Should you put your film on Youtube?

Matt Compton

I just wanted to get a few opinions on a subject that is bothering me....

For those who don't know, I was awarded funding for my last film, Bubbling Under' from my local borough's film funding initiative. I have just been sent an email informing me of the Best of Borough festival which my film is automatically entered into. The prize is £2000 and it is quite high profile so it is well worth being in it. The thing is that they have asked me if they can upload my film to You tube in order to get a public vote on it.

This immediately makes me very worried because I personally feel that having a film 'out there' so to speak and easily accessible totally devalues it and makes it ineligible for other festivals.

I don't really know what to do at this stage as am in a rather tricky quandry of whether to play ball with them or not. My instincts tell me not to...
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jasonfairley · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 11:06 am Post subject:

Well I can definitely empathize. I tried holding off for a while on two short films I did, both of which picked up distribution (and both of which have yet to make any money).

Putting the film on the Internet means it's 'out there', but doesn't exclude further sales. Our short film Have I Passed? has been on the BBC Film Network for a long time and we even sold it to the BBC for one of their programmes.

Most film festivals insist on feature premieres, but are more lenient with shorts, that is, shorts which have been shown elsewhere are often still considered. In my experience. And you have a good 'excuse' why your film was on the web, in case you are asked to explain or feel you have to explain in some way.

But I suppose the deciding factor is this: what have you made the film for or what do you want to get out of the film?

If you want to make money, and you think you have a good chance winning a competition to which there is already a barrier, then by all means enter. Chances are you will never get more than that prize money for the film anyway, even if you pick up distribution. And better still, as I said above, it won't preclude you from signing with a distributor and possibly selling the film direct, yourself, on top of that. In my experience.

On the other hand, if you want to gain maximum exposure, to get the film seen and out there, to get your name recognized on the next application form, then you'd be mad not to enter it into the festival competition. And every other festival you want it shown at (from top tier to small fests). And also put it on the Internet, and shout it from the rooftops. Fortunately with YouTube (as with the BBC Film Network) you can always remove the film again if you want.

Anyway, just my opinion. I think you should enter the competition. And then use the GBP2000 to make a 'no-budget' feature.

Good luck!

Ben Williams · OTT Patron Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 612 Location: London

Does the film have to be on YouTube in perpetuity, or can you take it down after the vote? If you can take it down, then I don't see much problem - it's just a more open screening.

Del F · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 1:13 pm Post subject:

That depends if you want to submit to any festivals that require your film to be 'premiered' at their festival. Most dont, but some do. If you really, really want to do the exclusive thing, then explain to the local borough. However, I personally think you're better off just going for the exposure, which includes YouTube, and any horror festivals that dont require 'first showing' rights. Get it out there. Look to the next one, and beyond Smile

leilani · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 2:01 pm Post subject:

There's a little guide I posted on the forum a while back that may be of use.

http://www.scottishscreen.com/images/documents/short_film_distribution_guide.pdf

My personal view is that it doesn't pay to be too precious about it unless you've got a really high end film and are going after the very exclusive festivals and distributors. Which is in itself both time consuming and expensive.

You have to balance what you have to gain. From what you say then you would compete in a borough against a very few films for a rather good prize for a public vote (boosted no doubt by the OTT membership that is behind your project). I wouldn't hesitate.
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Ben G · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject:

Aaryk Noctivagus

Matt Compton · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject:

Thank you everybody!!

Your advice and opinions were really very appreciated and very useful.

I think in the long run it is better to just go with it and allow them to upload it. I emailed them voicing my concerns and they said that they would take it down after the public vote and such. I also got a response from Film London (who are involved in this) who have decided to now not do it on Youtube but somewhere else. So, all in all I'm much happier about the whole situation now.

Thanks again!
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Aaryk Noctivagus · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject:

Excellent

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Tim Hawkins · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 10:00 am Post subject:

The funding body that I got money from for Dream a Little Dream asked if I would be interested in doing the same thing (I'm assuming it's for the same prize). I've got a feeling that they'll pick one of the other films they funded though, I can't imagine DALD being a big Youtube hit...

As for other circumstances, I reckon it's not really in our interest to give away our hard work for free until we've exhausted other avenues.
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jasonfairley · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 2:07 pm Post subject:

That might be true but it brings me back to my original question: why have you made the film? Have you made it to be seen as much as possible? Or have you made to generate income? Or have you made it promote yourself to get a budget for a next film? Or have you made it because you simply enjoy making a film?

In only one of the above (the list is not exhaustive nor mutually exclusive) I can see reason to not put the film on YouTube -- because maybe someone somewhere won't pay you because the film's been on the web already. This hasn't been my experience for short films.

All the money I've made from my shorts films thus far adds up to so very little (peanuts) that I don't see it as a viable 'business' or other. That isn't to say you shouldn't be compensated if it's shown on TV (someone somewhere is making money from your content, then) but who's making money on YouTube? YouTube itself through its advertising? It just doesn't add up in my head. Ha ha ha, maybe that's the problem: bad accounting.

This sounds like a rant but I'm writing it calmly and as a discussion point. Hope you read it that way too! Just my opinion!

Aaryk Noctivagus · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 3:00 pm Post subject:

Every jeweller knows that the setting is at least as important as the stone.

It is not necessarilly about being precious or about money.
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jasonfairley · Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 4:56 am Post subject:

And wouldn't you know it, guess what I found in my Google Reader today!

http://advancingusability.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/owned-legal-terms-of-video-hosting-services-compared/

The blog compares video hosting companies and the rights / licenses that go with them.

Michael Stanmore · Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 7:18 am Post subject:

That's a great article Jason. Everyone read that article.
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Tom 'TX' · Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject:

Have read that article - interesting.

So really the only way to upload a video and keep in wholly yours so that nobody else can do anything with it, is to upload and host on your own website - but then you gotta somehow attract as many people to your website as you would hope would have seen your video on YouTube. Which would require advertising presumably.
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Tim Hawkins · Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject:

Wow, that was quite an eye opener. Boo Vimeo! I always got the feeling they were pretty filmmaker friendly, but I guess that's just good marketing on their behalf.
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