AI, or artificial intelligence, is starting to change the way people make movies—especially for filmmakers who have little or no budget. In indie (or independent) films, which often have tight budgets and small crews, AI is becoming a powerful tool that allows people to make professional-looking movies without spending a lot of money. Here’s how…
Category: business
Self-Distribution and Independent Film: Navigating the Path to Success
For independent filmmakers, getting a film made is only half the battle. The real challenge often lies in getting that film out into the world and seen by an audience. With the rise of digital platforms, self-distribution has emerged as a viable path for filmmakers to take control of their work, manage their own distribution,…
Few Hollywood directors attend or graduate from film school
The percentage of Hollywood directors who attend and graduate from film schools. Attendance at Film Schools Graduation Rates Key Considerations Notable Examples Conclusion While a significant minority of Hollywood directors have formal film education, many achieve success through alternative routes that emphasize practical experience, networking, and personal initiative. The landscape of filmmaking is diverse, and…
Set up SPF and DKIM for your email / domain using GreenGeeks
To set up SPF and DKIM for your email domain using GreenGeeks, log in to your cPanel, navigate to the “Email” section, and use the “Email Deliverability” feature to generate and add the necessary SPF and DKIM records to your DNS settings; you can usually “Repair” your domain to automatically configure these records based on…
Set Up an Email Account on GreenGeeks
GreenGeeks is primarily a web hosting service, and they offer email accounts as part of their hosting packages. If you’re looking to set up a free email account, you generally need a domain name and hosting plan through GreenGeeks. They don’t provide standalone free email services like Gmail or Yahoo, but if you already have…
Why Indie Filmmakers Are Turning Away from Hollywood—and How NewStarr Can Help
If you’ve spent any time keeping up with Hollywood lately, you’ve probably noticed something’s off. The big studios aren’t what they used to be. Instead of delivering compelling characters and stories that make you care, they’re more focused on political agendas and rehashing the same tired formulas. For indie filmmakers who crave creative control and…
The NewStarr Way of Selling Movies
The NewStarr Way of Selling Movies At NewStarr, we like to do things a little differently. We’re all about shaking up the old-school rules of movie distribution and putting the power back in the hands of independent filmmakers like you. Our approach is all about guerrilla-style selling—finding creative, unconventional ways to reach your audience, make…
The OLD way of selling movies
The 5-step approach to selling a movie presented in the document follows a traditional and straightforward method. However, it is likely to be ineffective or have limited success for several reasons, which I’ll explain as I summarize the steps. Summary of the Method: Why It’s Likely to Fail: Conclusion: The method simplifies a complex process…
Drafting a distribution agreement
When distributing indie, low-budget films, fairness between the distributor and the filmmaker is essential to building strong, long-term relationships and ensuring mutual success. Here are key rules and terms to consider when drafting a distribution agreement that respects the needs of both parties: Territory: Define whether the distribution is for a specific country, region, or…
Expectation of “free” admission
The expectation of audiences trending toward “free” admission for music and movies can be attributed to several interconnected factors, largely driven by technological advancements, changes in consumption habits, and the evolving business models of entertainment industries. Here are the key reasons behind this shift: 1. The Rise of Streaming Platforms Streaming services like Spotify, YouTube,…