I'm going to let you into a little secret. For the last 6 weeks I have been carefully crafting another little film that I intend to sell, and from its profits, hopefully, fund my next feature film, Final Reel...
As you know, I've been trying to get people to buy my first film, Written in Blood, from which all profits go into funding my next project. Great idea, but.... a supernatural thriller, whilst that genre does have its place, is not for everyone. I believe the best place to make money on a film like this is through traditional film and TV routes.
So, I have come up with something that anyone could buy, all ages, colours and creeds. Something that, if pushed and advertised well, WILL SELL. To the public.
So here it is: I have been making a tourism DVD, about the county I live in, Warwickshire. The home of Shakespeare, George Elliot, the Cotswolds, the place where great historical battles were fought and spectacular castles still remain. The place that is the jewell in the heart of Great Britain.
Yep, that's my simple idea. I have been travelling from town to town, filming in the nice weather, each town and village, discovering the history, meeting the artists etc. I will be doing some rather fancy helicopter shots in the next few weeks. Once I've edited the film and recorded the voice over, I will be mastering the film to DVD and will get a few thousand replicated.
Then, I will be selling them from around £11.99 per copy. I intend to market them in local magazines, newspapers, tourist information centres/venues, local shops etc...
I'm hoping that with a big initial push we will sell multiple copies fairly quickly which will start to build some momentum. The video is costing a little to make, probably around £8 to £10K, so we have some way to break even first. But once we have broken even, hopefully the sales will build and I can start spending the profit on producing my next film.
What I have discovered over the last few years is that the business is changing. With the current recession new funding and sales models need to be discovered. We will soon find out whether my plan will work or not, but the thing that really excites me about it is that its up to ME. I'm not relying on anyone else to write me a cheque or take the financial risk. I can put MY money where MY mouth is.
So that's my plan. I am aiming to have it done by the end of September, with sales starting soon after. I should have some idea by late October if its going to work, just in time to start shooting Final Reel.
Wish me luck, oh, and please do buy a copy of Written in Blood if you haven't already.
Many thanks!
Last night was the world premier of the film I edited and shot 2nd Unit on, Charles Dickens's England. It was screened at the NFT on the London Southbank, on the biggest screen I have ever seen - and it looked sensational!!!
