Alpha is very much in the game, but the sweet and short version is that the retail market for small distributors has radically (and rapidly) changed in the last few years. The major brick-and-mortar retailers see no big profit in budget priced discs. Most have shrunk their shelf space, and valuable shelf space has been increasing given over to boxed sets and television compilations (which, interestingly, has now reached a saturation point). Finally, the retailers are the ones really in control of the market, of what you watch. They must move the product fast, and make a profit.

There isn't one distributor I know, other than the majors, who are getting their product onto store shelves with a regular basis. And even then, as was the case with a handful of Disney titles, a big strong-arm retailer like Wal-Mart will simply return the units if the initial order was too big, and not enough units were sold as projected. (By the way, Wal-Mart sets the date of returns the morning a DVD is released. Yep, the street date. They base their projections on theatrical box office and--I dunno--tea leaves).

Ditto the major brick-and-mortar rental houses, like Blockbuster. Sounding like Col. Ripper in DR. STRANGELOVE, they have neither the time, nor the inclination, to offer diversity if it risks profit. It's easier to take films that have big marketing and advertising recognition behind them.

And what? Give up show buisness?

Mark Redfield
www.redfieldarts.com

Last Edited By: Mark Redfield Oct 24 07 10:46 PM. Edited 1 times.