| Do you love scripting and shooting movies? Do you | | | | as the web viewer's attention span is very short. So |
| have a movie that has a spellbinding storyline but not | | | | Atom Films succeeds in bringing the information and |
| quite sure how to market it? Well, you have probably | | | | video content to the viewer as quickly as possible. |
| heard about and their phenomenal success hosting | | | | There's nothing worse than a mile long registration |
| virals on their web site. It started out very small, on a | | | | form or links that send you round a map before |
| shoestring budget, and grew over just a few years | | | | reaching the required information. Visitors to sites like |
| into a business worth millions. Shooting video for fun | | | | Atom Films want to get their movie hosted and |
| has been a commonplace global pastime for years. | | | | displayed as quickly as possible. |
| Even back in the 80s there was 'Candid Camera', and | | | | IFilm sports a huge collection of genres, up to the |
| a host of video clip shows on TV. The clips shown on | | | | minute trailers, competitions and is a very informative |
| TV like UK's 'People do the Funniest things' are no | | | | site that is very easy to navigate. There are hundreds |
| more than 1 minute in length. Soon, broadband speeds | | | | of streams a month on this very busy site. iFilm makes |
| allowed for the hosting and transmission of these clips | | | | heavy use of advertising but it never intrudes on your |
| on the web. No advertising costs, just a web site with | | | | viewing or tries to force you to watch any of the ads. |
| a video clip embedded. | | | | This is an important consideration since no movie lover |
| This accessibility has placed virals in the public eye as | | | | likes interruptions or intermissions. I tend to believe that |
| anyone with a broadband connection can upload a | | | | an intermission is an interruption, but that's me. Most |
| video. The internet is displaying that there is a | | | | films are no more than 10 minutes in length, and there is |
| convergence occurring between the web and | | | | a healthy mix comprising amateur and professional |
| television. This gap is becoming thinner each year as | | | | productions. You will discover that iFilm has a wide |
| Internet TV and virals have become a huge source of | | | | category range. Their most innovative part in my view |
| public entertainment. | | | | is how the site with the support of cable channel VH1 |
| So who is actively involved in online movie production | | | | has managed to pioneer the first transitions from the |
| work? Actually, the list is almost exhaustive. There is | | | | internet to TV. VH1 hosts Wen Junk 2, an |
| the exciting iFilm site which reaches a worldwide | | | | accumulation of viral videos from the iFilm web site |
| distribution of film fanatics for just one online example. | | | | shown on TV. These virals are targeted at anyone |
| While scrolling across the internet, looking for evidence | | | | with some real creativity. From blundering cam |
| of online hosting, many sites emerged helping | | | | movements to blundering actors, the videos make for |
| filmmakers showcase their movies. One of the biggest | | | | a hysterical night in and it is worth watching if you like |
| players is Atom films who organise competitions and | | | | watching these types of shorts. |
| also offer promotional services to distributors at film | | | | CustomFlix offers a slightly different and enterprising |
| festivals on an annual basis. | | | | approach to marketing movies on the web from pros |
| Why does this business work? | | | | and fledglings. This site offers the full ensemble upon |
| 1. The power of the internet shows its weight by being | | | | receiving your movie. They will produce an e-store |
| able to connect filmmakers across the world. | | | | which is a web page detailing your biography and |
| 2. The internet allows movies from amateur and | | | | movie details. Additionally, they offer DVD production |
| independent filmmakers around the world to be seen | | | | for offline publishing needs. For a budget, you can be |
| on web pages. This gives them the ability to share | | | | selling your DVD movie on your web page very |
| their work with a broader audience. | | | | quickly using their On-Demand DVD service. The only |
| 3. Utilising Movie hosts, video enthusiasts use the | | | | difference is that you can't upload your movie, it must |
| internet as a weapon to submit their work to many | | | | be sent on DVD or CD to the company, but that's a |
| people on a worldwide level. | | | | fair request on viewing the services on offer. As far |
| This is not just a forum for people who just want to | | | | as stock is concerned, your movie is available on |
| host a short clip, but also benefits the professional | | | | demand with no inventory costs over a 24 hour period. |
| filmmaker. This is achieved by beginning the first steps | | | | As the copywriter of Customflix admirably states on |
| in front of the needed movie production industry | | | | the home page: |
| contacts. The filmmaker presents movie ideas directly | | | | '….revolutionary new way to distribute your film |
| and can talk to people with the same energy on these | | | | and video worldwide.' |
| web sites like Atom Films. Together, they can | | | | The services certainly live up to that statement. Not |
| constructively and collectively criticize their movies in | | | | only will they do all the shipping, but they will take care |
| online forums regardless of geographical location. | | | | of the DVD replication on sales for you too. It is an |
| Filmmakers perform networking by attending film | | | | amazing service and one that rivals its competitors |
| festivals and actively engaging in online filmmaking | | | | with the presentation of the end product being |
| forums like NMD's forum. The goal is to bring the | | | | distributed on DVD, and accompanied by a web site |
| filmmakers in the film making community closer | | | | for the moviemaker. |
| together so that they can share ideas and present | | | | The site uses a content driven strategy that allows the |
| their work to a wide audience - the World Wide Web. | | | | download of free guides and also access to |
| Thus this creates a great place to learn and promote | | | | professional help. Though, the site doesn't rely on pure |
| film making at its best. | | | | information to draw its customer base, making for a |
| Here are some online businesses other than YouTube | | | | more targeted audience interested in bulk production or |
| that have made their commercial success from | | | | viewing. The video shop is the place to look for movies |
| hosting video for filmmakers. These are chosen based | | | | to watch and is a little bit of marketing genius as you |
| on their influence and support for filmmakers and their | | | | choose your selection of movies that you want |
| recognition of the diversity in this field. | | | | compiled onto a DVD. Of course DVD can store a |
| Atom films has progressed from a back room desk to | | | | whole host of video clips, so you could order many |
| a flourishing global business in just 7 years. It is | | | | movies in this way. Again, there are both amateur and |
| probably the most successful short movie host and | | | | pro productions to choose from. You will not find 'King |
| distributor on the web with hundreds of videos in many | | | | Kong' or 'Chronicles of Narnia' here; this is not a |
| genres that you can either watch online. Atom films | | | | mainstream movie site. It hosts independent |
| has grown into a site that not only hosts video but also | | | | productions from filmmakers expressing their talents at |
| offers distribution services to effective promotional | | | | a variety of genres. But like the two other sites |
| mediums like the international film festivals. There are | | | | discussed previously, do not confuse independent with |
| sections showing the top five movies in each genre | | | | bad quality, the best filmmakers came from short |
| according to the ratings selected by the viewer on | | | | movie production like Steven Spielberg, Wes Craven, |
| opening the movie. Thus, this allows for great | | | | and Francis Coppola to name just a few. |
| promotional power for the short movie maker directly | | | | So if that does not inspire you, I do not know what |
| from the home page. Registration is very easy and | | | | will…. Good luck if you are inspired. |
| takes just a minute, very important aspect to consider | | | | |