FT 056: How Much Revenue Can a $100K Indie Film REALLY Generate with Liz Manashil

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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 the 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 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 your film in the marketplace perk up your ears and take some notes. Enjoy my conversation with Liz Manashil.

IFH Academy’s Film Distribution: Confidential Course

I’m also announcing the BETA Launch of IFH Academy’s Film Distribution: Confidential Course.

As part of the BETA team you will get:

Massive discount for early adopters
Be the first to see new lessons as I create them
Access to me during the creation of the course
Give feedback on the lessons and request new lessons

I want this course to be the most comprehensive course on film distribution anywhere in the world and having you be part of the BETA Team will help me do that.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED launch. I’m only making 100 seats available during the BETA Launch. Once they fill up the window will close.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW.

To access the BETA Version of IFH Academy’s Film Distribution: Confidential Course – CLICK HERE

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LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

DONATE to Feed America to help with people affected by the Coronavirus
IFH Academy’s Film Distribution: Confidential Course – BETA LAUNCH
Liz Manashil – Official Site
Liz Manashil – Email
Bread and Butter – VHX
DVD Manufacturing On-Demand Service – Allied Vaughn

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FILMMAKING RESOURCES

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