenplay probably isn't gonna reach the big screen so start creating on the smaller, cheaper formats.

[@retrohollywoodmotionpictures]

I believe movie theaters are still viable but only if the execs who manage the theaters would wise up to the fact that they wasting their greatest asset - seats- when they have a product that many people want - the big screen and superior sound system that will always be the best way lo watch a movie - just not at the ridiculous prices they charge for tickets and concessions. It makes no sense to charge $13 and sell only 20 tickets for a total of $260 and have 280 empty seats in a 300 seat theater when you can drop the price to say $3.50, and sell maybe another 200 tickets for a total of $700. Not to mention much greater concession income even at lower prices. I believe the average concession sale is about $7 per person, (about $140 for 20 people)i f they they took that down to say $4 x 200 that would come to $800. Add it all up and they could probably make 5x more money.

[@JK-dv3qe]

most movies fail because of 'wokeness'

[@yvesgomes]

Epic beard!

[@rmurraypics]

films with a decent cast most of the times break even. Catch is “name talent”. Most films with a name cast break even.

[@albertgallow5301]

No money to be made, but pay him $4-5k to "try". Sounds fair!

[@sperkzebrahymadams5267]

Fact!

[@leonoradompor8706]

Latest star wars movie was a failure****

[@leonoradompor8706]

No Time To Die was a failure***

[@moe8351]

Sheesh for a channel called “Film Courage” this video is really discouraging

[@G360LIVE]

If you're not willing to take on the challenge, then go do something else. Actually, those were the first words my first writing instructor said to our class, "My advice to you is to do something other than writing." It's very challenging, and if you don't want to take on that challenge, that's okay. If your heart isn't in it, then do something else that you really do want to do. There's no shame in that.

[@moe8351]

@@G360LIVE i do, do it and have been for 20 years. I just feel like This video in particular makes newer writers not want to do it though. It’s discouraging.

[@G360LIVE]

@@moe8351 I'm okay with newer writers figuring out sooner rather than later that they want to do something other than writing.