Joe Swanberg started his independent film career directing micro-budget productions like Kissing on the Mouth and Hannah on the Stairs. Today he’s just completed Easy, his first Netflix show, and has become a guiding light for many of us at Filmride. He has survived this ultracompetitive business by being one step ahead of everyone with regards to independent film distribution. In his 2016 SXSW keynote, he offers valuable practical advice for budding indie filmmakers looking to distribute their films.
1.Be ready to adapt to emerging markets
When Swanberg made his first feature Kissing on the Mouth in 2005 for $3,000, he took advantage of the thriving DVD market, selling DVD copies to a small distributor and in the process make a small profit. The indie director was also ahead in the game with VOD (video-on-demand), releasing his film Alexander the Last on the platform before it ever took precedence. Now working with Netflix, Swanberg shows that new distribution models, such as Filmride, may offer a home for your low-budget films.
2.Resell or repackage your independent films as many times as you can
With streaming, independent film directors have a better chance to tap into new markets for their indie films. In Swanberg’s case, because of the interest in his film Drinking Buddies, his first movie with A-list actors, he was then able to pitch his earlier catalogue to streaming services. Swanberg’s early films which once made no money now earned him a profit after he resold them.
3.More movies means more interest from buyers
For a micro-budget filmmaker like Swanberg, the more films you make the better, because the volume of your work is your biggest asset when pitching to distributors. If it’s tough to find funding for your indie film, sites like Filmride offer opportunities to get your micro-budget film started. In the end, there are more openings now than ever before for an indie filmmaker to hit it big.
