UK DVD Distribution Help!

[tomkat2010]

HI there, I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction for a company, or companies that buy DVDs from filmmakers/producers for retial in shops such as HMV, Tesco etc etc? I have a catalogue of around 50+ titles and would like to get these into stores and online ecommerce sites after enjoying sales just through my own website, Id now like to get to a much larger audience.
Any help appreciated.
With thanks

[DB83]

Do these titles have BBFC certification ?

[filmboss80]

Keep in mind that retail shelf space is limited. As such, it is prime real estate. The store manager's job is to move product off the shelf as quickly as possible. Even if your productions are masterpieces, no one will buy them unless some interest for each title has already been generated; such as a popular cast, good film reviews, positive word-of-mouth, etc.

Before bankrolling a production, there is usually a budget set aside for marketing and distribution BEFORE committing to the project. You do not say whether your DVDs are original productions, exclusive acquisitions from outside filmmakers, or just wholesale stock you picked up in bulk.

I cannot advise on UK distribution, but there might be some information you can pick up by reading this:

http://www.yourinvestmentadvise.com/filmmaking.htm

[Hoser Rob]

http://www.yourinvestmentadvise.com/filmmaking.htm

That's a very good link.

I don't know if I'd have much to add to that, but large chains aren't interested in any music or video that isn't in the top 100. They simply aren't going to take the time for videos that don't already have, yes, buzz. As you may have noticed, dvd/br sales of feature studio films are pretty bad nowadays.

I can give you an analogy from the music business. Many aspiring pop stars think some A&R rep hears you, thinks you're wonderful, and signs you to a major label contract. This rarely happens. To get their attention you need to be playing clubs and there needs to be a big lineup at the door of people just dying to pay money to see you. As a friend of mine who worked in the music business said to me once, the first thing you learn is that what you personally like has nothing to do with it.

Not sure myself what sort of intermediate steps there are between hanging your shingle on the web ... which is, let's face it, too easy ... and major retail distribution is but you're going to have to find a middle path. The UK is fairly urban. Are there any film societies near you? Film festivals?

Without a marketing budget ... which for major studio releases can equal production budget ... you'll need to start a bit smaller generating buzz.

[DB83]

Whist awaiting the answer to the question I raised, a quick Google produced several wholesale distributors.

But I would expect that the major chain stores and mail-order such as the ones you mention no longer use wholesalers. They buy direct from the producers - have you seen 'The Apprentice' and those pitches ?

Now, for the UK the question I asked is critical.

[tomkat2010]

The titles I have are exclusive to the UK aquistions and are wrestling documentaries so there's definitely an interest there. They do not have a BBFC certification.

[DB83]

It is not a question of interest. It is a question of legality.

You can thank the Video Recordings Act of 1984 for this - a requiremnt that most videos - dvds were subsequently covered by the same - have to be certified.

There is an 'Exempt' category which includes sport content but if that content also includes violence then the work has to be certified.

The UK wholesale distributor has found will only handle certified dvds. You will find some 'Exempt' titles in stores but I guess these come from well known sources.

[tomkat2010]

There's no violent action in the DVDS but does feature mature themes, so would be 15/18 if classified. I dont mind submitting them for certification but naturally Id ideally like a list of distributors first so I can send them some samples and if they are interested in distibuting it then can go down that route.

[jman98]

I am an American, so I would have to assume that this is the same for the UK but assumptions are dangerous...

Here in the USA, trying to get your DVDs into physical stores is a sucker's game unless that store is Wal-Mart. Otherwise where you REALLY need to get them is Amazon. I would just assume that in a fully modern country like the UK that many consumers will like the convenience of buying from Amazon UK. Hell, I even buy stuff from Amazon UK. They sometimes have movies or music that I want which for various reasons actually doesn't make it to the USA.

This is not in any way legal advice, but merely an observation that some people simply sell, ahem, "unofficial" DVDs via their own websites or Ebay. It really depends on the content and how the owner feels about it as to whether such things get left alone or not. If your content is really and truly free of any copyright concerns (ie. it's public domain or the owner is associated with you and backing you) you might be able to go that route, but I know nothing about UK law so perhaps even that is subject to certification.

[DB83]

Wrestling. 'Mature themes'. Let's see. Mud,pudding to name but two

Well the bottom line is that they would have to be submitted for certification if they are to be sold in stores.

A list ? Do what I did. Type 'DVD wholesale distributor' in to a search engine et voila.

I am not saying that I would be a customer but I would like to have a 'butchers' at what you have on offer. Link ? (You might need to spend that by PM. A directly posted link could be construed as spam unless you sought permission to post it first)

[tomkat2010]

The mature themes is just bad language really.

[DB83]

You should also take a look at the BBFC website >>> www.bbfc.co.uk. There may be some guidlines there of the sort of certification that would apply.

The problem is that AFAIK certification is expensive. You would need to shift a lot of stock just to cover that.

But from where I sit, you are not producing these merely acting as a sole UK distributor. I suggest you write to the BBFC for more information in this respect.