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full screenprintcontentsfull screenprint30 VIDEOMAKER >>> MARCH 2019
BY LANDON DYKSTERHOUSE
382 F06 Distribute Documentary.indd 30 1/21/19 10:06 AMVIDEOMAKER >>> MARCH 2019 31
How do you distribute
an independent documentary?
In 2018, documentary film enjoyed greater
mainstream success than ever before. Hence, some
are calling this the Golden Era of the genre.
N
oteworthy new documen-
taries like “Minding the
Gap” and “Bad Repu tation:
the Joan Jett documentary”
(both Sundance alums) made huge
impacts on social media and with
their theatrical runs. “Minding the
Gap” was acquired by Hulu. “Bad
Reputation” released on-demand and
on iTunes in September 2018.
There is no doubt that subscrip-
tion companies like Netfl ix and Hulu
have also helped contribute to the
revival of the doc genre. Besides
that, cable networks like CNN, HBO,
Showtime, ESPN and Fox have also
started to acquire more docs. Thus,
the demand for nonfi ction storytell-
ing has sky-rocketed.VETERAN
FILMMAKERS
SHARE THEIR
SECRETS
Together, with my dear friend and
mentor, doc director Kevin Kerslake,
we’ll share a few ways documentary
fi lms can reach audiences. We’ll also
discuss how to navigate theatrical
releases and licensing deals.
Later, we’ll review the nitty gritty
of subscription and transaction-based
online releases (also known as SVOD
and TVOD).A Doc Distribution Case-Study
I met Kerslake a few years ago at a Las
Vegas screening for a doc he direct-
ed, “As I Am: Life and Times of DJ AM.”
The fi lm is a doc feature about the late
Adam Goldstein, aka DJ AM.
Kerslake has a prestigious reputa-
tion that includes directing credits“Bad Reputation,” (top left) “El Pantera” (top right) and “As I Am” (bottom) each took a unqiue
and, at times, unexpected path to successful distribution.382 F06 Distribute Documentary.indd 31 1/21/19 10:06 AM