joiningthedots.tv Independent Film For Independent People

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joiningthedots.tvIndependent Film For
Independent People

• Tim Sparke
• Mercury Media
• Presented to AIDC
• February 21st 2008

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Background

• December 2006
• Study shows 0.1 of weekly UK prime-time
  programming is acquired documentary
• Loose Change 2 attracts 4 million viewers on
  google video
• Idea for documentary portal begins to form -
  based around independently sourced film and
  combined with existing print offerings.
• Clear interest in docs online yet broadcaster
  reluctance to support genre on TV.

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Background

• March 2007
• Commence site build with technology partner
  -Aggregator TV.
• Attract interest of Guardian Newspaper.
• Decision
• 50/50 Partnership with Aggregator.
• Guardian reject concept of site as unworkable.
• Start acquiring documentary films for site

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Background

• Launch April 2007
• Cost 100,000
• Delivery 40 Docs for download only service from
  350 offered.
• May 2007 Aggregator goes bankrupt
• site collapses!
• July 2007 New technical partner MPS
  Broadband found
• Independent
  Newspaper now interested

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Today

• February 2008 Soft launch of new service.
• Offering 50 films with 100 new films including
  Oscar winners and nominees in process of coming
  on stream.
• Independent service to launch Spring 2008 melding
  on-line journalism with documentary.
• Significant marketing budget support contracted.
• Agreement with major Movie House to launch 1 film
  per month from site theatrically in the UK.

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What Are We Looking For?

• Author Driven Docs with a point of view that fit
  into any one of our eight strands.
• Outstanding production values coupled with great
  storytelling.
• No subject off limits
• Ideal length 50 - 100 minutes.
• Delivered in DVD format.
• Non-exclusive streaming and download rights
  download to burn rights in future.
• Can accept territory exclusions as site can be
  geo filtered/blocked but must be available for
  most countries we are a world-wide site!
• Realistic expectations from producers and
  distributors..

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What Do We Offer?

• Opportunity to have your film seen by a worldwide
  audience
• For producers 30 net revenue royalty split
  after streaming, VAT and currency costs. More for
  distributors offering 10 titles. No upfront
  advances yet!
• Possibility of UK theatrical window for top
  titles.
• Marketing and Editorial support from major
  branded worldwide newspaper.
• TV buyers already taking notice of films on site.
  Web stats will increasingly inform buying
  decisions.

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Audience Opportunity

• A haven away from Big Media. A club for doc
  lovers.
• Great films made by great film-makers. List of
  producers/distributors already committed reads
  like a whos who of documentary film.
• Off limits subjects available 24/7. An online
  film festival.
• A place where the power of film on the Internet
  can create interest, and lead to informed,
  real-time discussion.

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Challenges

• Persuading Audiences to pay for documentary
  films online where there is no tradition of doing
  so.
• JTD offering needs to be persuasive - content,
  branding, and viewer experience needs to meet
  expectations.
• Has to work alongside Big-Media - complimentary
  not competitive.
• Audience interactivity coupled with technological
  advances will drive success.
• Opportunity to raise production funding for new
  films through membership base.

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Conclusion

• The traditional distribution model (theatrical
  DVDTV Internet) is dead. A new model (Internet
  DVD/TVtheatrical) is emerging
• Joiningthedots.tv is just one place for
  documentaries online, though the public has yet
  to feel comfortable paying for content in the way
  they pay for DVDs. This will come with set-top
  box distribution.
• Specialised audience interest groups can find
  content on niche topics easily on the Internet.
• Email, blogs and forums are the new water-cooler
• Broadcasters do take notice of what is going on
  online Successful Internet distribution can lead
  to mainstream success.
• The internet represents a new uncontrolled
  universe which threatens the very basis of
  traditional media control
• We are at the very beginning of the online
  journey your future as film-makers will be
  increasingly governed by its development.