Anyone have $30,000 lying around I can borrow? That’s about how much it will cost to get the digital film-out, soundtrack and processing for a 35mm print of Sita Sings the Blues. I promise I’ll pay you right back once the big bucks start rolling in. There’s big bucks in quirky little self-animated art films, right? And the dollar’s weak right now, so if you loan me $30,000 in euros or rupees it’s like a good deal or something.
Hi Nina
I remeber 40 years ago the Canadian dollar was always higher than the American.WE used to think it was monoply money. they all looked the same but had different numbers on them.
I remeber I had a little sports car, and a friend and I went to San Fransico from Vancouver Canada, with the top down all the way, a slow leak in the front tire ( had a nail in it ) On a long week end (3 days). I quess we were in SF 3 or 4 hours got bored, and went home. Gas was 30 cents a gallon. ( Canadian gallon ) I think at that time a Canadian dollar was about $1.25 US
How do you manage to get that much money to get your film out? You must have contacts. Maybe a little east of New York.
ddj
I’m curious why you want a 35mm print made (not attacking I’m just curious). So many theaters have digital/DLP technology at this point it seems like you could still get exposure even without a print. Not to mention most film festivals do not require 35mm prints.
But if you’re dead set on that, have you tried to apply for any grants?
Good question, Laaw-yuhr: Some of the most important festivals, like Berlin, only show 35mm. My film is likeliest to get a distributor if it’s seen at a major festival; and it’s likeliest to get a distributor if it’s seen on film. I’m aiming for major festivals first, which means Berlin first, which, in the event “Sita” is selected, means it has to be on 35mm by the end of January. But even if Berlin doesn’t happen, having “Sita” on 35mm qualifies it for other major festivals, and if it only ends up at a “second-tier” festival it will still look better and be more attractive to distributors on film.
Also, the digital projection in mainstream theaters uses a proprietary codec, as deigned by the Motion Picture Association. I’ve heard that obtaining the license for that codec is more expensive than outputting to film. It makes economic sense as an alternative to striking a zillion 35mm film prints, but for a tiny independent production like mine, 35mm is cheaper. Art houses, the likeliest theatrical destination for “Sita,” seldom have the fancy new digital systems anyway, relying instead on inferior Beta tape and DVD projectors, or good ol’ gorgeous film.
=v= Ooh, I love patronizing the arts. “Look at the great big picture that this little girl drew allll byyy herselfff!”