Why filmmakers should not rely on YouTube

Filmmaker Leila Djansi has advised young and upcoming filmmakers not to see YouTube as their main platform for distributing films.

She said serious filmmakers should focus on proper film distribution instead of treating their work as online content.

She said, “Unless a distributor is placing your film on YouTube Premium and more, where people pay or subscribe to watch your film, with a real minimum guarantee of at least $200K plus participation, YouTube is not your last stop for film distribution.”

She explained that YouTube is suitable for content creators, but not for filmmakers who want to build long-term careers.

“Film is not content. If you are making content, YouTube makes sense. But if you are a serious filmmaker, YouTube should not be your goal,” she said in a Facebook sighted by MyNewsGh.

Leila also spoke about the challenges that come with using YouTube, including piracy and copyright issues.

“There are things people rarely talk about. Piracy. Copyright claims. Downloads. Demonetization. Inflated view counts. Constant disputes,” she stated.

She added that these problems can be stressful and discouraging for filmmakers.

According to her, filmmakers should learn about proper distribution and treat filmmaking as a business.

“Save yourself the headache. Understand proper film distribution,” she advised.