ErinLaing.com

I’m listening to a great panel discussion from this year’s Sundance Film Festival on digital distribution. It’s moderated by cinematech’s Scott Kirsner.

Matt Dentler (who is one of seven panelists) makes an interesting statement. He says: “don’t be afraid of free streaming.”

What he’s referring to is the approach his company took with the documentary “The Times of Harvey Milk“. Cinetic Rights Management offered the documentary on iTunes and Amazon VOD where it was the most popular download for several consecutive weeks. Then they decided to offer it for free on Hulu. What happened? It was the most popular video on iTunes, Amazon and Hulu.

“It’s all about consumer taste. It’s about giving them variety,” Dentler said.

Everyone is still trying to figure out how to capitalize off the internet. There’s no established business model and it sometimes feels like the wild west when it comes to online distribution.

There’s the inevitable tug of war between the old and the new models. There’s the battle to convince those who resist or are afraid. There’s the struggle to receive the same attention (or respect) from the old establishment which is sometimes necessary in order to succeed. There are no figures. There are no massive profits (depending on which side you’re looking from). There is no ‘right’ way. But it is the future and eventually (as history has proven time and time again) there will be a new model - and people will either be ready for it or not.

“Change is the one quality we can predicate of it. The systems that fail are those that rely on the permanency of human nature, and not its growth and development.” – Oscar Wilde

Full interview (recorded on Kirsner’s iPhone): Experiments in Indie Distribution (mp3)