Currently, that kind of opportunity for future young filmmakers and entrepreneurs does not yet seem to have found a secure home in the digital landscape. That said, there are successes, but they are random and not as “educated guessable” as what it would take to get a PO from Blockbuster or the like. A solid place where a new artist with a few hundred or a few thousand dollars and a video camera (or today a smart phone) could find an audience, as well as a film with a budget of several hundred thousand to a couple of million, or a very independent distributor like myself could nurture and develop a successful film franchise from the expected income from direct independent retail sales, does not currently exist.

While the financial reality of advertising as well as the overall ability to develop entertainment on a broad scale requires a focus on the business aspects of the larger entertainment media corporations, with it’s belief that “our industry both needs and deserves an independent trade publication …” Media Play News would be wise to make it a point to include a focus on the challenges and successes of the very independent filmmakers. We are quite possibility the soul and future of the industry that often is overlooked.

In the meantime, contact Bob Tollini (bob.tollini@gmail.com) who sends out a weekly list of what is coming out, including minor labels and purchasing recommendations.

And if you want to go REALLY deep, check out http://hometheaterinfo.com/dvdlist.htm for spreadsheets with every known DVD with price, UPC, etc. Updated when release dates are known, so will include items currently in prebook.