Got a great video product, but no way to sell it to the masses? Here’s a potential solution.
Vimeo has just announced its “Vimeo On Demand” service, and with it, changes to the way people can promote, sell and distribute video. This is a big deal, because it opens up so many avenues for indie filmmakers and reality series producers alike. The kicker is, Vimeo will allow the creators to keep 90% of their profits.
Having gone through the process of pitching a reality series to the networks before, I know the hoops you have to jump through. Line-item budgets have to be meticulously prepared, schedules have to be created well in advance, and a sizzle reel has to be produced. All of this usually happens on your own dime. And then if you go the network route, ultimately, the final product is no longer yours. With the trends constantly changing, a network gets to dictate the direction in which your show goes. Not fun.
Now with Vimeo On Demand, you can set your own standards (unless you have an investor helping fund your production, of course). Think of the possibilities! You can come up with an idea, shoot it on your own time and when it’s all done, you simply post it to your Vimeo on Demand Page, and BAM!, you have distribution. A downside is that you will have to have a Vimeo account to access the videos on demand, but that is a very SMALL downside.
This is not limited to reality TV or television in particular. It is all aspects of video. If you have a movie, music video, short, documentary, or anything else that you feel people will be willing to pay to watch, Vimeo on Demand has you covered. I think this is going to be HUGE for our industry, and I can’t wait to try it out!
And, just for fun, here’s the reality TV show we pitched to the networks, called Yukon River Haulers. There were some “creative differences” with the powers-that-be over how to approach the project that prevented it from moving forward. Maybe now, it will see the light of day!
Yukon River Haulers from 515 Productions on Vimeo.