self distributionHi Gary, I can sympathize with the “tough business” remark. But libraries are not at fault for the realities of the marketplace, which they had no real hand in creating. The longstanding fact is that no library pays full retail for the latest Stephen King novel. And there’s no difference with DVD/Blu-ray: libraries who are not buying from Amazon, Baker & Taylor, Midwest, etc. *when the title is available in retail and discount priced"* are not being very wise stewards of taxpayer monies, plain and simple.
Best, Randy Randy Pitman Publisher/Editor Video Librarian 3435 NE Nine Boulder Dr. Poulsbo, WA 98370 Tel: (360) 626-1259 Fax (360) 626-1260 E-mail: vid...@videolibrarian.com Web: www.videolibrarian.com From: gary jenkins Sent: Friday, August 31, 2012 12:10 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] self distribution I produced a film about slave life in Missouri. I once had a guy work off a list of midwest and African American studies librarians (Richard Dill) and he worked like crazy and he is a good sales guy who wants to get into the doc film business. He did not sell one of my films about slave life and culture in Missouri. I did have some unexplained sales on Amazon (7-8) during that time. I sold my film on slave life to a local library and then did a film about the Underground Railroad on the Missouri Kansas border that was of higher production values. I submitted it to the same buyer and he did not buy it. When I asked, he really did not have a reason, and advised this is a "tough business." He is right about that. When libraries buy from Amazon, the film producer gets a very small royalty. Gary Jenkins www.lifedocumentaries.com 4442 Fairmount Kansas City, Missouri 64111 816-931-3535 816-931-2908 (fax) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Rachel Gordon <rac...@energizedfilms.com> To: video lib listserv <videolib@lists.berkeley.edu> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2012 6:29 AM Subject: [Videolib] self distribution Self-distribution…ah…one of the most complicated things to explain to someone just starting to figure things out. But please tell this person that the good thing about education is that you can take your time to figure things out. Unlike other markets, you can go slow and ask as many questions as you want because there is longer usage of your content in education than in the commercial environment. The first thing I’d say to anyone is that if you’re not willing to devote at least a year to it – either by yourself or with an assistant or intern – that you basically want to go with a distributor. Some time ago I wrote an article for Shooting People on whether to choose self-distribution or not. I’m not suggesting to read it because I wrote it, but because it gives a sense of the investment they are in for. Best of luck! Rachel Rachel Gordon Energized Films www.energizedfilms.com VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
