There was a moment at the beginning of Patton Oswalt's documentary/performance film "The Comedians of Comedy" where he talks about using the Punk Band model. All these little clubs that were set up for bands and how they loaded up the bus of comics to hit those regional venues.

I would love to be part of a small of filmmakers in a bus with our movies going town to town making our own festivals and hitting the clubs like the Suicide Girls, but you know... with movies!

Maybe when the price of gas goes down... Huh?

Hey Jerry,

That's already happening: at Microcinemas, regular movie theaters, alternative screening venues. Filmmakers are touring with their movies the way punk bands tour with their act/live show. See my blog for more info: http://www.diyfilmmaker.blogspot.com/
(Hope you don't mind the conversation going off topic for a bit David.)

Expiration Date sounds interesting, & looks like another DIY filmmaker/self-distributor is born.
Very cool.

- Sujewa
http://www.wilddiner.com/

Not off-topic at all, Sujewa, that's nail-on-the-head on topic, so first, many thanks for that.

I think Rick Stevenson going this route makes for an interesting case because he's not just starting out, that is, he does have a few films under his belt, television work and so on, he's got the contacts and all it would take if he wanted his film distributed traditionally. And yet, as he explains quite well, there are several reasons self-distribution could work out very well for him, his investors and his cast and crew.

In other words, I get the feeling that some people think of the DIY route either as a last resort or as the only option for young filmmakers with no- or lo-budget films shut out of Indiewood. The might-as-well choice. He makes a clear case for DIY as a better choice for some filmmakers with particular projects.

It's also interesting that he's mapped out his own DIY route, sort of handpicking the elements of his plan and drawing his own map. Here, for example, it's good to note that Landmark seems to be working very well for him and, while there are still grumbles to be heard over what happened to Caveh Zahedi, in this case, they seem to have their heads in the right place. Saying, for example, yes, find a larger theater in this particular city if you need one, it won't hamper our agreement as far as other cities go. So hats off to them for that.

grrr...landmark. if i ever work with them it would be with the full memory of the zahedi episode in mind - or basically will be prepared not to be surprised by some crazy bad-corporate moves/to expect it & with some real indie back up plans.

yeah, it is cool that landmark seems to be working out well for Expiration Date.

good interview there on the GreenCine main site, I linked to it from my blog. keep up the excellent work GC & GCD/David!

- Sujewa
http://www.diyfilmmaker.blogspot.com/

Thanks guys!

I think that Rick Stevenson's model using Landmark is still pretty out of reach to most true indy no-low filmmakers. It is great none the less!

I believe I was thinking of the Punk Band model as is represented by the content of American Hardcore but not by its distribution model. $ony