new directors - classics of the future
international features and documentaries

on
dvd all zones

for the pleasure of differences - ideas, cultures, languages

against ignorance

As independent distributors, we know that DVD edition of many of the movies we like and support are not profitable at a national level. Our project is the co-ordination of these DVD edition movies and their diffusion at an international level. The possibilities offered by this new support will make it possible to distribute these films on a larger seale and at a lower cost. The DVD format allows us to include many subtitles on a single disc. Moreover, the ³All zone² format gives us the opportunity to remove the zone barrier from the market. All of these elements mean that you can reach a much wider public and find sufficient prospects to make the edition of these films in DVD format profitable.

Proposition for collaboration

For each movie, we only have to manufacture one DLT with a maximum of subtitles. With this master, we can press a DVD that can be used everywhere and sold to all co-editors.

One distributor will be in charge of the copyrights dealing for a maximum of countries, handling the manufacturing of the master (DLT NTSC with subltitles in a maximum of languages), and selling the DVD to partners (co-editors) at the manufacturing price.

Each co-editor will buy in advance X DVD and will print his own sleeves (for his own national market). He also, of course, has the possibility of selling worldwide - but we expect him to respect the tacit agreement not to enter the co-editors¹ own markets - and can re-purchase unsold DVD stock from his partners at the initial price.

One co-ordination and sales website is already in development, and features links to all the partners¹ own sales websites: http://dvdvideointernational.com .

The co-editor will pay royalties to the co-ordinator (25%) or rightholder (depending on the contract for the DVD world rights).

As for the partners, they have the possibility of asking for financial support (private, national or European).

Each co-editor can therefore propose new titles for DVD edition and help find the best price for the manufacturing process (lab, print, translation, etc...).

Financial figures for the first 100 titles:
Sales : $US 6.2 million
Manufacturing : $US 1.1 million
Copyrights : $US 1.1 million
Risk factor : only 36% (wich allows for major advertising investments)

We need to do this now with as many internationally acclaimed arthouse films as possible in order to become a leader on the DVD market.

Dream about it and do it!

Before the DVD market becomes a poor excuse for cinema and our movies end up on the sidelines.

Send in your questions, send in your films

Klaus Gerke

WHICH FILMS FOR DVDs?

1) Films without subtitles or with few subtitles: experimental, musical, silent or animatied films.
2) Historical reports (about wars, characters or cinema history).
3) Discovery films.
4) The complete work of a director.
5) Internationally rewarded arthouse films (which often have 2 or 3 subtitled versions already).
6) Films for young audience.

Your questions and our answers

1) What if someone make a pirate copy ?
Thisonly concerns very famous films (widely diffused on TV and video).

2) What about accounts with a co-edotior?
Each co-editor buys 500 DVDs at the manufacturing price and can resell to his proper customers (wholesalers, mail-order catalogues, etc.) The co-editor refunds 25% of his sales to the rightholder. (The number of promotional DVDs will be determined at a later date).

3) Can a co-editor sell his DVDs to someone else?
Yes, but at the manufacturing price and preferably to another co-editor. He will have to inform the rightholder, too so as he or she can get his 25% from this new partner.

4) Are the coordinator and the co-editors always the same?
No, and in fact, we encourage others to share the work. Moreover, it is likely that rightholders will prefer to work with a coordinator in their own country. For each edited title, the coordinator will be chosen according to his personal style, his catalogue of films and its commercial interest (for example, the rights he already has on the film).

5) Territory questions:
For DVDs (and especially commercially ³marginal² films like ours), we have to work not only at a national level but also at an international one. The border are drawn where wide-spread editing is limited. Co-editors can sell wherever they like without hurting the large networks of the national markets.

6) Why different covers?
Because each editor targets a local public. Therefore, editors will design covers in their own language that include critiques from the local papers and specefic visual.

7) Why is it better to work with us rather than sell the film rights to each country?
Selling DVD rights is only profitable if the editor can sell at least 2,000 units, which is not the case for the films we love best. Together, we will be able to sell 3,000 units or more. We will even enhance the film¹s value by adding new subtitles (which will be included in the manufacturing price), which will be in turn open new markets (international festivals, TV, Internet streaming...). This means the price keep getting better and each new edition will allow us to grant a bigger percentage to the rightholder.

8) Can a new language be added?
A DLT will be saved for that, but a new glassmaster must be made.

9) Can we get a digital beta with new subtitles (available on the DVD version) in order to edit the film on VHS?
Yes, but it will entail transfer costs. There will be a MPEG 2 version for Internet, as well.

Send in your questions

what is "zones" ?