Team Behind Film Shot on Smartphone Looks to Rethink Distribution
By Rob Scott
September 21, 2012
September 21, 2012
- “Olive” has already made history as the first feature-length film shot exclusively on a smartphone. Now co-directors Hooman Khalili and Pat Gilles hope to “democratize distribution” as they aim to rethink methods for distributing independent films.
- “The movie probably has the connections to make that happen — after all, one of its executive producers, Chris Kelly, is also involved in the ‘indie Netflix’ site Fandor and movie distribution start-up GoDigital,” reports TechCrunch. “Kelly was formerly Facebook’s chief privacy officer, and he isn’t [the film’s] only link to Facebook — Randi Zuckerberg also has a small part.”
- The movie — shot on a Nokia N8 fitted with a special 35mm lens, and featuring Gena Rowlands — has completed production, but is being recut with four new Dolly Parton songs.
- Although the directors are considering a limited theatrical release, their focus is elsewhere. “Khalili suggests that a a low budget, independently-produced movie with a sincere message just isn’t a good fit for Hollywood executives, but it does play well with the elderly, soccer moms, children, and people of faith,” explains the post.
- The new version will debut this month at Stream, “the annual ‘unconference’ organized by advertising conglomerate WPP and hosted by WPP CEO Martin Sorrell and investor Yossi Vardi,” reports TechCrunch.
- Khalili hopes to screen the film at the Dubai Film Festival, and then target video/digital distribution — bypassing theatrical, the importance of which he argues is overstated. “Khalili’s more excited about figuring out the right way to release ‘Olive’ with a big push through video on demand — hopefully before the holiday season, which is really the perfect time to watch the film.”
- The post includes a one-minute trailer of the film.
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