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Distribution
Options
You may have an award winning film but if no one sees it, it
will not be effective.
Fortunately there are numerous inexpensive ways to get your program
in front of viewers.
Here are a few ways to reach the masses:
Small Theater
Presentations
If
you have a facility or visitor center that has public access you can
set-up an LCD display with an High Definition BluRay plaer or solid
state media player for less than a thousand dollars. Find a place where
visitors can sit and relax for a few minutes. It doesn't have to be a
large room. I've installed theaters in rooms 10'x16'. A typical theater
presentation is around 10 -15 minutes long. Make the presentation part
of your educational program so every child in the county has a chance
to view the program before heading out on nature hikes. The video can
provide detailed images and sounds of plants and wildlife found on your
nature trails. This can enhance the experience of students and visitors
when they go out on the trail. You could even make an exploration game
out of it. Students can try to find in the field things they saw or
heard in the video. (Theater Film Production)
Public Space
Kiosks
One of the challenges
faced by many conservation organizations and museums is finding
ways to reach audiences that may not have a particular interest
in learning about or experiencing natural history. It seems we are often preaching
to the choir. People who tend to watch nature programming already
have an interest in preserving and protecting natural systems.
One way to reach a broader audience is to set-up mobile kiosks in public
spaces, places where people have to stand in lines or sit in
waiting rooms. They could also be positioned in businesses such
as medical clinics, banks or hotel lobbies. These businesses
could also be a sponsor of your organization and thus cover the
cost of the display. There are also ways to distribute content
to existing video networks that provide programming to hotels
and resorts. These cable networks provide an opportunity to reach
thousands of visitors with your program. (Informational Film Production)
Web Video
This
is one of the most exciting and exploding areas of media distribution.
The quality of streaming video content just keeps getting better. Now
you can watch full screen high definition video on your computer. I've
been streaming client's films on my website for many years and it's a
very effective way to make programming accessible on a global level.
Social networking is the buzz phrase. Using YouTube, Vimeo, FaceBook,
blogs & twitter to promote you organization and distribute you
videos is a must. The best thing is it costs little to host video
programs on the internet.
(Web Film Production)
Local and
Regional Public Access
Public
access television has often been linked with low quality local
programming produced by amateurs. This seems to have moved to the
internet as basically anyone can publish anything on the web. But many
local cable TV stations are now predenting some very high quality
programming and are constantly looking for new content. This is good
for non-profits who have video programs that they want to share.
Although cable stations prefer half hour programs they are also
interested in PSAs and short films that they can insert into other
programming. Local cable stations are required to provide a certain
amount of public access programming. Many universities systems have
their own TV netwrks as well. They to are always on the lookout for
information and arts programs. This is an excellent way to increase
awareness of local habitats and species. (Nature Film Production)
Public Television &
Cable Braodcast
On
the broadcast end, if your program is high quality, you may have a
chance to have it aired on your local PBS station or national cable
stations. They do use Public Service Announcements (PSA) and
interstitials (fillers) from time to time. There is also a chance they
may be interested in funding or at least partially funding
(co-productions) production of a documentary program. Having a
compelling story is key to getting a film distributed on national tv.
(Expedition & Research Film Production)
DVD Fundraiser
/ Mailing
Although
there is a growing trend to use the internet to ditribute content
distributing a DVD directly to a tarketed audience can be highly
effective. The cost of replicating DVDs has dropped significantly. You
can have 1000 DVDs made for under $700.00. Compare that to designing
and printing a full color multi page brochure. DVDs in a well designed eco-friendly cardboard sleeves
can be mailed directly to potential sponsors. They can also be
use as a membership incentive and be given away to members who
join at a certain level. A nicely packaged DVD that includes maybe 30 minutes of pure nature can be sold in
gift shops with the revenue being used to support you activities. (Eco-Travel Films)
Public Outreach
Presentations
Video programs can be
a vital component of your community outreach efforts. A short
5-10 minute video program used during a live presentation can
provide an overview of your organization, its mission and projects.
They can be shown on a laptop to a small group of people sitting
around a table or projected on a large screen in a conference
situation.
(Informational Film Production)
Broadcast
Documentaries to IMAX films
On the high end are the
big budget one hour documentaries, feature documentaries and
large format IMAX films. These programs have very large budgets and
thus usually have investors who hope to make a profit from distribution.
Distribution for this type of programming today is global and
has the ability to reach tens of millions of people.
So you can see there are many options for reaching the masses with your film. Your media campaign should include several of these distribution avenues. I provide clients with free streaming video hosting and offer packages that include DVD and presentation systems. Please contact me if you have questions about distribution and production packages.
Copyright 2012 Jim Karnik Films