Adventures in Self-Releasing: DVD Release Tomorrow!

by Jeffrey Goodman | Published October 16, 2009

Tomorrow, October 17, I’ll be releasing the first edition DVD of The Last Lullaby in Shreveport. It should be a memorable time signing DVDs and celebrating another significant milestone with some of the movie’s core group of support. That’s Saturday. Then Monday, October 19, is the online launch, when people outside of Shreveport can begin buying the DVD off the movie’s Website (www.thelastlullaby.com).

People that buy the DVD in its first month of release will be entered to win several (very cool, I might add) movie-related prizes. These include:

1. Tom Sizemore’s main outfit from the movie.
2. Sasha Alexander’s hooded coat from the movie.
3. Jerry Hardin’s camel hair topcoat from the movie.
4. Bill Smitrovich’s navy velor sweatsuit from the movie.
5. A lifetime subscription to MovieMaker Magazine.
6. Sprague Grayden’s red shoes from the movie.
7. Price’s (Sizemore) chess board from the movie.
8. Two of Sasha Alexander’s blouses from the movie.
9. A guaranteed extra role in my next movie.

I first started raising money for The Last Lullaby in May of 2005 and now, 53 months later, I’m excited as more people than ever will have the opportunity to see it. After this DVD launch, my focus will shift to trying to find a home for the movie on cable and in the major outlets like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Netflix, etc.

I look around as some of my peers self-release, and I feel that it’s an exciting time as we’re all learning from one another. Are we on to something? Is self-releasing something we will only see more and more frequently? I haven’t quite cracked it—I’m not sure any of us have—but we’re looking and we’re trying new things, and something will eventually come from all this experimentation and openness.

Until then, let’s keep the dialogue open. Like most of you, I want as many people as possible to see my work and I want to continue making my work with some kind of frequency.

After living in Los Angeles for seven years, Jeffrey Goodman returned to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana to direct The Last Lullaby. Co-written by the creator of Road to Perdition, and starring Tom Sizemore and Sasha Alexander, The Last Lullaby was filmed entirely in and around Shreveport and financed by 48 local investors.

COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT

Comment by Alex Footman on 10/16/09 at 8:48 am

Nice prizes! I’m sold. Buying my DVD as soon as I can. -Alex

Comment by Jeffrey Goodman on 10/16/09 at 9:07 am

Thanks, Alex!  Really appreciate all the support.  Hey, want to tell everyone how they can get a copy of CRUDE INDEPENDENCE? 

J

Comment by Paul Chau on 10/16/09 at 2:38 pm

Hey Jeffrey
Congrats. 53 months is a long journey but that’s what everyone needs to understand, that making of an indie film will take up 3 years plus of your life to go from script to distribution. So anybody who does it deserves all the praise in the world. So congrats, I enjoyed reading your blog and I will order a copy and also spread the word among filmmakers and such in NY.

Paul

Comment by Jeffrey Goodman on 10/16/09 at 5:39 pm

Hey Paul,

Thanks so much for the very kind words.  How is everything going with SCALP?  What’s the latest?  I truly appreciate all the support.

Jeffrey

Comment by Paul Chau on 10/16/09 at 9:26 pm

Jeffrey
Thanks for asking about Scalp. It is funny but our timing is similar because our DVD is available now at http://www.scalpthemovie.com . There has been discussion in your blog on what extras to include with the DVD and what I am doing is including with the DVD a free PDF copy of “Two Day Film Class” which is the book I use for a two day intensive film course that I teach. So I am hoping that a DVD that contains a film with a positive NY Post review and a free filmmaking book will be a good value. Also I saw discussion in your blog about price points for DVDs and I would just say that I think people that will buy indie film DVDs buy them for different reasons than people who buy Batman, etc. There is something cool about having a DVD of a film that not everyone has seen. I love discovering films that are not part of the main stream. I agree with your price point of $19.99 which is also my price point because I don’t believe it being priced at $17.99 versus $19.99 is going to swing a buy decision. I love the prizes you are offering for people who buy the DVD in the first month because it is different and feels grassroots. If I win the part of being an extra in your next film, any chance I will get to sit on one of those director chairs? Good luck with everything

Paul

Comment by Jeffrey Goodman on 10/17/09 at 8:03 am

Hi Paul,

Congratuations!  I just ordered my copy of SCALP.  I’m very much looking forward to it.

Keep in touch.  It sounds like we’re in some very similar situations. 

All the best,

Jeffrey

Comment by Patrick on 10/17/09 at 9:33 am

Hey Jeffrey,

Paul is right, stick to the $19.99 price tag for now, you cannot compare it the hollywood pricing found in stores these days.  The people who will buy Lullaby will want it to support you and indie film, as well as to get what looks like a cool little film.  I was fortunate enough to get my indie movie picked up my a North American distributor, it will be released later this year, and the price tag is in the mid twenties.

Best,
Patrick

Comment by Jeffrey Goodman on 10/17/09 at 9:42 am

Hi Patrick,

Thanks so much for your comments here and for all of your support.  That makes sense to me.  Will you let me know when your movie is released so that I can support you?  Congratulations!  That’s awesome.

All the best,

Jeffrey

Comment by Patrick on 10/17/09 at 10:24 am

Sure thing Jeffrey,
Here is the link, I hope it works, it’ll give you all the info you need about the release.  We go real lucky, it will be released through Lionsgate in the US and Maple Pictures here in Canada.
Congrats on the fruits of your labour.  I know it’s been a long road for you, you deserve all of the success coming your way.
http://www.maplepictures.com/home_video_detail.aspx?id=34920
-Patrick

Comment by Jeffrey Goodman on 10/18/09 at 8:15 am

Hi Patrick,

Congratulations!  This is great.  Please let me know when it’s released, and I’ll definitely pick up a copy. 

Excited for you. 

All the best,

Jeffrey

Comment by John Mcknight on 10/19/09 at 12:00 pm

Great list of price!  #9 prize is pretty exciting, be an instant star in your next movie.  Your prizes can really give you more sales. You’ll definitely be successful with this movie campaign.  Goodluck!

Comment by Paul Chau on 10/19/09 at 12:03 pm

Jeffrey
Just ordered my copy of your film and I look forward to watching it. I would encourage everyone reading this blog to support this film and buy a copy. Jeffrey has provided a lot of info that hopefully will help others down the road so a nice way of saying thank you. Also, Jeffrey, just to follow up on a prior email trade about streaming services, don’t know if you know of Gigantic Releasing but they are a company that is streaming first run films but they are focusing on docs right now because docs have a well defined audience. This is their website http://www.giganticdigital.com/ One of the principals is Mark Lipsky, who was a former senior person at Miramax. I believe one of their goals is to make a streaming release a viable alternative to a theatrical release. Given that you have already released threatrically, this probably won’t apply to your film but I wonder if you move beyond the DVD stage, could they be an option (I don’t know if they are looking at non-premieres) I also don’t know what kind of numbers they have put up and if they have enough reach to make it worthwhile but thought I would mention them to you). I heard Lipsky speak at a film conference recently. Thanks

Paul

Comment by Kitchen Bins on 10/19/09 at 2:31 pm

sounds great, i am looking forward to watch the movie!

Comment by Jeffrey Goodman on 10/19/09 at 2:36 pm

Hi John,

Thanks so much for your very kind words.  I truly appreciate ‘em. 

I hope that you’ll continue to follow along.

All the best,

Jeffrey

Comment by Jeffrey Goodman on 10/19/09 at 2:39 pm

Hi Kitchen Bins,

Thank you so much!  I look forward to you seeing Lullaby.

All the best,

Jeffrey

Comment by Jeffrey Goodman on 10/19/09 at 2:41 pm

HI Paul,

Wow, thanks so much for all the support!  I can’t wait to see SCALP, as well.  It’s on its way. 

I appreciate the heads-up on Gigantic.  I will investigate.  If I find out anything of note, I’ll let you know.  Please do the same.

Keep up all the great work!  Thanks, Paul.

All the best,

Jeffrey

Comment by Guia Hungria on 11/03/09 at 7:01 pm

I’m convinced, dieing for those prizes!

Comment by Jeffrey Goodman on 11/03/09 at 7:04 pm

Thanks so much, Guia!  The drawing on the 18th will be very fun.  I hope to see you there.

All the best,

Jeffrey

Comment by Clarissa on 11/18/09 at 1:32 pm

sounds like a great movie! check out some others on this site or see yours featured here!
http://www.bigstar.tv

Comment by nike dunk on 1/27/10 at 9:50 pm

Thanks so much, Guia!  The drawing on the 18th will be very fun.boston celtics basketball Jerseys|pittsburgh steelers Football Jerseys I hope to see you there.

All the best,

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