By Ray Pride Pride@moviecitynews.com
Truly spending: on the first trio of Truly Indie pics
Chantal Outon of Austin Business reports on one of the first lambs of the TrulyIndie initiative: “After Mari Marchbanks’ debut feature-length movie, Fall to Grace, premiered at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival… the Austin independent filmmaker knew her life was about to change. … “It’s tough out there in the film festival circuit, marketing the film. I thought, ‘This is a whole new game,'” Marchbanks says…. Marchbanks’ film is one of the first three independent films chosen for Truly Indie, an initiative formed by… 2929 Entertainment LP, whose companies include… Landmark Theatres and Magnolia Pictures Distribution. [Mark] Cuban is co-owner of 2929… Kelly Sanders in the Austin office of Magnolia Pictures/Landmark Theatres is the point person for Truly Indie. She’ll work with Landmark’s Los Angeles office and Magnolia’s New York office on the new initiative.” Which, of course, requires more out-of-pocket. “Filmmakers retain all the box-office receipts and film rights, and they pay an upfront fee that covers all distribution costs, including publicity, advertising and marketing. A one-week placement of a movie in 5 markets can cost a filmmaker about $40,000, while a weeklong theatrical run in 20 markets can cost up to $150,000, says Bill Banowsky, CEO of Magnolia Pictures and Landmark Theatres…. “We work with the filmmaker to create a release strategy most likely to reach the film’s largest audience in the most efficient way.” …The other two films chosen for the Truly Indie initiative are Donal Logue’s “Tennis Anyone” and Ian Gamazon and Neill dela Llana’s “Cavite,” which was shot in the Philippines on a $10,000 budget.” [More at the link.]