IFH 196: Total Transparency: How Much Revenue Can a $100K Indie Film REALLY Generate with Liz Manashil
Please Note: Once you press play it will take a few seconds for the episode to start playing.
Total Transparency: How Much Revenue Can a $100K Indie Film Generate with Liz Manashil
Have you ever wondered how much revenue a real indie film can make in the marketplace? Wouldn’t you like to see the real and raw numbers for a nontheatrical film with no major film festival premieres? Today’s guest has been brave enough to do just that. Filmmaker Liz Manashil decided to open up the accounting books on her debut feature film Bread and Butter, starring SNL’s Bobby Moynihan and Lauren Lapkus.
Liz Manashil earned her B.A. in Film and Media Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, and her M.F.A. from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. Post-graduation, Liz spent several years as a film critic for the PBS/Hulu series JUST SEEN IT (which she also helped produce and direct). Overlapping this, Liz worked with distribution guru Peter Broderick.
Her debut feature, BREAD AND BUTTER, was called “an absolute must-watch for women everywhere” by HelloGiggles. It was released by The Orchard and can be seen on VOD nearly everywhere (including Hulu!). Liz is currently in pre-production on her next feature film, SPEED OF LIFE, and lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Laura Palmer, and her partner, Sean Wright. She is the Manager of Sundance Institute’s Creative Distribution Initiative.
Here’s the breakdown (taken from her amazing article on Moviemaker Magazine:
Our film, Bread and Butter, is a digital success. A digital success you’ve never heard of.
Let’s break it down.
- Our film cost $100,000 to make
- We grossed $96,000 a little bit more than a year into our release (and we’re still making deals)
- Our distributor did have a marketing spend but we invested in no other resources outside of that (other than me running our social media campaigns and newsletter)
- We got two airline deals, two SVOD deals, and decent promotion of transactional and cable VOD
- We’re operating in the black with the distributor’s marketing spend and heading toward eventual recoupment in terms of our expenses
In an age where people debate the utility of making independent feature films, there is hope.
I had a ball speaking to Liz and we get into the weeds on traditional distribution and self-distribution. If you want to sell you film in the marketplace perk up your ears and take some notes. Enjoy my conversation with Liz Manashil.
Right-click here to download the MP3
Download on iTunes Direct
Watch on IFH YouTube Channel
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Liz Manashil – Official Site
- Liz Manashil – Email
- Bread and Butter – VHX
- Bread and Butter – Amazon
- Sundance Creative Distribution Initiative
SPONSORS
- Tailorsound.com (IFH TRIBE DISCOUNT 15% OFF – (Just type HUSTLE anywhere in “Post Your Brief” section)
- Rise of the Filmtrepreneur®: How to Turn Your Indie Film into a Moneymaking Business
- Rise of the Filmtrepreneur®: FREE AUDIOBOOK
- Indie Film Hustle TV (Streaming Real-World Film Education)
- Alex Ferrari’s Shooting for the Mob (Based on the Incredible True Filmmaking Story)
REAL-WORLD STREAMING FILM EDUCATION
- Indie Film Hustle TV (Streaming Real-World Film Education)
- Hollywood Film School: Filmmaking & TV Directing Masterclass
- Filmmaker in a Box – Learn How to Make an Indie Film – 18 Hours+ of Lessons
- Storytelling Blueprint: Hero’s Two Journeys
- The Dialogue Series: 38 hours of Lessons from Top Hollywood Screenwriters
FILMMAKING RESOURCES
- Filmtrepreneur® Podcast
- Bulletproof Screenwriting® Podcast
- Six Secrets to getting into Film Festivals for FREE!
- FreeFilmBook.com (Download Your FREE Filmmaking Audio Book)
Action Items:
- Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud or via RSS.
If you liked Total Transparency: How Much Revenue Can a $100K Indie Film REALLY Generate, then you’ll love:
Enjoyed Total Transparency: How Much Revenue a $100K Film REALLY Generates with Liz Manashil? Please share it in your social networks (Facebook, Twitter, email etc) by using social media buttons at the side or bottom of the blog. Or post to your blog and anywhere else you feel it would be a good fit. Thanks.
I welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the comments section below…
Get Social with Indie Film Hustle:
Facebook: Indie Film Hustle
Twitter: @indiefilmhustle
Instagram: @ifilmhustle
Podcasts You Should Be Listening To:
Podcast: Indie Film Hustle Podcast
Podcast: Bulletproof Screenwriting Podcast
Podcast: The Filmtrepreneur® Podcast
Stuff You Need in Your Life:
IFHTV: Indie Film Hustle TV
Book: Rise of the Filmtrepreneur®: How to Turn Your Indie Film into a Moneymaking Business
Book: Shooting for the Mob (Based on the Incredible True Filmmaking Story)
Please note some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase or use a service. Understand that I have experience with all of these services, products, and companies, and I recommend them because they’re extremely helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I earn if you decide to buy something.
Facebook Comments