About Michael Korican

A long-time media artist, Michael’s filmmaking stretches back to 1978. Michael graduated from York University film school with Special Honours, winning the Famous Players Scholarship in his final year. The Rolling Stone Book of Rock Video called Michael's first feature 'Recorded: Live!' "the first film about rock video". Michael served on the board of L.I.F.T. when he lived in Toronto during the eighties and managed the Bloor Cinema for Tom and Jerry. He has been prolific over his past eight years in Victoria, having made over thirty-five shorts, won numerous awards, produced two works for BravoFACT! and received development funding for 'Begbie’s Ghost' through the CIFVF and BC Film.

Web Series Best Practices

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Michael Korican

Canada’s Independent Production Fund has just published the Guide to Web Series Best Practices.

In many ways, this 30-page PDF is a good primer for any digital production: web series, short or feature.

The dozen chapters range from financing, to working with micro-budget crews, to marketing and to distribution platforms.

The tone is even-handed and not sky’s-the-limit. A sample:

“Always think of your audience and what makes sense for them – will this be interesting for them? Will it be a positive addition to their overall consumption? Will they share it? If it doesn’t make sense and there isn’t a “yes” to these types of questions, it may not be a good use of your time, money and resources.”

My take: listen to this IPF advice; they fund web series!

Top VOD Platforms for 2014

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Michael Korican

Short films have always been a tough sell.

In the past, specialized distributors might take them on for institutional or foreign markets. Perhaps they might get bundled into feature-length anthologies. But the money never seemed to flow back to the filmmakers.

In short, short films were destined to remain in the art realm. Starving artists practiced their craft, never expecting to be compensated for creating their art.

Now, however, we are witnessing the emergence of a new model. iTunes has paved the way, proving that the public will pay for music, track by track. Video On Demand may be the equivalent mechanism for the independent filmmaker.

VOD lets filmmakers exhibit their films directly to their audience, at a price they choose. It promises to be the means of monetization for indie films of all lengths and genres.

Douglas Horn has researched the top five VOD platforms. He scopes out the problem, charts the top five and reviews their services.

My take: well worth the read! I’ll be following his real-world tests. Good luck, Douglas!

VHX Out of Beta

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Michael Korican

VHX is out of beta, and has lowered their fees to 10% plus 50 cents per transaction.

“Anything that used to be sold on DVD can be sold on VHX. Our platform works for a lot more than just film and TV. Faith, fitness, lifestyle, education… the list goes on. VHX also works for organizations both big and small: individuals, distributors, studios, networks, and more. Make a site, sell your work, and own the relationship with your audience. VHX is the technology platform that lets you run your own iTunes or Netflix. Your digital copies replace the old physical, anywhere in the world.”

Of particular note to international filmmakers, VHX will pay out through PayPal.

Nofilmschool has a very nice summary of all the direct distribution players here.

My take: I applaud any service that helps filmmakers interact with their audience. VHX keeps the costs down, which is appreciated. Nevertheless, we can’t ignore the law of supply and demand: supply is way up, diluting demand. Therefore, increasing demand remains filmmakers main task, one that traditional distributors and exhibitors once fulfilled. Unfortunately, the market is still fragmented with no clear winner. Selling on your own website is like creating your own market: be prepared to create your own demand too.

Infographic: You in Filmmaking

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Michael Korican

From Filmsourcing, comes this hilarious flowchart: What’s Your Place in the Film Industry?

The colourful infographic illustrates pathways to 30 different occupations such as Head of Film Commission and Acting Teacher. Two examples:

“Start here -> Do you appreciate money above all else? -> No -> Can you get excited about someone else’s idea? -> Sure but I’ll make it mine -> Do you have exceptional talent? -> Yes -> Are you unknown and/or female? -> No -> Director”

“Start here -> Do you appreciate money above all else? -> No -> Can you get excited about someone else’s idea? -> I can fake it -> Are you visually oriented? -> No -> Are you skilled at cleaning up other people’s mess? -> No -> Are you musical? -> No -> What CAN you do? -> Sit -> Audience”

See the full infographic.

My take: too funny! Spot your role and work forward to it. You will laugh, and maybe learn something about yourself.

How to parlay $100K into $3 Million

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Michael Korican

Just before the 2014 Academy Awards, producer Cassian Elwes blogged about raising the money for ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ at TheWrap.

It makes fascinating reading. An excerpt:

“A year later in New Orleans, while we were doing “The Butler,” a young agent from CAA named Laura Lewis called me and was upset:

“You can’t believe what just happened. All that Canadian money for the ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ fell through. Matthew has already lost 35 pounds (of the eventual 47) and he has to do ‘True Detective’ right afterwards in January. He can’t put the weight back on and lose it again; it would be too dangerous his doctors say. You’ve been in this position before – what do you do?” she asked.

“When’s the film supposed to start shooting?” I said.

“Seven weeks from now, in mid-October.”

A few minutes later I got a call from Robbie who said very simply: “Save the movie please. You always wanted to do it now is your chance. Please just do it.”

“How much time do we have?”

“Today’s Tuesday and realistically we have to be in prep on Monday so I guess three days and the weekend.”

“Three days?”

“Yes.”

I hung up the phone. There was simply no time to do the presales and a bank loan – the usual indie arrangements. No, this was going to have to be something special and if I didn’t do it now I knew the movie would go back into hibernation and I would probably never get another shot at it.

I stared at the ceiling in my office for twenty minutes. I kept thinking: Who really, really owes me in the business?”

Read his full post.

My take: what a Hollywood ending!

Choicebook wants your opinion

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Michael Korican

Is a survey still a survey if you call it something else?

The CRTC wants your opinion about TV in Canada. Will you pay more? Do you want the Internet regulated?

Visit Choicebook to have your say.

“Canadians like to watch television and for many of them, the way they do so is changing. More and more people are watching their favourite shows on their cable or satellite company’s on-demand service, over the Internet and on tablets and smartphones. The way Canadians think about—and even interact with—television is clearly not the same today as it was just a few years ago. At the CRTC, we want to make sure that the television system meets the needs of Canadians – as citizens, creators and consumers. We understand that the system has to adapt to remain healthy, continue to offer different kinds of programming and be responsive to Canadians’ expectations over the coming years.”

But do it soon. Choicebook closes on March 14, 2014.

My take: it’s in your best interest to invest the time to let the CRTC know what you’re thinking.

Your web presence is waiting

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Michael Korican

A website is not enough. Not anymore.

Today, independent filmmakers need to be everywhere and do everything: Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, Youtube, blog, maintain a mailing list, upload a gallery, operate a shop, display a trailer, Kickstarter, Tugg, etc. Etc.

In two words, you need a web presence.

Oh, and by the way, write and produce a killer film in your spare time.

What if you could concentrate on your craft and hand over the heavy-lifting of your web presence to someone else? Enter assemble.me

This New Zealand outfit has it figured out. Their offerings expand as your project travels from development, to funding and production, to festivals and exploitation. See all the features.

Says James Franklin,

“My take is that people are getting there and we’re seeing projects succeed. But I think the issues are not around the economic model but rather if filmmakers have the ability or the appetite to do this themselves — that’s the elephant in the room!”

Their pricing is a mix of set up and monthly fees, ranging from $500 to $3000 and $19 to $99 monthly. Pay nothing until your site is ready to go live.

My take: worth checking out. Sure, you’ve got to pay but, as they say, you’ve got to spend money to make money. You’ve got the dollars for marketing in your budget, right? It’s Show Business, baby!

Yet another reason to choose Indiegogo

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Michael Korican

Crowd-funding is a lot of work.

First of all, it’s a full-time job creating and maintaining your campaign. (Forget for a moment the all the work of putting your project together and then actually making it.) Now you’ve got to fulfill all those perks you promised your backers.

Indiegogo wants to help you.

“Today we’re launching our Film Fulfillment Program, which will provide Indiegogo campaigners streamlined access to free or discounted rates on film distribution and fulfillment services with our program partners, VHX and Yekra.”

Check out VHX and Yekra to learn more.

Then see the special deals Indiegogo has brokered for you. Sign up through the links at the bottom of the page.

My take: kudos to Indiegogo for smoothing things out for indie filmmakers!

Indie Koala shows the way

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Michael Korican

From Canada’s capital comes a bold adventure in indie self-distribution.

It’s called Indie Koala.

“We are three Ottawa independent filmmakers who are passionate about making, watching and promoting indie films and indie filmmaking and we started this service in April 2013 because we couldn’t find a site that was artist-run and was a one-stop-shop for local independent content.”

Taking their cue from the belief ‘Think Global, Act Local,’ three Ottawa filmmakers have created an online exhibition space for independent films, boot-strapping VimeoPro‘s pay-to-rent capability.

Nevertheless, the majority of their shorts are free to watch.

My take: kudos for b(r)anding together!

One reason to choose Indiegogo: Outpost

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Michael Korican

Indiegogo has recently broadened the crowd-funding landscape by promising to allow producers to host their campaigns on their own websites.

It’s called Indiegogo Outpost.

You’ll be able to mirror your campaign in two places: on Indiegogo and on your own website.

Here’s a high-profile example: Matthew Arnold and Freddie Wong’s Video Game High School Season 3 on Indiegogo and at Rocket Jump.

My take: if you have a well-trafficked website, it makes sense to appeal directly to your audience, rather than to first send them over to Indiegogo. One more way to increase the power of your brand.

Michael Korican Thinks

Thoughts on Independent Filmmaking and the Emerging Economic System

Author Archives: Michael Korican