Distribution

Breaking into the screenwriting industry is more competitive than ever. Literary agents receive hundreds, sometimes thousands of submissions each month, and most of those never make it past the initial scan. Many talented writers struggle not because their work lacks potential, but because they don’...

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Hey, guys.

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Hey, guys.

I know it's weird, me posting in Distribution, but this is a deeply personal project of mine. My greatest challenge so far comes not as a writer, but as an aficionado of anime and an ambassador of the obscure. As some of you know, I adore classic anime from the 1970s and 1980s, particularly the adaptations of the works of Leiji Matsumoto - "Galaxy Express 999", "Queen Millennia", "Space Pirate Captain Harlock" and "Space Battleship Yamato". I love the Leijiverse because of its strong writing and deeply introspective and philosophical themes.

My challenge, my goal, is to find a way to get the 1982 "Queen Millennia" anime movie (not the TV series, which is already out on Blu-ray) a wide release (outside of Japan, it's only been released in Italy, France, Germany and Spain). I don't care if I have to guarantee an English-language dub for it (I prefer subtitles), I'm willing to do whatever it takes to see this film get unearthed from obscurity, because I believe it's one that deserves to be seen. I came to know about the movie thanks to part of its soundtrack featuring in the 1986 Michael Mann film "Manhunter", and I've been on a one-man mission to make the "Queen Millennia" movie well-known ever since.

I know what you're thinking: who gives a smeg about a 40+ year-old animated film? Let me tell you: stranger things have happened - the 1991 Studio Ghibli flick "Only Yesterday" eventually got an English-language release, the "Virtua Fighter" anime series, despite being less-than-well-received on transmission (but well received enough to get a cult following), got a Blu-ray release some years back (with the first season featuring both English and Japanese audio tracks, and the little-seen-outside-of-Japan second season being in Japanese), and even "Miami Vice", with its complicated musical licensing deals, eventually got DVD and Blu-ray releases, so don't tell me that this can't be done. There's no such thing as "can't", not for me.

I've been able to get a list of the rightsholders for the movie - production rights, distribution rights, soundtrack rights - but I have no idea where the hell to begin. I know the film's obscurity is largely in part due to the theme song, which plays at the end of the movie, but I'm not sure how to conduct myself in this manner. I've started writing a letter to the party involved, and I've set up a Discord server known as the "Queen Millennia Liberation Project". Any advice would be appreciated.

S. P.

Ashley Renee Smith

Head of Community at Stage 32 ♦ Creative Executive, Producer, Author

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Maurice Vaughan

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1 person likes this
- Austin Oneal Jones
2 weeks ago

Hi, Austin Oneal Jones. Have you thought about Vimeo?

Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg

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2 people like this
- Austin Oneal Jones
- Maurice Vaughan
2 weeks ago

Austin Oneal Jones It's a music video, no? YouTube, which is where it is. As well look at these:

https://www.maestro.io/blog/best-music-video-distribution-platforms/...

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Stephen Folker

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
5 hours ago

YouTube.

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1 person likes this
- Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg
4 days ago

I was surprised when I heard about this, Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg. I think even more people will watch the Oscars now since there are so many people on YouTube regularly. And people who use YouTu...

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
4 days ago

Well they have been converging for years - when you have a smart TV you don't need to care whether you are on broadcast or internet. So there's no real purpose for broadcast any longer, given the cost...

1
1 person likes this
- Jack Binder
6 days ago

WOW! This is incredible for animation, theaters, and the industry, Jack Binder!

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
6 days ago

Very successful to be sure. But I honestly would like to relate that to number of ticket sales, as ticket prices at box office are higher than at any other time.

Jack Binder

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2 people like this
- Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg
- Maurice Vaughan
6 days ago

Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg Good point, much of the growth in box office can be attributed to increased ticket prices over the last decade. However, the standout successful titles are indeed an indi...

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Barry Kushelowitz

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- Sebastian Tudores
- Maurice Vaughan
2 weeks ago

Thank you Jessica!!!

Sebastian Tudores

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2 people like this
- David Austin Veal
- Maurice Vaughan
2 weeks ago

Thank you everyone for joining us live today and for the great questions & happy and educational viewing to those who will be benefiting on-demand :)

And a big thank you to Jessica Zou for generously s...

David Austin Veal

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3 people like this
2 weeks ago

This was wonderful Jessica, thank you. I have a lot of notes. I'm into following the route of film festival script competitions and developing the craft through Education/Script Services here on Stage...

Sydney S

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2 people like this
- Sebastian Tudores
- Maurice Vaughan
6 days ago

Thank you so much for attending everyone! Thank you Jessica for all of the knowledge, I am blown away! Thanks Sebastian for hosting!

Thanks so much, David! That sounds like a really smart, thoughtful path forward. We’re glad the session was helpful and love that you’re taking full advantage of Stage 32 education and script services...

2
2 people like this
- Stefano Pavone
- Maurice Vaughan
6 days ago

Stefano Pavone Add me to your network, and DM me here. We can go from there. My partner and I at Diamond Shadow Productions are anime lovers as well.

Ewan Dunbar

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4 people like this
1 month ago

If you think it could be interpreted as misleading it may be better to avoid using them for purposes other than indicating something that has approved use from selections/wins at film festivals or competitions.

Sumit Kumar

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2 people like this
- Vanessa Chattman 2
- Maurice Vaughan
1 month ago

Understood. I will only use them for officially approved selections or wins. Thank you for the guidance.

Debbie Elicksen

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2 people like this
- Sumit Kumar
- Maurice Vaughan
3 weeks ago

Absolutely branding can be applied to websites and socials. Sumit Kumar people do it all the time. Branding is a look and feel, like a consistent thumbnail on YouTube or colors on Instagram. The one t...

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
2 weeks ago

Thank you for explaining! Yes, I agree branding is mainly about maintaining a consistent look and feel across platforms. And you’re right, every platform has a different type of audience and content p...

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2 people like this
- Geoff Hall
- Maurice Vaughan
2 weeks ago

I don't know if I've seen content from Saudi Arabia yet Geoff Hall. I had to check to see where The Stoning of Soraya M. was located: Jordan. I guess I'll have to check out a couple Saudi films on Net...

Geoff Hall

Debbie Elicksen sounds like a good idea, Debbie. Please let me know what you find.

Ben Rood

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2 people like this
- Don Zorbas
- Maurice Vaughan
3 weeks ago

Go nuts:

https://nofilmschool.com/youre-picture-locked-nowwhat-ruben-fleischer

Mike Boas

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
3 weeks ago

Filmmaking Stuff with Tom Malloy

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3 people like this
3 weeks ago

Great question Don Zorbas. I would add that looking for discussions on marketing and distribution doesn't have to be exclusively film-related. One can find solid gems from other industries that can be...

Don Zorbas I also just found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HEdaUa5fNw...

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2 people like this
- Don Zorbas
- Maurice Vaughan
2 weeks ago

KCRW’s The Business.

The Town from Ringer.

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1 person likes this
- Debbie Elicksen
3 weeks ago

Must-read blog, Debbie Elicksen! Thanks for sharing it! I can use some things in it to help pitch my scripts and projects, like "Repurpose Videos Across Multiple Formats."...

Maurice Vaughan Awesome.

Vincent Turner

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2 people like this
- Sandra Isabel Correia
- Maurice Vaughan
2 weeks ago

The deal was sent to Netflix to help the cinema all around, they are helping each other... Mainly Netflix saving our pastime because like Kpop people would love to watch Stranger Things end in theaters.

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2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Sandra Isabel Correia
2 weeks ago

This is an interesting move by N...

Sandra Isabel Correia

I agree, Maurice Vaughan.This feels like a smart move that benefits both Netflix and audiences. I see it as an innovative step that could revitalize theaters while opening doors for hybrid release str...

Exactly, Vincent Turner. Netflix and theaters supporting each other is powerful. It really feels like they’re helping revitalize cinema while giving fans that big‑screen cultural moment....

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2 people like this
- Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg
- Maurice Vaughan
2 weeks ago

Thanks for sharing that perspective and the link, Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg. You raise an important point; the guaranteed concession model does secure profit for theaters, but it also risks creati...

Find Your Footing on Stage 32: Join Our December Community Open House!

Monday, December 29th at 12:00 pm PT!

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