TestimonialsFollowing our conversation, I just want to send you a note to say thank you for all the wonderful films you submitted to us. When we met a film scout from Ostrow and Company at a film festival we were hesitant at having to spend any more money on the film. But we weren't getting any where by ourselves. In fact we had already been turned down by HBO but that's exactly who Page Ostrow sold it to when we finally decided to hire her! She was able to negociate a mid-6 figure deal with Sheila Nevins at HBO for the world premiere of JUVIES even igniting a bidding war between Showtime and HBO. Shortly thereafter the team at Ostrow and Company negotiated the international rights for JUVIES during Cannes Film Festival. We realize now that there are those who make films and those who sell them. It was worth every penny to retain experienced and professional producers representatatives like the great team at Ostrow and Company. Working with Ostrow and Company has been fantastic. Not only are they supportive, dedicated, well-connected in the business and always available whenever I have a question, but they got us a worldwide distribution deal with a top company in less than 3 months. The results speak for themselves! Paige, Jeff and the whole team are so wonderful and I'm beyond thrilled my team, now includes them. The landscape in Hollywood has become much more competitive in the past three years and with the country tittering on the edge of recession its only getting worse. In this new era anyone owning a digital camcorder and a computer can churn out a movie, and as a result the market has become historically saturated. When we first retained Ostrow and Company we had several foreign distribution offers. Ostrow and Company was able to get us a low six figure advance that was much higher than what we were first offered. Sometime later, we were offered several domestic deals that were far lower than what we expected and Ostrow and Company worked tirelessly to get us the right deal. I am not sure if another producer's rep company would have stuck it out as long to secure us the best domestic deal. Needless to say, I would recommend them to other filmmakers who are trying to navigate through the distribution maze. I am very glad we worked with them. There is something to be said for the satisfaction of making an independent film in a one-room office on a tight budget. We found the key to be tedious organization and spending money wisely, and we were able to hire some of the most experienced technical professionals for post-production as a result. When we dicided to use Ostrow and Company rather than try to negotiate a distribution deal ourselves, things happened very quickly. Jeff Porter and the Ostrow team found a distributor for us within DAYS of signing with Ostrow. As independent filmmakers, we had prepared ourselves for distribution to be a long and tedious process. When Jeff called us to tell us they had locked in the terms we had asked for, we were in shock. The Ostrow team has the knowledge, resources and the contacts necessary not only find a distributor for a film but to find the right distributor for each film it takes on. Thank you to Page, Jeff and the Ostrow team! After screening our feature film RAIN DOWN at the Los Angeles Femme Film Festival in October 2010, we (Rain Down Pictures Inc.) were contacted by a scout from Ostrow and Company to see if we might be a fit for them and them for us. This started an interesting and educational process wherein we eventually signed with them to be our Producer's Representatives. My day-to-day dealings were generally with Jeff Porter and, like all the communications I had with Ostrow's team, they were prompt, polite and encouraging. At the same time, Rain Down Pictures was in negotiations with a Canadian distributor and their U.S. partner for the rights to distribute RAIN DOWN in Canada, the US and internationally. I had found the negotiations frustrating and unproductive and was happy to turn over negotiations to Page Ostrow, although I did not have a lot of hope that it was a deal worth saving. Well, what do you know? Page was able to negotiate a much better fee, a more reasonable term, cut the expenses cap in half and, best of all, get them to agree to a Performance Clause wherein if they don't reach a certain dollar amount within two years, Rain Down Pictures has the option to get my film back. I would never have thought to even try for something like that on my own. Thanks Page, thanks Jeff, thanks Ostrow and Company. Hi Everyone At Ostrow and Company! Working with Ostrow and Company has been an interesting experience and our first steps in going beyond doing it all ourselves. Working with Jeff Porter has been terrific and the regular conversations we have had with him from the other side of the world clarified many of the doubts and anxieties we had. We signed up after borrowing money from friends and family, who all were primed that it could be a losing gamble. Five months down the track, we were presented with our first deal, then a few weeks later, another came through with a different distribution company where Page negotiated a deal which would see us getting returns on the first sale rather than the distributor only paying out once they recouped their expenses, plus P&A. Ostrow and Company were always ready to answer questions and provide status updates as we went through the process of selling In Pursuit of a Dream. Her team's contacts and negotiating skills helped us land with a distributor that we fill will give us the global exposure we desire. I am a film-maker and don't have the experience, contacts or personality to get an international distribution deal for my film. But Page Ostrow has, and has done just that for my low-budget independent Australian feature film, FOUR OF A KIND. It's a small film about four women so it was pleasing and also appropriate to have a female representing it in the marketplace. When we completed our first feature film, Without Light, we never realized the time, effort and contacts required to market the film to distributors. As with many independent filmmakers we had other jobs that required our time and limited time available to find and negotiate distribution of our film. Our movie had been on the festival circuit for several months, after premiering at South by Southwest, and we had been able to get it into the hands of several acquisitions people, including some fairly high up in some big companies. Many even took the time to respond with a phone call and tell us what they liked about the movie. But none of them took it on. Some smaller companies approached us about DVD and international distribution, but it's a jungle out there and difficult to know whom to trust. Page and her staff at Ostrow and Company are true professionals. Steeped in knowledge of the film and television industry, they employ a process that is organized and savvy. Page is a strong negotiator and is able to step into any situation with care for relationships and produce great results. We love producing films but negotiating for distribution and other rights, should be left to the professionals, like Ostrow and Company. I signed with Ostrow & Company in February of 2008. My film was being actively promoted on the web site within a week, and soon after that I started receiving weekly updates on the pitches that Page and her team had made to distributors and television networks. By July of 2008, Page had negotiated DVD and television distribution deals for both the U.S. and international markets. "I am now pleased to be working with Ostrow & Company on my second feature. As a filmmaker based in Asia, where contact with US market is difficult, and certainly more so as a documentary-maker, I have found Page's assistance and experience to be invaluable in ensuring my work is exhibited to a wider audience and in particular to potential industry partners." Page and Ostrow and Company were always very accessible. She has lots of connections and, as reported by the company we ended up signing with, fierce negotiating skills. In a tough environment and economy, through creativity, we were still able to get a deal that satisfied us. Our film had been to 18 film festivals around the world, and we had won 8 awards (including 3 Best Feature Film awards) and yet we couldn't figure out how to get a distribution deal. We signed with Ostrow and Company in May 2010. Ostrow and Company had a North American DVD and television distribution deal for us in about 6 weeks. I Spent about a year trying to find distribution for my film with very little luck, so I decided to try another route. I contacted Ostrow & Company. I went with Ostrow and Company on the back of their reputation, having been winkled out from the Naperville Independent Film Festival website. As I was over from the UK for the festival, I went down to LA to meet the team and was impressed with their evident focus and work ethic, so signed up. Back in October 2007, our film 9 Lives of Mara was screened at a lovely little film festival in Beverly Hills called La Femme Film Festival. It was there that fate would be with us when a scout from OSTROW AND COMPANY watched a screening of our film and offered representation for distribution. Prior to this opportunity from Ostrow we had the run of the mill people whose promises were never delivered and gave us very unrealistic time frames. So, when we had our first conversations with Page Ostrow in November of 2007, it was a very welcomed surprise to find such professionalism and brutal honesty. Now of course, we did had our reservations, on the financial level, as all filmmakers do when it requires putting out upfront money in the hopes that you will get the results that others truly believe you will. And for the independent world of film, we have all probably output more than we ever should anyway! But, we decided to take a chance and have faith in what Page Ostrow recommended. She was completely upfront by telling us it would certainly and no doubt be work to place our very niche genre piece, but none the less confident it would eventually find a home. After feeling Page's sincerity and hearing her very honest advice as to what they knew they could do and what we should and should not expect and count on regarding distribution for our film, my partner and I knew our decision to get Ostrow on board was the right one. There are many unique standards and nuances in the highly competitive world of film production. Being new to the business I knew nothing in how to get a film distributed. I was introduced to Page Ostrow by a producer friend for whom Page sold her documentary to HBO after it had been turned down twice. My experience while not as profitable has nonetheless been a positive one. My film INCEST A FAmily Tragedy is more difficult to fit into the mainstream. To-date we've had one sale for foreign rights and the mission continues. Anyone engaging Ostrow & Co. will find that they do not back away from projects that intimidate most producer reps. They are adequately aggressive and easy to work with since their hearts and efforts are all about advancing their client's best interests. I heartily recommend them. I was first contacted by Ostrow and Company after I won "Best Documentary" at the La Femme Film Festival. One of their scouts had heard about my movie and wanted a copy to send along to the company's president. I sent over a copy and was contacted within days by Page Ostrow. She liked the film and wanted to have a meeting to talk about possibly being the producer's representative for it, ultimately trying to get it a distribution deal for television. After talking to her and checking out their website, I got such a great vibe from the company. It seemed they really cared about every film they were representing and they came with endless amounts of experience and advice in an arena where as a first time filmmaker I felt a little lost. Page is very focused and driven about the business of filmmaking and I think she has my film's best interests at heart. "Thanks to Page and Devin at Ostrow and Company, we signed an international deal with Loose Cannon Films at AFM for our first movie - Bleeding Rose." Page Ostrow is a very hardworking, honest and caring producers representative. I strongly recommend Ostrow and Company to any filmmaker seeking a guide through the LA film distribution maze. Page Ostrow is a hell of a closer Page Ostrow is dependable, hard working, loyal and excited about every project she is associated with. Bjornquist Fillms is happy to be working with Ostrow and Company. I would like to thank you again for the brain power you have invested in 'The Child Within,' as evidenced by the thoughtful list of distributors you plan to contact about the film. I really appreciate the resourcefulness you have already applied to the project of getting the word out about this special film. The victims of human trafficking need all the creativity we can give them, so our country can receive the wake-up call it needs, to see human trafficking for what it is: a threat to the very idea of human dignity. The film attacks the problem at its very root -- the demand for prostitution -- the driving force of which, contrary to popular belief, is not the sexual instinct, but rather a completely superfluous need by some to take pleasure in the humiliation of others. To stop human trafficking, we must undercut the demand for it, and by exposing the impulse behind it as unnatural rather than natural -- as a love of humiliation that no one in his right mind would want to admit to -- we hope to shame this deplorable practice out of existence. History shows that nothing stirs up the American public like a controversial film, so we are in the right business, to make a difference! Page Ostrow has been a tremendous asset to my company, Mathis & Morris Productions Inc., in building important industry contacts of substance and influence in this industry. Her relationships and methods have proven to be quite instrumental in getting us much further along in our quest for success than we could have on our own. She is a definite asset to anyone searching for financing, distribution and general real world knowledge of the film business. Through experience I've learned that when I hire a professional to do a job they pay for themselves and then some. That was certainly true with retaining Ostrow & Company. Page Ostrow expertly negotiated and secured distribution with an excellent company on behalf of my movie. I'm on to my next project now and I couldn't be happier. After working in the film business for 30 years...even with all the connections I have and all the time and money I've put into incredible projects, I realize now that I never had a chance to ever succeed without the business acumen and ability to close the deal that Page Ostrow has. She is the angel who has delivered me from development hell! Page Ostrow clearly sees what needs to be done, gives solid advice, and formulates wise business strategies. She has propelled my film career at fast-forward speeds. The best thing about Page, however, is that she is genuine and she always finds the positives. Anyone who is a Hollywood first-timer or someone who might be financing their hundredth feature film needs to talk to Page. I had to write to thank you so much for all of your time, attention and help in sheparding my movie, Angels With An Attitude, to distribution! You have been so patient in helping me to learn the ropes - thank you so much! The people at Ostrow and Company have helped me to achieve a long standing ambition, that of finding an agent who will present my video to a community of appropriate potential buyers. I needed help in a variety of areas, from refining artwork to defining my marketing strong points. Ostrow has handled my requirements in a professional, timely and cost effective way. Trying to get my film out there on my own, I ended up spending too much time and too much money - eventually not seeing anything for my efforts. When a filmmaker friend recommended them to me, I went into their office to meet with their team and liking what I heard, we got started immediately. Now within two months I have a deal and I am very happy with it. The team there, including the president Page Ostrow are very knowledgeable and excellent at what they do. When they verbalize something they always deliver. I'm excited that they're going to keep working for me on this project and I'm looking forward to bring them future ones as well. Ostrow and Company is an organization that delivers what they promise. After just over one month of being signed with OandC, Page managed to secure a very amicable deal for us with a very reputable distribution company. The distribution company agreed to advance us a small amount of cash towards our future revenues which makes us believe that Page placed us in the right hands, namely one that believes in our project. Our feature which was called "The Last One" (based on recommendations by the distributor, the new title is "Krankenhaus: War of Souls") will be featured at AFM by them. This is after trying to secure distribution on our own to no avail. We know that Ostrow and Company is selective in the projects they represent and we feel lucky to have been able to make a film good enough to be on their roster. Ostrow & Company did for our documentary feature "I Can Tell the World" - what we were unable to do in nearly 18 months: find us a distributor for the North American market and another for International. Testimonial – 'The Endangered' If you wouldn’t ask a salesperson to make a film, then why would you market your project yourself? Ostrow and Company gave us a straightforward pitch on what they could do for us, then went out and delivered. We had an offer within 45 days and we were signed several months later. As Louisiana based filmmakers, there is no way we could have accomplished these results and if so, the travel would have cost a lot more than the fees we paid Ostrow. They have the integrity, relationships and the persistence to put your film in the hands of the right players. We are pleased with our results and excited about their collections commitment. How would we collect from someone overseas? The folks at Ostrow have thought everything out. If you have put all that you have into your film, go the last mile and have a pro represent you. From the first day we met with Jeff Porter, our Ostrow and Company representative we knew we were in good hands. Jeff understood our position as independent filmmakers trying to negotiate the distribution process. He met with us personally, providing guidance on writing creative loglines, creating an overall strong press packet, while making sure that he understood our film so that he could best market it to the networks. We were offered a worldwide distribution deal. Jeff negotiated to keep North American distribution, which worked to our benefit as this allowed us to sell the rights to the film again to a US network. Jeff was always available by phone and e-mail to answer any questions as we went through the contract process, addressing our concerns and negotiating with the networks to make sure that we got the best deal possible. |
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