Does anyone know how to get a film onto Amazon Prime?

[Simpo Two]

A band of friends including myself have just completed a comedy film, 65 mins long. We'd like to see if we can get it on Amazon Prime, thereby not only making it available to a much bigger audience, but hopefully recover a few £ of the production costs. Has anyone here done this? We thought we'd got it all ready to go but now can't find how to proceed!

[hairy v]

I never knew you could do this - but apparently this is what you do:

https://videodirect.amazon.com/home/help?topicId=G...

[Simpo Two]

Ooh thanks, will pass that on. No mention of a BBFC certificate, which we thought was needed.

[StevieBee]

Hey Simpo,

The Video Direct route is a good start but there's no guarantee that it will actually get selected and if it does, is unlikely to have the visibility needed to see any meaningful revenue (although the chance is better than doing nothing!).

I'm currently working with a chap who made a film called Touching the Blue - about a fallen Snooker champion returning to pay debts (turned out to be the last professional appearance of Leslie Grantham). He went the Amazon route but drew more revenue from a paywall he set up on Vimeo. Also now on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rBIi7-aD4M

To get anything on the main streaming platforms to a level where exposure and revenue might be expected, you need to go via an agent licensed by those channels. You also need to be aware that there's a host of technical requirements that apply right down to the cameras, lenses, mics and filters that you use.

I'm early days in developing a Documentary series and drawing together a team and insight on what's needed so as and when I' find anything out, I'll ping you a heads up.

From what I've determined, providing the right hoops have been jumped through and the content passes muster, it will get streamed; such is the demand for content.

[Simpo Two]

StevieBee said:

Hey Simpo,

The Video Direct route is a good start but there's no guarantee that it will actually get selected and if it does, is unlikely to have the visibility needed to see any meaningful revenue (although the chance is better than doing nothing!).

I'm currently working with a chap who made a film called Touching the Blue - about a fallen Snooker champion returning to pay debts (turned out to be the last professional appearance of Leslie Grantham). He went the Amazon route but drew more revenue from a paywall he set up on Vimeo. Also now on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rBIi7-aD4M

To get anything on the main streaming platforms to a level where exposure and revenue might be expected, you need to go via an agent licensed by those channels. You also need to be aware that there's a host of technical requirements that apply right down to the cameras, lenses, mics and filters that you use.

I'm early days in developing a Documentary series and drawing together a team and insight on what's needed so as and when I' find anything out, I'll ping you a heads up. From what I've determined, providing the right hoops have been jumped through and the content passes muster, it will get streamed; such is the demand for content.

Thanks Steve, very useful. If the film had to made with certain cameras and microphones we're doomed as much of it was shot with amateur kit. You'd think they'd judge a film by what it was like as a film, not what kit it was done with - we all know any fool can buy kit but not be able to use it.

Re agents, we looked at FilmHub, but the T&Cs were vast and complex and it seemed likely that they could bill us for petty technical issues so we left it.

If you have any recommendations for an agent I'd be happy to talk to them, but we're only going to make £1 a year they'll need to work for 20p...

As for YouTube, we don't really want to let the film out 'into the wild' for free.