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