Distributor of Life in Movement questions the film’s ROI
The distributor of a critically acclaimed documentary about a Sydney dancer and choreographer, released today, has said he’s unsure whether he’ll get the necessary audience to make a profit on the theatrical release.
Gil Scrine, owner and manager of Antidote Films, distributor of the film Life in Movement, told Encore: “The jury is still out on whether people will come see the film.”
“It’s hard to know how the film will do. I’ve had the figure around $120,000 in mind, which would pay us back for our work and cost.”
Opening across 13 screens nationally today, Life in Movement is directed by Bryan Mason and produced and co-directed by Sophie Hyde about the life of dancer Tanya Liedtke, who died suddenly in 2007.
Scrine said: “The rule of thumb is the distributor takes a third, so if it takes $120,000, then it’ll be $40,000 for us and that will cover our costs includes printing and advertising.”
Life in Movement opens across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin as well as regional screens.
“Perth reneged, deciding to sit back and see how it goes,” Scrine added.
“The kind of film it is, the release is made up of bits and bobs. You just try and get screenings where you can. We need to make about $300,000 but it won’t do that in the current scenario.”
Agreements in place with one exhibitor per city has stopped Scrine distributing the film wider. Secondary exhibitors in metro regions must wait for three weeks before being able to screen the film.
“We’d need to double or triple our screens. In that third week we can attach some new screens.”
However Scrine is confident with the film’s placement at Melbourne’s Cinema Nova Carlton and as Mason and Hyde are Adelaide locals the film should do well there. He is also resting his hopes on regional areas.
“Country towns are a lot better. Some are more cohesive than others but the social capital that exists in country Australia is concentrated at the cinema, so they will show Life in Movement or Mrs Carey’s Concert, unlike the suburban cinemas.”
The film has won international critical acclaim. It won Sydney Film Festival’s Australian Documentary Prize last year as well as both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Amsterdam’s Cinedans Festival, a film festival about dance.
Scrine said: “It’s an emotional piece. If there is a dry eye on the house I’d be surprised. It’s not forced either. It’s been great working with Bryan and Sophie, they’re a wonderful team.”
Incredibly disappointed this wont be showing in Perth. There is an amazing dance scene here thats growing by the year and plenty of people who would be interested seeing this movie. Quite annoyed that yet again, us here in the west miss out!!
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Hi
Just wondering where in Sydney Life in Movement is showing please advise I’d love to see it.
Cheers
Kirsten
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Hey Kirsten,
LIM is showing at both Dendy Opera Quays and Hoyts Cinema Paris at Moore Park.
Hope you can make it along to this terrific film!
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Thanks for that Ruari,
Follow the link on Antidote Films to their site to see where else the film is screening.
Cheers
Colin
Encore
Go see it. A beautiful sadness, and a portrait of shattering creativity in human form.
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Incredible, powerful docco but ….where is the publicity – we sat with about 7 people at Cinema Paris tonight and were moved to tears and a state of wonder and awe at such a taletn so cruelly taken from us so early – please get anyone you know to go adn see this film – I had to tell the teenagers running the cinema that it was not up on the electronic screen with the other films – they then fixed it, Louise
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I am astonished ‘the powers that be’ in Perth reneged on life in movement thus robbing Western Australians the opportunity to see this movie. So many people were looking forward to it and we were all bitterly disappointed when we realised we have missed out yet again. I only hope that at some point Life in Movement may become available for purchase on DVD
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