Entertainment Distribution and Entertainment Industry Product Fulfillment

Acting just like a television network, the online video Web site Hulu is joining with a third-party distributor to sell its original shows overseas.

The arrangement, announced Monday by Hulu and FremantleMedia Enterprises at South by Southwest, the interactive media conference, is a “first-look deal,” which means that FremantleMedia will have the first shot at shopping around Hulu’s shows to international TV channels.

FremantleMedia does the same thing for scores of other television channels and production companies; that Hulu would be one of them is evidence of Hulu’s interest in commissioning its own television-quality shows for the Web.

In a news release on Monday, Hulu and FremantleMedia said, “This is the first time an international distributor has signed such an agreement with a online video service.”

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This is a follow up to the previous post called Online Film Distribution 101 but with new entrants to the streaming market: WatchFilm, PreScreen, Constellation and FilmDIY. They each have a slightly different approach and here I just focus on what’s important.  I am eager to hear your thoughts on them, whether you’d consider using them or you have used them.

WatchFilm

A new entrant to the streaming video scene, WatchFilm is comparable to Dynamo and Distrify. They take a cut, have no monthly fee, seem to be focused on the UK as the currency they use when I looked at it last was Pounds Sterling. Of the four, WatchFilm takes the least as of this writing, in the neighbourhood of 25% I believe. The viewer sees a trailer of the film then can buy or rent  your film for 24 hours.  They also support iPhone, iPad and other mobile devices.

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The little Roku box that 2.5 million consumers use in their living rooms to stream movies or TV shows from the Internet has become a thorn in the side of pay television.

With a small minority of consumers “cutting the cord,” or ditching their cable service, the Roku box has become one of the popular ways for consumers to stream Internet video onto their TVs. What started out as a box designed to stream content for Netflix Inc. has become one of the easier ways to get rid of cable service.

But Anthony Wood, the founder of the 150-employee start-up in Saratoga, Calif., doesn’t really see it that way. The company, which is about to launch in Canada, just on the heels of last month’s entry into the United Kingdom, tries to be a friend to all: cable and satellite companies, content providers, broadcast TV, even television manufacturers.

“We try very hard to be the happy, friendlier partner,” said Wood, who is also Roku’s chief executive. He noted that only about 35% of Roku’s customers have canceled cable or scaled back on their subscriptions. But unlike rival Boxee, “We don’t promote our box specifically for cord cutting.”

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Evan Agostini/AP

Clearly there aren’t enough videos on the Internet. In February, the streaming giants Hulu and Netflix branched into original programming, with Hulu launching the comedy Battleground a week after Netflix unveiled its drama Lilyhammer. Despite their proclamations that this is the first step toward replacing regular TV, both shows reflect just how little money the companies are willing or able to invest: Lilyhammer takes place in Norway so that Norwegian television can pick up a lot of the tab, while Battleground creator J.D. Walsh joked, “Wait, other shows have a writers’s room?” to TV Guide. But with TV content less readily available to Web services, this may be the first step toward planning for the future: like cable companies, the Web firms realize that original content is a more durable investment than reruns.

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Boxee’s live TV dongle has only been available for a few weeks, but the company is already embroiled in a fight with cable giants like Comcast and Time Warner Cable over it, and it is now getting support from groups like Public Knowledge and the Consumer Electronics Association.

At the core of the issue is whether cable companies should be allowed to encrypt their basic cable programming, something that existing regulation doesn’t allow. Unencrypted signals can be used by tuners built into most modern TV sets as well as equipment like Boxee’s live TV tuner to access these basic cable channels straight from the coax cable that comes out of your wall, without the need for any set-top box.

Cable companies have asked the FCC for waivers to these restrictions, arguing that encrypted channels would reduce piracy and that encrypted cable connections can be remotely serviced, eliminating the need for many service visits. The FCC is currently hearing all sides of the issue as it contemplates whether to do away with the restrictions and allow all cable companies to encrypt basic cable. Boxee has filed multiple letters with the commission and met with its staff last week.

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There are millions trying their luck every year, while only a few hundred movies are ever produced and receive distribution. But it is possible. The best way to break in to Hollywood is to make your own movie. Here are six clear steps for making it happen:

(A word of warning: It won’t be easy, but it will be possible, if you follow these guidelines.)

Write a script: There are hundreds of books available–some better than others–for how to write your own movie script. Read the reviews and the endorsements before choosing one. Of course, the best route to go is through reading actual screenplays, both good and bad. It’s much more effective than learning theory alone.

Assemble cast and crew: Seek out talented actors and crew. You can start with local college or university drama programs. If you must splurge on talent, make sure it is a quality director of photography. A film with the right look can overcome many other problems associated with cast and crew, because your film will look polished.

Set aside days for filming: Make sure that everyone understands the schedule, and that you have surrounded yourself with individuals who will be committed to honoring the time obligations. Once everyone is on the same page, use your days of filming to get as much done as possible. Have cast and crew eat meals on set, and if possible, lodge there as well. If you can’t, at least make sure that everyone is within a reasonable driving distance to the location.

Focus on editing: Once you have shot all the footage, it becomes your primary task to edit the footage into a coherent and compelling feature. This is where the movie is truly made. It used to be a much more difficult process that involved scissors and tape. Today, most editing chores can be handled more efficiently by computer.

Enter festivals: Once your film is “in the can,” so to speak, you will need to get it noticed. Distributors often pay attention to film festivals for finding the next hidden gem. Enter yours in as many prestigious festivals as possible. Tribeca and Sundance are two of the most recognizable, but they’re definitely not the stopping point. Start with local festivals and try to build steam and word-of-mouth.

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Here’s a quick primer on making your film available for download or streaming. Download means you make it so that your film will reside on someone’s computer or device. Depending on someone’s internet connection it might take a while for them to access your content, however, this method is good in that once your audience has it, they have it and in high quality. Your film won’t be subject to choppy video, stops and starts etc.

In order to do this all you need is to upload your film to your website, create a link to the file and it’s available for people to download. iTunes is another popular way to make your content available for download onto a PC. iTunes only works with aggregators to get film content, unlike music where they are far more open. So you will have to submit your film to an aggregator who will then submit it to iTunes for approval. Examples of aggregators are Indieflix, Distribber and New Video Group. Oh, that’s another thing to notice, Apple has to approve your film. This process is not instantaneous but I have heard 2 weeks is about the average amount of time. There are ways around this though.

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Movie distribution is changing fast. A few years back, it was impossible to get your movie seen and sold without finding a traditional distributor willing to take a gamble with your title. And in those days, if you did not garner a deal, your movie died in quiet obscurity.

Thankfully the era of modern movie distribution has arrived. With companies like distribber (full disclosure – they pay me to promote), filmmakers can now access popular marketplaces without asking permission. This means, that unlike the old days where you based your business plan on the Sundance lottery, you can now plan a marketing and sales strategy that YOU control.

While both iTunes and Amazon are awesome marketplaces for filmmakers, one of the most exciting outlets to emerge on the indie scene is Hulu. Unlike the other marketplaces, Hulu does not require viewers to enter a credit card to access your content. They make their money on advertising. This means that once you get your movie into Hulu, a viewer can find your content and watch it without obstacles.

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Boxee will give you the ability to share what you’re watching straight to Facebook with a new expansion of the integration of the service into its software. Those of you with the Live TV dongle attached to your Boxee Boxes will be able to share without leaving the TV program.

I managed to catch a glimpse of it at Showstoppers at CES 2012 and thought that it was pretty cool. It’s definitely the way that things need to go in my book because I don’t always want a second screen when I’m watching but I do like to share what it is I’ve got my eyeballs on (I use GetGlue because they offer free stickers and I’m a sucker for stickers).