Let’s be clear here: Docks is a funny movie. But the film will never get accepted in the commercial film community. The main inhibitor here is the lack of continuity in the film.
We’ve been shooting this for months. Haircuts happen. Clothes change. Hats alternate. If it wasn’t for that, there’s the offchance of this being picked up by a production house. But you know, when people are /volunteering/ their time to you, and volunteering it alot, it’s too much to start intruding into their personal lives – to prevent them from getting certain cuts, or to get hairstylists to do whatnot. Especially when you have 8 principle characters. In fact, it’s downright abusive to have such expectations.
Still, it’s a comedy, and a pretty decent one. It would be the type of video that would get seen alot if it were on YouTube. So what’s the best way of getting visibility, while not ripping people off for what amounts to an amateur student film?
Release a streaming version for free, that’s what – Google Video style. Go through the university channels, that’s what. Have a premiere at the university, all students invited. Promote it for what it is!
At the same time, I’ll produce DVDs for those interested in getting a more permanent copy, while having watermark advertising on the streaming version. There’ll be my sources of revenue.
It doesn’t matter how much I make. I made this for fun. I thought it might be a profitable venture at first, and the experience I’ve gained has taught me otherwise.
Stanley Kubrick once said that the best education in movie-making was to make one yourself. He was right, the experience I’ve gained here has been invaluable.