Here’s a great video interview with Andy Green, co-founder of Distrify, talking about how to sell your films online. The interview was conducted and filmed by Chris Jones, author of the best-selling Guerrilla Film Makers Handbook. You can rent his great multi-award winning short Gone Fishing here.
Distrify starts streaming video from the moon
Distrify is pleased to announce the immediate opening of our newest data-center: DISTRIMOON. The new data-center extends Distrify’s video streaming capabilities beyond the normal limits of a traditional earth-based Content Delivery Network.
“While our competitors focus on streaming video to small territories like the USA or Europe, Distrify was available globally from day one,” says Distrify CEO Peter Gerard. “With our expansion onto the moon, we can now provide high definition instant streaming to our users on the International Space Station.”
The moon-based data-center also enhances the film-viewing and sharing experience for viewers on earth. “When you watch a film via Distrify and you want to share it with friends, just point your smartphone at the moon,” explains Distrify COO Andy Green. “The signal will bounce off the moon and if your friends are looking at a full moon they will see the trailer for your new favourite film.”
While some critics have objected to the visual impact of Distrify’s data-center, most astronomers appreciate the ease of renting, buying and sharing films that Distrify brings them. “At first many of us in the community were concerned about the sheer size of Distrify’s data-center and we initially opposed building a structure that would always be visible in the face of the moon,” says lead astronomer at NASA, Dr. Frank Morrison. “But who can complain when Distrify makes it so easy to watch and share films like Space Tourists.”
Pre-order Terry Gilliam’s new award-winning film - “The Wholly Family”
Distrify is excited to officially announce the details of our partnership with Terry Gilliam and The Guardian as the newly created web platform will be powering the exclusive worldwide premiere of “The Wholly Family” in collaboration with one of the world’s leading newspapers. The award-winning director Terry Gilliam has opted to release his latest film adopting our direct-to-fan distribution model, and we are particularly proud to be making our services available to the works of one of the film industry’s most celebrated directors.
The Guardian will be hosting the launch with an exclusive live-streamed interview with Terry Gilliam on Monday 23rd January at 7pm GMT. You can join in at home by streaming the film via Distrify and participating in the live-blog and Q&A with Terry on The Guardian’s website. Pre-order now and we’ll send you an email reminder on the 23rd with your access details to watch the film.
Also, be sure to check out Terry Gilliam’s website and Facebook page, and of course, enjoy the film!
— The Distrify Team
Distrify is proud to be supporting the premiere of A Christmas Carol - the first film based on a Charles Dickens work to be released in 2012 - the writer’s bicentenary year.
The film has a remarkable story behind it, being the first film ever to be cast, crewed, financed and distributed via Facebook. Jason Figgis made the film over a 2-year period with a budget less than €1,200, but thanks to a heck of a lot of talent and good-will, it looks like it costs about 1000 times more.
You can watch it here, on the Christmas Carol Facebook page, or on The Dickens Fellowship website.
Read more about A Christmas Carol on the RTE (Irish National TV) website.
And if you need even more Dickens in 2012, check out Charles Dickens’s England, a great documentary also streaming via Distrify and The Dickens Fellowship.
In case you missed it, comedian Louis CK recently made a good amount of money (over $1 million in 12 days) selling an exclusive one-hour comedy special direct-to-fan, using a very expensive custom-built system similar to Distrify (minus our fantastic social media tools, simple embedding, payment and currency options, etc. - okay, it’s got little in common with Distrify apart from the Direct-to-Fan philosophy that underpins what we do). Here’s a link to Fred Wilson’s thoughts about the experiment. Worth reading.
If you’re inspired by Louis’s experiment, then go sign up for Distrify - we bring this kind of success potential to everyone.
“After reviewing several media players and e-commerce solutions we were impressed with Distrify’s flexible tool-set to support our new marketing platform for documentaries”, says Greg Rubidge, president of Syndicado, a digital distribution company focused on feature-length documentaries and factual TV programming for launch on digital platforms such as the internet, TV VOD and mobile.
We are at IDFA in Amsterdam, where we are excited to announce a new partnership to bring Films Transit’s expansive catalogue of documentaries to the world via online streaming and downloads. From the article in IDFA’s daily newspaper:
“I have been looking for a long time for a site that enables people to share films”, says Films Transit chief Jan Rofekamp. He adds that he had looked into more established platforms like iTunes, but decided against using them for financial and control reasons. “iTunes isn’t a good deal. Also, it requires us to go aggregator, so you have no control of what happens to your films. All you can do is put it up there and that’s it”, he explains. “What I like about Distrify is that you can set up the site as you want and have control over the content.”
Distrify partners with The Guardian
Distrify is delighted to be working with The Guardian and Artificial Eye on trialing a unique online film event. We are enabling the streaming rentals of Kieslowski’s classic Three Colours Trilogy direct from The Guardian’s website so readers can watch the films while conversing with The Guardian’s film critics and other fans.
For three nights this week The Guardian is running a Live Blog in synch with each film and readers who are watching at home via Distrify (that means you!) can chat along with the critics. Last night the trial kicked off with a live blog screening of Three Colours Blue which has inspired a drinking game that will be added to the fun for tomorrow night’s event.
It’s not too late to join in!
Tonight at 7pm GMT, watch Three Colours White with Andrew Pulver and Henry Barnes.
And tomorrow at 7pm GMT, join in the pear brandy drinking game and watch Three Colours Red with Peter Bradshaw. You can still enter a competition to get a chance to watch and blog with him in The Guardian’s office in London.
Make sure you purchase your rental in advance of the 7pm start so you can click play and watch in synch.
- Rent and watch now: Three Colours White
- Rent and watch now: Three Colours Red
- Rent and watch now: Three Colours Blue
(Rentals are only available in the UK and Ireland, but you can join in the live blog wherever you are.)
A nice reminder from Gregory Bayne in this article titled: “Platforms, PMDs & Perpetuating Obscurity”.
First Feature Producing Lab: Online training from Imaginox
We’re excited to be spreading the word about the next online film course from our partner Imaginox. This is the essential course for feature film producers, taught by our friend Anita Lewton. Highly recommended!
Following the successful launch of the ‘First Feature Producing Lab’ headed by Anita Lewton (independent producer and former Co-Chair of the New Producers Alliance), the Imaginox Academy of Creative Arts will be delivering this intensive and invaluable programme again, starting on the 18th September 2011.
A challenging, interactive course for all FILMMAKERS (writers, directors producers, line producers, etc.) developing their first feature film or who need to ‘up-skill’ on specific areas of film and documentary production / distribution / marketing in order to advance their careers within the industry.
Applications are now being accepted: apply now on the Imaginox website.
UK filmmakers can apply to Skillset for funding on this course. To find out if you are eligible, visit the Skillset website - it usually takes about 4 weeks to process.
Distrify
the revolution in online film distribution and marketing
Distrify is a suite of online tools that empowers all stakeholders in the independent film production & distribution value chain, enabling more effective sharing and easier monetisation of content. Most importantly, Distrify puts the control (and the profits) in the hands of independents.
