How do independent short film makers make money?
It's very hard/rare to make any money from short films. (It's also very hard/rare to make any money from feature films, but that's a separate issue.) If you upload a short to YouTube or Vimeo, it's possible to monetize it through ads (wherein you get paid a very small amount per view); but the video would have to get something on the order of a million hits for you to see any significant revenue from it.For some filmmakers, shorts are a hobby and the process of making and releasing them is its own reward. However, many aspiring feature filmmakers also make shorts as a "calling card" to get exposure in Hollywood, hoping that producers, agents, studio execs, etc. will see the videos online and then offer to meet with the filmmaker to discuss larger projects.
How does one raise funds for a documentary film?
You could look at funding from a variety of different sources: grants, private investors, crowdfunding, venture capital groups, bankrolling it yourself; it's really up to you and depends on the scope of your production.Here are some options:Private Equity and Venture Capital - Film Financing GroupMusic, Film & Media Venture CapitalVenture Capital AdvisorsAvailable Film Grants - From the HeartA Massive List of Upcoming Grants All Filmmakers Should Know AboutWhere can I find grants for film or videomakers?(do your own due diligence)If you go out for a grant, there may be specific guidelines for writing an application. This may vary from entity to entity. Some VC groups may want to see specific docs, too, like a budget or proposal.Outside of that, you'd approach it the same as you would with a feature or short: treatment, logline, budget and pitch.
In general, what might the reasoning be for certain independent films released direct to video in VHS format, have rights and properties purchased by a major studio, only to not be converted and rereleased in DVD format?
There are a number of things you can do with an IP other than re-releasing it on DVD - especially as DVD sales in north america continue to tank. A distributor could hope to get a broadcast sale to a television channel (or specialty cable channel that shows old movies) or eventually make the title available via a EST or VOD service (netflix, video on demand, itunes)... when prices on those services come down (or sales via those platforms increase). By the same token a distributor might make titles available to art house and indie theatres, but not home video at large. A distributor could be trying to put together a large library of their own, in the hopes of selling a bundle of titles to someone else for a particular reason, or on a particular theme (especially with genre movies like westerns, or blaxploitation films... etc). A distributor could be interested in licensing footage from a film to other projects (documentaries, stock footage libraries etc). A distributor could simply be "panning for gold" - picking up many titles with no plans for them in the hopes that one might eventually have a re-make or other potential down the road (an actor or director who might become famous... etc). I'm sure there are other possible reasons (Kevin's answer has some good ones as well).
Arabs: What contributions have u made to the world in regard 2 inventions, patents, arts, technology, & awards
The Arabs invented Algebra, Astrology & Geometry. Its a know fact.. Infact ancient Arabs were very intelligent and wise I am not even an arab but i know they contributed to many inventions So wether its the past 100 years or whatever...Most of what moderns Europeans are into was originally invented by arabs..
Which DSLR camera is the best in India for making short films for film festivals?
In my understanding, you can take Nikon D5000 OR D5100 with good lens. Both I would recommend in terms of features and quality and usability. Reliable too. After you shoot you can easily transfer your film via USB cable. Nowadays Nikon introduces brand new model with Wi-Fi. So, that also helpful to you.After you shoot your film post it on film festival events using Shortfundly - Watch best indian short films / independent films it will help you to reach film festivals in your city.
If there is a larger home TV audience than theatrical, why don't indie studios set up pay-TV channels to provide high-quality films for them?
Running channels is hard work and if you are an indie channel you aren't going to get a big audience. The cost of broadcasting could easily wipe out your margins. Delivering online however is cheaper for a small audience of an indie film, especially the smaller audience who have 4k. So it would be far easier to close the theatrical window and just go straight to premium Video on Demand (TVoD) / electronic sell through (EST).This is happening already, many films are available to purchase before they are available to rent and there is talk of closing the theatrical window entirely so they are available in theatres at the same time as paid online.But if they close the release window entirely and go simultaneously then it will kill theatrical release and make the cinemas who are already on razor thin margins bankrupt. Cinemas are already terribly unprofitable because of the cut that the film distributors take, that is why the popcorn/snacks are so ludicrously expensive.
What are the best topics on which a short film can be made?
There is nothing called as best topics, as a filmmaker you need to decide which topic is very familiar for you or in which area you are good at.As a filmmaker i would suggest a horror genres because you can have minimum number of actors or a single actor, single location.With good background music, sound effects and some disturbing visuals you can nail the audience.Some of topics that I can think of are:Humanity.No one born a racist.LoveSocial mediaLoyalty of the DogPsychoEducation systemChild marriageSafety of womenHaunted HouseBlind peopleAny persons life story that is not usually not shown in films but important to our survival, for example barber, truck driver, traffic police, street sweepers etcLove of motherMurder mysteryDepressionLifeHuman raceAI and automationAliensSurrogacyPS : here is our short film, do check it out.