It’s true that dealmaking for indie theatrical releases has been unpredictable during the last few years.
But recently, industry insiders are particularly interested in the debut of Warner Bros.’ new contemporary specialty film label, led by former Neon Chief Marketing Officer Christian Parkes. He’s joined by two other former Neon executives — Jason Wald, who is the new label’s head of acquisitions and production and Spencer Collantes, who will run marketing and creative.
The three started in their roles this month, ahead of Sundance, according to a statement in December from Warner Bros. announcing the label. The goal is to focus on “smartly budgeted global theatrical releases with innovative marketing campaigns that enhance Warner Bros.’ long history of socially relevant, provocative and impactful cinema,” the studio said at the time.
What the team is interested in and whether they make any acquisitions is something many are keeping an eye on.
Another area of interest are the options for financing indie films. As traditional sources of funding have dried up, some filmmakers have turned to alternative avenues. This year, for example, four films crowdfunded via Kickstarter will be making their debut at Sundance.
Producers have dabbled in crowdfunding strategies over the years, particularly as they look for creative ways to engage a core audience and raise cash. Will this become increasingly common? Only time will tell. We’ll be watching in the days ahead.