What do I need to deliver to my Independent Film’s distributor? (1/4)
So there are a lot of questions about what’s involved in Distribution Deliverables for an Independent Film. So I’ve scoured a few contracts to find a very thorough list of what you might need to provide for a distributor or Sales Agent if they take your film. Since this list is quite expansive, there may be some stuff on here that most distributors do not ask for, but I figured it best to know what you might have to be able to provide
Given how massive this list ended up being, I’m actually going to break this out into 4 parts. This part is the basics, the next part will be deliverables used in internationalization and marketing, part 3 will be legal, and the fourth and final part will be some of the stranger and incidental things you might have to provide or be willing to pay for the sales agent to provide.
All of this being said, even though this list is massive, I may have missed something, so definitely talk with your post-house supervisor, lawyer, and editor before submitting these items.
Let’s Dive right in.
1. Color Stills and Photographs (50):
These color stills and photographs are generally not meant to be Behind the Scenes photos. They’re meant to be stills from the movie itself to be used in various forms of promotion. They can also be images of the talent in costume to use in the creation of key art, posters, trailers, and other places where art may show up across platforms.
2. Screeners (50)
While many distributors/Sales Agents have moved to providing internet screeners through services like Vimeo, some still prefer DVDs. These distributors generally won’t want you to put a watermark of any kind on the film. I’d be hesitant on this due to piracy concerns, but I’m putting it on here because I found it in a contract.
NOTE FROM THE FUTURE: This isn’t really done anymore. Distributors just use the master file to create their own screener to send to buyers.
3. Digital Promotional Trailer
Unsurprisingly, the sales agent will want a trailer to help with sales. It's extremely important in market meetings with buyers. It’s reasonably likely they’ll need a new trailer cut, but if the trailer you deliver suits their needs, they’re less likely to charge you for that deliverable.
4. Credit/Billing Block
This is just a listing of all credits for the film, to help the distributor keep up with legal obligations and consistent crediting across platforms. Be careful in delivering this, as their distribution agreement probably includes something indemnifying them should issues result from errors in files you delivered to them.
5. Certified Statement with Contractual Obligations.
This statement is just so the distributor knows how underwater you are with investors, and more importantly debtors. Among other things, the distributor wants to know that they won’t lose the film because the bank took it from you.
6. Tax Payer Information: W8/W9
The Distributor is paying you, and they have to pay their taxes just like anyone else.
7. Layered Keyart
Most of the time the distributor will need to make changes to your art, so they’ll need the PSD file. If you don’t deliver that file, they’ll just have one made completely independent of your art.
8. 4k Technical Sample.
If you’re delivering in 4k, The distributor will also need a 4k sample to show buyers in market meetings. That’s what this is.
9. 100% QC'd HD ProResHQ or 4444 Master .mov Files:
If a sales agent is going to sell your movie, then they’ll need a copy of it. They may ask for a few versions for SD, and they may also ask for a 4k version. There will be a lot of technical specs you’ll have to match exactly, and you’ll have to undergo a QC Check from a professional lab. By the way, if they ask you for a 422 file, don’t send them a 4444 file. 4444 files are only needed for really specific tasks that your distributor doesn’t need to do. The increased file size will annoy them or their lab.
10. Bluray Market/Festival Screening Masters
These are for screenings the sales agent might want to do for buyers in any of the provided market screening rooms.
11. Master Audio Files
They are going to need the stems for the film. Every once in a while, sales agents need to make edits for other markets. That’s where these come in.
12. Copy of Music Score: Digital Files
Sometimes when you cut a film to comply with censorship in other countries, you’ll need to mask some cost by replacing the score. That’s why they need some original files for the score.
13. Certificate of Full QC Pass
A QC Check is required for any distribution you would actually want to have. This generally involves sending the completed film to a lab, and and having every part of the film checked to ensure it’s in broadcast quality. Generally this sort of check costs around 1500 per time you have to have it checked. That means, if you fail your QC check, you’ll have to pay to have it done again. I may do an entire post on the QC check process in the future, if I do, I’ll post it below.
Thanks for reading! This is the first of several posts covering Deliverables for Distribution. Check the other posts for more. Also, Grab my free Indiefilm Business Resource Package to get a free e-book, templates, and a monthly blog digest to increase your ability to find meaningful distribution.
