Over the weekend, I had coffee with a filmmaking friend who told me a short he'd made had suddenly landed distribution, even though it had been sitting for several years on his YouTube channel.We were both happy about it, but he mentioned that he was naturally suspicious at first. He enjoys making money as a filmmaker for himself, he said, not making money for someone else, which makes sense. But he also saw an opportunity to reach a larger audience. So, he weighed his options carefully.Many filmmakers are so desperate for that recognition that they're ready to sign whatever is put in front of them just to get the thing out into the world. And I get that, too.Getting a distribution offer feels like validation. But you want to make a smart decision for yourself and your project.Before you sign anything, take a breath and do your homework. Distribution is complicated, and it's a business. You should treat it like one. Your film deserves to find an audience, and your hard work deserves compensation. But you've got to be careful and strategic about the deal you accept.Here's what to do first.Research the DistributorThis should be obvious, but you'd be surprised how many filmmakers don't do a cursory background check. When a distributor comes along, you need to investigate them like you're hiring them.Look at their website. What does their slate look like? Have they put out much already? Do they specialize in your genre? Do they have the connections and...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Friday, 24 October