I'm interested in hearing your opinion!
If given the chance to get your film distriubuted, would you want it screened in theaters or would you be okay with your film goin straight to streaming? Would you ensure your film is made for the theater experience? I pose this question as I recently read that Martin Scorsese has opted out of going to the theater with audiences due to the experiecen though I'm sure he gets a way better experience given who he is.
I also think about Neon and Mubi's bidding war at this past Cannes Film Festival. Many people cite this battle as a fight between the indie distributors but Neon had revealed after their ANORA Best Pitcure win that they go fight hard to get distribution rights from their biggest competitor which is NETFLIX! The streamer is known for well...streaming and this has divided audiences as most cinephiles and those alike wish films like HITMAN and MAESTRO would receive a longer theater window. Though, general audiences have gotten used to having whatever film or tv shows at their finger tips.
This made me wonder how many times did a filmmaker or prod co go against their wishes of being in a theater because a streamer put more money on the table.
Let me know what you think!
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I'm old enough to be very nostalgic about watching movies in theaters that I would want that experience for my films. However, I realize the contemporary theater experience is not what it once was. Since my screenplays lean more in the arthouse direction I would want the films (if ever they get made) to be shown in smaller theaters for audiences that still want to watch those kinds of films. And I'm okay with streaming as well.
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I would want my film screened in theaters, Sam Rivera. Streaming is great, but there's nothing like the theater. And sitting in a theater watching my movie with an audience would be incredible! I know a theater release isn't guaranteed though, so I wouldn't ensure my film is made for the theater experience.
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Being old school I’d love for mine to be shown in theatres (also want there to be physical copies that people could buy if they wanted but that’s pretty well dead lol), but I can absolutely understand opting for streaming since it’s hard to beat the comfort of watching movies in your own home.
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Films are created to be shown through a movie projector. Televisions, monitors, tablets, and smartphones are not the means to watch movies. Therefore, if you have created a movie and want to give the audience a full-fledged new experience and impressions, then the film should be shown only in the cinema.
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I remember an exec told me a story a few years ago that he had a filmmaker insisting on a theatrical release. The only theatrical the filmmaker received was in France. No other country in the world wanted it theatrically. The other choice the filmmaker had was Netflix, where it could be seen globally.
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Theatre, and later on streaming platforms, there is something about watching movies in theatre that I cannot describe, I rather see my work on Big Screen than on smartphone while sitting on a toilet.
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i think (in general) it depends on what your mind-set is and where your motivations lie: if you want the money, then obviously whoever is offering the most; if you want your art/project "out in the wild", then whoever is offering faster and/or longer airings. personally, i'm still a fan of the traditional theater, then hard media (dvd, et al), then digital (streaming/cloud hosting).
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I'm early in my career, and everything, to this point, is indie level, so a theatrical run is incredibly tricky. I'd love the opportunity for a theater run on larger, more involved projects that would be better served on a larger screen. I think of Ryan Coogler's "Sinners". I don't think it would have gotten near the rave had it been straight to VOD because it demands a theatrical experience. I'd try to negotiate a theatrical run if I had a golden egg project like that. But if I want to get my work out there and fund the next project, I'm 100% on board with a direct-to-VOD option.
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Love this convo! Honestly, as much as I admire the theater experience, I’m 100% team streaming. I just love the accessibility — being able to reach a global audience instantly is such a game-changer, especially for newer voices.