The Movie
David Bowie portrays an alien from a planet dying from lack of water. He comes to earth, in human disguise, to bring some back to his home. Taking out patents on inventions using his advanced technology, he becomes wealthy and politically powerful. He is deterred from his plans, however, when he becomes involved with a woman (Fandango 2014).
Distribution for Independently Produced Films
The website “Free Online Film School: Learn Filmmaking” (2010) describes the effort necessary for independent filmmakers to obtain distribution. When screening the movie, it should be shown only once with all of the interested parties present. This prevents the rejection of one distributor affecting the decision of the others if viewed previously with a sneak peek or a DVD.
The perfect solution is to sign a distribution agreement prior to production to guarantee financing. This happened for “The Man Who Fell to Earth” with Paramount Pictures in the United States. This also forces the distributor to perform to his best ability to recoup expenses.
In a “First Dollar Split” arrangement, the distributor and the filmmaker share the revenues 50/50, but there is not much incentive to push the movie. It may lie on the shelf until the contract expires and the filmmaker gets it back to try again with someone else. However, the odds are poor for a decent theatrical run with an independent film and distributors know this.
The movie must be marketable for distributors to show interest in releasing it to a number of theatres. The filmmaker has to take this into account, preferably before the movie is completed. If he is told the outlook is gloomy, re-editing may save the film’s future.
Independent filmmakers also have the option of putting the movie on DVD and distributing it themselves. Amazon.com is associated with CreateSpace, which performs this service free. Distribution is not on the “big screen”, but is instantaneous and without cost.
Theatre Distribution
The distribution company in Great Britain was British Lion. In the United States, Paramount Pictures was the distributor, paying $1.5 million for regional rights. It was this guarantee the allowed Michael Deeley, the movie’s producer, to finance the film (IMDb 2014). Paramount had funded a previous movie by the same director, Nicholas Roeg. “The Man Who Fell to Earth” had sex scenes deleted for the more conservative American market. Cinema 5 in the United States also obtain rights, but it cut the movie when it was first released in 1976. According to several sources, copies ran 117, 120, or 125 minutes. New management at Cinema 5 restored the picture to its entirety in 1980 (Bowiegoldenyears.com 2014). “The Man Who Fell To Earth” was also shown in Japanese theatres in 1977 (IMDb 2014). A theatrical re-release was distributed by Rialto Pictures in 2001.
Television
“The Man Who Fell to Earth” was shown in television in Finland in 1988 (IMDb 1976).
Home Viewing (VHS, DVD)
The videotape (VHS)of “The Man Who Fell to Earth” was released by MTC Video in Greece in 1987, followed by Columbia Tristar Home Video in 1993 (Worldcat.org 1993). Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment also released the VHS version in 1980 and Thom EMI Video in Germany did the same throughout the 1980’s (IMDb 2014). Germany sold the DVD version with MCP Sound & Media in 2001, and the movie was released as a DVD by Criterion Collection and Sandrew Metronome Distribution in Finland in 2008. Studio Canal in Germany also released the DVD in 2011.
Works Cited
Fandango. 'The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976) Synopsis - Plot Summary - Fandango'. N.p., 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2014.
Free Online Film School: Learn Filmmaking. 'Independent Film Distribution Tips: A Guide For Indie Filmmakers'. N.p., 2010. Web. 16 Dec. 2014.
IMDb. 'The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976)'. N.p., 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2014.
Bowiegoldenyears.com. 'Bowie Golden Years : The Man Who Fell To Earth'. N.p., 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2014.
Worldcat.org. 'The Man Who Fell To Earth (VHS Tape, 1993) [Worldcat.Org]'. N.p., 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2014.
