Indie Rights Explained

Indie Rights, Inc.
Parent:Nelson Madison Films (est. 2003)
Type:Distributor and producer of independent films
Key People:Linda Nelson (CEO)
Michael Madison (COO)
Foundation:2007
Location:825 S Hill Street, #604
Los Angeles, California
United States
Industry:Film
Products:Motion pictures

Indie Rights, Inc. is an American distributor of independent films, based in Los Angeles, California. Indie Rights is a subsidiary of Nelson Madison Films and was incorporated in 2007 to act as distributor for other independent filmmakers.[1] The corporation began as a private MySpace group where the makers of independent films could get information about the changing face of film distribution; founders Linda Nelson and Michael Madison created Indie Rights so that distribution contracts could be signed by a legal entity. The corporation distributes films largely through video on demand services, though more recently it has overseen such theatrical releases as We Are Kings and Fray, both in 2014.

Nelson Madison Films has produced three features: Bigger Than Live (2002), Shifted (2006) and Delivered (2011).

History

Background

Linda Nelson is a former investment banker and computer systems analyst based in Los Angeles since 1980; Michael Madison moved there in 1999 from Duncanville, Texas, to work as an actor and film producer.[2] They first partnered in 2000 to create and distribute the NSYNC concert film Bigger Than Live for IMAX theaters. In 2003, they formed their own company with the goal of making independent features using local talent. Madison acts and handles writing, producing and directing duties; Nelson writes and produces while developing distribution plans for other filmmakers.

Lawsuit and recovery

Bigger Than Live broke even during its theatrical run, but Nelson and Madison "failed to tie up the necessary rights in our initial contract" and lost home video distribution in a lawsuit that shut down their production office. They moved into "more humble digs" and tried again with the crime thriller Shifted, learning the ins and outs of distribution while attending film festivals. Nelson soon discovered that the chances of getting a film seen at a major festival such as Sundance or Cannes without having connections in the industry "are slim to nothing." The company began a private group on MySpace called Indie Co-op, where filmmakers could get details on self-distribution, including attendance at smaller festivals where films are likely to benefit from local coverage and reviews.

Nelson believed that film distributors didn't have any systems for accountability in place,[3] and that they tended to buy the rights to entire catalogs rather than individual films, so she and Madison decided to do it themselves. Since they needed a legal entity to make distribution contracts valid,[4] they incorporated Indie Rights in 2007.[5] Nelson said doing both film production and distribution gives them a greater understanding of the challenges that filmmakers face than would a company that focuses only on distribution.

Film distribution

Indie Rights distributes globally to on demand platforms such as Amazon Video, Google Play, Hulu and iTunes,[6] where filmmakers can earn up to 80 percent of the revenue.[7] Innovations include searchable film rentals on YouTube and through video game consoles. In 2014, the company was the first independent studio included on M–GO, a subscription service supported by six major studios that offers films for home viewing while they are playing in theaters.

Filmmaker and Baylor University professor Christopher Hansen turned to Indie Rights in 2015 when his film Where We Started failed to make the major festival circuit. After a short run at the Arena Cinema Hollywood led to favorable reviews, the film was released via digital platforms.[8] Theatrical releases by Indie Rights also include 9 Full Moons (2013), featuring Amy Seimetz and Harry Dean Stanton;[9] We Are Kings, the feature-film debut of America's Got Talent winner Bianca Ryan;[10], Move Me No Mountain (2023), and Druid Peak, starring Spencer Treat Clark and winner of Best Feature Film at the 2014 Omaha Film Festival.[11]

Indie Rights became part of the Independent Online Distribution Alliance in 2008,[12] and is a member of the Independent Film & Television Alliance,[13] which presents the American Film Market each year in November. Nelson and Madison also conduct seminars for independent filmmakers looking to build an audience through social networking.[14] In 2016, Indie Rights launched its own subscription channel available through services including Roku.[15]

Filmmaking

Starting in 2010, the budgetary constraints of independent film-making required that Nelson Madison Films go tapeless. Delivered, their second "crime thriller", was their first to utilize Red Digital Cinema cameras and Adobe CS5 production software.[16] Madison directed, and played the lead role in an "uneven performance" where "at times he's spot-on".[17]

Films

By early 2018, Indie Rights had distributed a catalog of more than 450 films.[18] The list includes:

See also

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Osiris Adds To Its Indie Library . Graser . Marc . . April 12, 2009 . September 27, 2014.
  2. News: Meyer . John P. . DVD Review and Commentary: Shifted, By Nelson Madison Films . . February 2, 2007 . September 29, 2014.
  3. Web site: Thompson . Anne . Anne Thompson On Hollywood: Independent Films Going Online . Variety . April 13, 2007 . September 27, 2014.
  4. Web site: Courshon . Jerome . Interview with Indie Rights . The Secrets to Distribution . September 26, 2014.
  5. Web site: Indie Rights Inc – Glendale, CA – Business Profile. Dun & Bradstreet. October 12, 2014.
  6. Web site: Kendrick . Tommy G. . 047 ATP Intro to VOD Distribution with Linda Nelson . Actors Talk . January 2014 . September 29, 2014.
  7. News: Koungoulos. Afrodite. Take Two Film Festival to support independent creators. Spectator Publishing. Columbia Daily Spectator. New York City. April 13, 2007. April 9, 2018.
  8. Web site: Kosek. Jane Kelly. Q&A with Christopher Hansen, Writer/Director of Where We Started. All About Indie Filmmaking. June 19, 2015. July 14, 2015.
  9. Web site: 9 Full Moons . . September 27, 2014.
  10. News: Rechtshaffen . Michael . Review: We Are Kings Has Heart of Blues but Misses Art of Filmmaking . . September 19, 2014 . September 19, 2014.
  11. Web site: Results From the 2014 OFF. Omaha Film Festival. July 21, 2016.
  12. News: Hoffman. Jessica. IODA Expands Video and Film Distribution Network Onto Amazon. Marketwired. June 26, 2008 . October 20, 2014.
  13. Web site: IFTA Members 2018. Independent Film & Television Alliance. Winter 2018. April 8, 2018.
  14. Web site: Industry Panels Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles. Eventbrite. October 21, 2014. Web site: A Day of Free Industry Panels and Seminars. Burbank International Film Festival. October 21, 2014.
  15. Web site: Indie Rights Movies. Roku Channel Store. October 8, 2016. April 8, 2018.
  16. Web site: Blair . Iain . Special Delivery: Using RED Cameras, Adobe CS5 and Social-Networking Sites Like Facebook and YouTube, Delivered Could Be the Next Model for Indie Film . HDVideoPro. October 20, 2010 . September 26, 2014.
  17. Web site: Bell . Mark . Delivered . Film Threat . February 15, 2012 . October 8, 2014.
  18. Web site: Indie Rights. Independent Film & Television Alliance. The Film Catalogue. April 8, 2017.
  19. News: Yeghiayan . Michael. Glendale: Ready for Its Close Up. Crescenta Valley Weekly. August 8, 2013. October 1, 2014.
  20. Web site: 2011 2nd Annual Reel Independent Film Extravaganza Event Recap. Reel Independent Film Extravaganza. 2011. November 20, 2014.
  21. Web site: 2011 Indie Gathering Winners. Indie Gathering International Film Festival. 2011. November 20, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150106201316/http://www.theindiegathering.com/page23.php. January 6, 2015. dead.
  22. Web site: 'Indie Rights': Movies & TV . . September 26, 2014.
  23. News: Parks . Louis B. . Banquet Brings WorldFest to Close . . April 18, 2011 . September 29, 2014.
  24. Web site: Dreams on Spec . IndiePix Unlimited. September 26, 2014.
  25. Web site: Ekaj. Amazon.com . May 23, 2019.
  26. Web site: Entwinement . Solarus Films . September 28, 2014.
  27. Web site: Awards . LA Film, TV & Webisode Festival . September 29, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131103052852/http://lafilmtvnewmediafestival.com/Awards.html . November 3, 2013 . dead .
  28. Web site: Flesh on Fire: Addicted to a Dream . gofobo . Entertainment Printing Services . October 8, 2014.
  29. Web site: Awards. UK Film Festival. July 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20121130015904/http://ukfilmfestival.com/awards/. November 30, 2012. dead.
  30. Web site: 2012 Arizona International Film Festival Best of Category . . September 27, 2014 . October 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131016010615/http://www.filmfestivalarizona.com/2012/festivalawards.php . dead .
  31. Web site: Williams' 'OzLand' picked up for distribution . The Dispatch . 10 October 2015 . October 28, 2016.
  32. Web site: Shifted . Amazon.com . October 8, 2014.
  33. Web site: Skid Row . IndiePix Unlimited . September 26, 2014.
  34. Web site: Los Angeles New Wave International Film Festival Fall 2011/Spring 2012 Festival Winners . lanewwave.com . September 26, 2014.
  35. Web site: We Make Movies . . July 3, 2017.
  36. Web site: Watch the Forgiving | Prime Video. 2020-12-05. www.amazon.com.
  37. Web site: Watch Goodbye, Petrushka | Prime Video. 2022-10-27. www.amazon.com.

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