How Much Money Do Independent Movies Make? - Glen Reynolds

Glen Reynolds founded Circus Road Films in 2006 to provide strategic advisory services to filmmakers. Circus Road guides filmmakers through the festival and distribution process and negotiates licensing agreements on their behalf. Glen has participated in the sales of over 900 narrative and documentary feature films with many of them premiering at Sundance, Slamdance, SXSW, Cinequest, Tribeca, Hot Docs, Fantastic, Telluride and Toronto. Distributors of these films include Fox, Sony, Warner Bros, Universal, Lions Gate, Magnolia, IFC, Strand, Oscilloscope, Drafthouse, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Lifetime, ESPN and Syfy.
Some favorite films sold include the first films of some successful filmmakers such as Absentia, written and directed by Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass); Pop Skull, written and directed by Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs Kong); and Newlyweeds, written and directed by Shaka King. (Judas and the Black Messiah).
Recent work includes Clean (Tribeca/IFC) with Adrien Brody, My Dead Dad and 18½ with Willa Fitzgerald (101 Films).
Glen has also co-produced twenty films to date including his favorite Conversations with Other Women which premiered at Telluride and stars Aaron Eckhart, Helena Bonham Carter, and Olivia Wilde. Other great production experiences include developing two projects with Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) and co-producing five films with Ram Bergman (Knives Out, Star Wars: The Last Jedi).
Glen holds a JD from the University of Texas at Austin, a BA in English from NYU and is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. He serves as a judge for the UCLA Screenwriting Competition and on the jury for the Woods Hole Film Festival.
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#film #movies #filmmaking

[@clayaggeles]

There’s no formula to this business, really. We made our flick for a Kickstarter (donation based) budget of $22k and have made over $15k in returns after waterfall. We actually said that our budget was $22k to our foreign distributor and he wants to help pitch our next idea. You don’t know what kind of relationships you’ll make in the endeavor. You just gotta care about making something that will matter to someone else. Let the money take care of itself

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for posting Clayton!

[@benjaminbailey9847]

Awesome! Thanks! Your words make me feel like this industry isn’t as hard to crack as it is 😄still we keep shooting!!

[@cinemathequerouge317]

@@benjaminbailey9847 Keep shooting till they fall Benjamin! You can do it!!

[@user-lh5li8ll7i]

Fair play to you, Clayton. And thanks for the advice

[@Author_SoftwareDesigner]

Am I missing something? You’re $7k in the hole, right?

[@GTshortStories]

My indie film “Pick A Side” has made its budget back and most of that was due to Tubi. I don’t know if the .15 cents of viewing is accurate because that means a bunch of people watched my film. I didn’t make the film for money but it is great to know that it made money especially when I hear the stories of how indie films aren’t making anything. Great interview as always

[@lightbright8888]

Did you need a sales agent or distributor to get your film on Tubi?

[@noneofyourbusiness1114]

Got an Instagram?

[@GTshortStories]

@@lightbright8888 I went through Filmhub.

[@Goldenera95]

Great series of Interviews with Glen 💪🏾💪🏾

[@cinemathequerouge317]

Thanks Karen I appreciate you asking Glen so many good questions about Indy film numbers. We really need this info out here.

[@RandomRouletteFun]

My independent film, Moorehouse Road, has done quite well on Tubi. As someone else mentioned, it has to be more than 15c per view, because I doubt my film has been seen by 150,000 people in just a few months.

[@Shivadagjdfhjf]

Did it make any cash

[@RandomRouletteFun]

@@Shivadagjdfhjf yes, around $30k so far

[@hyperionkennels315]

Tubi probably has strong organic growth. I heard about it from a friend, I've got 2 family members regularly using it, one being my dad watching movies at dialysis, nurses and patients will hear of it there. I live that I can find indies on it that are super niche and really fun.

[@marissachabria]

How did you reach out to Tubi and how did you get them to acquire it? I work at Tubi but in a completely different department haha

[@RandomRouletteFun]

I went through FilmHub

[@juliusvlogivas]

This guy is very helpful and is def a good source for independent filmmakers looking to distribute.

[@egpthree2634]

If you had 10% of Tubi’s viewership (7.5 million) watching the majority of your movie, you’ve made 1.15 mil. What

[@AlpsLifee]

Good to know, would have liked to have heard what makes the top earning indie films so special in comparison

[@themanhimself5650]

literally this channel always makes me smile. besides all the great knowledge gifted by all these professionals, the show has such a great selection of people to interview and the interviewer does fantastic job each episode 🙏 thank you for the great content 🔥🦾❤️

[@filmcourage]

Thank you so much! We appreciate you taking the time to send some love our way. Hope you continue to find helpful content here.

[@jonathangriffin8060]

In my honest opinion, the studios need to leave the independent films independent. In my opinion, I think the studios are afraid that the old studio system is not as original as it was in the golden age of cinema...and they were apprehensive when independent film gained popularity in the 1990s and then, independent films became really popular, to the point that new filmmakers started making independent films because they felt that the studios were getting stale and boring. Hollywood has been making MCU or Marvel movies or remakes of classic movies for a long time and a majority of them are really not that great. Hollywood is no longer original and independent filmmakers are returning to the "independent" way of making films because they still don't have any faith in the studio system. The independent film might be making a comeback because of how unoriginal Hollywood has become and still is in some ways.

[@toofy7253]

This type of business model Hollywood has appears to be similar to business models in many other fields. Companies get super large and bureaucratic. Certain things like innovation with a deep purpose and passion are lost. The founders are usually not present anymore, and profit is the main reason keeping the new people at the company. Cash cow just feeding all of those bureaucrats. The audience eventually gets it, just like what happened with game of thrones.

[@jonathangriffin8060]

@@toofy7253 And that's probably why most indie filmmakers start up their own production companies and make the content they like and want to make. I am doing just that in my hometown.

[@wheresmymoneyat2482]

@@jonathangriffin8060 what's your distribution model?

[@jonathangriffin8060]

@@wheresmymoneyat2482 It's in the beginning stages. It is a New Jersey-based production company. I am in discussion with a few people and slowly building the foundation. The production company will be for the Generation X community and all of its productions will be for that particular community. Hopefully, we will get to the distribution phase sometime in 2023.

[@toddkonrad2407]

The old studio system has been dead for decades. When they were still independent entities ran by people who at least understood, and by extension, cared about making quality to distribute, it worked. They were all bought up by publicly offered conglomerates that see them as nothing more than a means to improve profits and stock value. As soon as they can’t, whoever is in charge is replaced until things turn around. Independents have room to operate but the competition and glut of available films now puts all the power in distributors’ hands, and they’re competing with everything from social media, video games, streaming and even KZbin for eyeballs and money.

[@VangelisFilms]

Such a valuable (and sobering) conversation. What I really want to know is what kinds of deals films are getting from the lionsgates, Sony digital and A24’s of the world. There are still films that are being “sold” outright in the traditional sense, in the low-budget range. Also, foreign sales (while dying) still can be viable as most of the world hasn’t caught up to streaming to the same level as US. The question is, how does the filmmaker make the lion’s share of the money as opposed to the distributors and sales agents. Everyone wants “all rights” these days when in reality each distributor tends to have particular areas they excel in. Parsing rights is the way to go to maximize earning potential in my opinion.

[@naylaalkhaja7535]

I'm going through this. No sales agency. Directly to exhibitors. Managed to get 9 countries in MENA, it's darn hard but I think it's possible if the film is solid and you find exhibitors who also distribute that is helpful. I have also used AI to dub the actors in 25 languages. Still early but I hope by 18 months. I squeeze the potential and maximize the deal. A sales agent offered me 150k USD for the entire world. It felt like I won't see a cent after that. Declined it and now swimming solo. The world has changed. With some push and the right contacts things are possible. Asia is not maximised well. There is a big appetite there.

[@takingitonedayatatime7851]

Thanks for the Video. Keep them coming 😌

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for your continued support!

[@chasehedges6775]

Their content is the best

[@filmcourage]

Another one coming tomorrow!

[@joaopaixao5499]

Great interview

[@dopetheadjective2020]

"AVOD platforms" sound like something someone would say in a Kevin Smith movie.

[@huddieentertainment]

Great interview. ! I have a few movies on TUBI. I was never sure how much each ad pays. I know it can vary and depending on how well the movie is doing. I was also looking into doing my own streaming platform doing AVOD. Stumbled across this while doing research. Great interview. Thanks. And I wish all the Indy filmmakers luck. It's tough doing alot of it on your own. Very few will understand the sacrifices , late nights, $$$ spent , hard work etc to finish a film. I know people who started films but never finished so finishing is a WIN in itself but if would be nice to see some good $$$ $$ 🙂 and I'm sure alot of filmmakers would love to do this as their primary source of income. How great would that be?

[@cinema1975]

Since there is so much content put there we have under valued the art and commerce of cinema. The distribution company knows there are so many films that they can undervalue it.

[@edcano2293]

It's interesting to know some numbers

[@cobymarcum1442]

Low low numbers. Thank you for the warning. All the more incentive to make the best content possible to have better than average earnings.

[@joshuajohnson3696]

Great info

[@foundvhs]

If someone offers you “points” instead of actual pay, run as far away as you can. This means you will never see a dime.

[@urbaintchoubou9065]

Any advice on how to get in contact with a distribution company? I've many films from South Africa 🇿🇦

[@MammaApa]

Transparency about budget is however a very good idea if you plan to crowdsource making your movie. Backers will want to know where the money went. But I'm talking making the movie here, not distributing it.

[@AndreaClinton]

Did he describe 10-15% as AVOD when he meant SVOD? That's not how some agreements were explained to me. I was told the ad revenue is divided by company & filmmaker on a 60/40 and in some cases 70/30 basis, with the higher % going the streaming platform. Please explain -

[@3211SD]

Not percentage. $0.10 to $0.15 per view . Which means advertising is paying platform 2x to 3x that

[@sunlightpictures8367]

Tubi supposedly does ad revenue shares. I'm being paid a lot more than 15 cents per view. How old is this interview?

[@Jharperfilms]

Us too.

[@huddieentertainment]

How much are you getting per view if u don't mind me asking?

[@sunlightpictures8367]

@@huddieentertainment FilmHub doesn't break it down that way. The best month I did on Tubi so far was $94.

[@huddieentertainment]

@@sunlightpictures8367 oh ok thx.

[@filmcourage]

What did you like about this video?

[@Hyplum]

Fantastic insight into realistic expectations

[@cobymarcum1442]

Real numbers help me estimate what budget I should stay below to break even or maybe earn enough to buy more equipment and pay cast and crew some thank you money.

[@cinemathequerouge317]

Great questions about Indy film.

[@stevegeorge7773]

Where is the accountability of digital distribution now? I think it should be compulsory for the online platforms to publish their viewership of films, product.

[@mikes5079]

Amazon Prime is only 1 cent per view!??! That's almost as bad as streaming songwriting royalties except films cost way more money to make (usually). No wonder film and TV content is so bad these days.... what streaming platforms did to musicians has happened to filmmakers too. Spoiled people don't want to pay for their Art and Entertainment. So sad.

[@robertruffo2134]

No, many people sell to Prime for much more - usually it's a money up front buy.

[@DronkenDrenthen]

I would love to make mockusters for 50 to 70k if i could turn them over for double that cost

[@KwasiAnimationStudio]

Glad to hear these things, but it's upsetting to see platforms take someone's hard work and give them pennies for it. Like what...

[@toddkonrad2407]

Music industry’s been doing it for generations. Film isn’t that much better, most of the time.

[@TheBlackbirdii]

15 cent for whole movie or for every ad watched ?

[@sorenpx]

Sounds like for the whole movie.

[@idxstudios]

20k

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Range definitely starts at zero. None of my films have made a dime. Of course, that's not why I make films.

[@filmcourage]

Shorts and features?

[@markaven5249]

Advertising money will rise to the top. I'd suggest with a 0 dollar budget get very very very ,'social'. Make friends, many many many friends of viewers, contribute your time to them and ask it back in viewership.

[@Daniel_Soto]

I want to make great movies not expensive movies.

[@starbright6579]

I'm just trying to see when is the best time for me to sacrifice get up and say. "Okay, I'm ready to make this movie." And that's going to be hard, but I'm willing to take that step. I got to do what I got to do. I can't be scared forever because if I do I'll never become a film producer.

[@ralphclark859]

Today

[@smelltheglove2038]

0 dollars, zero cents.

[@foundvhs]

Plenty of distributors to rip you off out there. Be careful!

[@perimetrfilms]

Basically not worth making films is his opinion! But film makers should never make films for profit but rather information or art, or entertainment.

[@gfxfilms2012]

Wtf. No numders given besides guessing

[@theonicommittee8402]

F***in' A

[@MrArtist1971]

NOBODY cares how much you spent. Is it awesome or not - that's the bottom line. Awesome = MONEY Lousy = $0

[@benjaminbailey9847]

So glad I just so happened to come across this. We just released our music video (for anyone who cares I’ll post the link) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIbYd3RnmNyLa9k And we’d like to do a KZbin series on a short film that we’ve already started but don’t have the money to actually produce. This is really good info thanks!