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MillimeterThe Distribution Beat
Oct 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Eric Melin
The Internet Movie Database (imdb.com) has a goal: to one day offer its users every movie and TV show in the database in its entirety. In addition to streaming full-length Hollywood feature films such as Raising Arizona and The Night of the Hunter with limited commercial interruption, the site is also offering selected TV episodes, independent short films, and trailers. This means that if you own the rights to a film that already has an IMDB page, you can upload your film to the site within 24 hours. At press time, that capability is only available for films less than 45 minutes long (or 850MB). Through sister site withoutabox.com (a division of IMDB, which is owned by Amazon), you can also create a profile that will link to imdb.com and use any number of that site's distribution tools. Withoutabox offers assistance to filmmakers in the form of DVD distribution and video on demand, among promotional and distribution opportunities.
Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films (bravenewfilms.org) is quickly becoming a major player in the political scene, in part because it embraces the immediacy of online video. The activist website uses new developments in the presidential election as jumping-off points for creating short films — such as its series The Real McCain, which has been watched more than 6 million times — that have become viral sensations. Michael Moore is on the free-distribution tip as well. The Oscar-winning filmmaker offered his new 97-minute documentary, Slacker Uprising, as a streaming video or a free download from bravenewfilms.org from Sept. 23 to Oct. 14. A low-cost DVD is commercially available with extra features.
Continue the discussion on “Crosstalk” the Millimeter Forum.