How to Onboard Your Film

Easily add your Film to Gathr and create a customized Film page.

From your Dashboard's left sidebar, select "Film" and choose "Add Film."

 

Follow these steps to get your Film onto Gathr:

1. Add your Film details
2. Add Cast & Crew
3. Set up your Film page
4. Set your Film fees
5. Configure Film Playback Settings
6. Configure your Video on Demand settings
   1. Video on Demand
   2. Partner Video on Demand
7. Add Awards, Laurels, & Reviews

    1.  Add your Film details

The first step is to add your Film details. 

Starting with the first field, enter your Film name.  If your Film is in the Open Movie Database (OMDB), its title will appear for you to select. 

According to the information provided by the OMDB, your remaining Film details will be filled in automatically. 

If your Film is not in the OMDB, or if details are only partially filled in, then complete the following fields for your Film:

• Film Title
• Film Content Rating
• Synopsis
• Genre
• Year of Release
• Running time (in minutes)
• Country of Origin
• Languages

   2.  Add Cast & Crew

Invite cast & crew to join Gathr, so they appear as featured Talent on your Film page. 

If your Film's contributors have been auto-filled, you can select the Invite button to send them an invitation to Gathr directly by providing their email address. 

You can also enter contributors manually, selecting the relevant role and entering a name for each one. 

You must enter at least three contributors to continue. 

   3.  Set Up Your Film Page

Add a trailer URL, poster, and cover photo to your Film page. 

If your poster image wasn't auto-filled, add your poster in the highest resolution image in a 1:2 ratio. 

You can also add a Film profile image. 

   4.  Set Your Film Fees

Customize screening earnings and availability for theatrical, non-theatrical, and virtual screenings of your Film.

Theatrical screenings operate with a single set of controls for enabling bookings and setting fees, while non-theatrical and virtual screenings offer greater customizability beyond setting general screening fees, allowing you to set different fees based on the type of host booking your Film. 

This section explains how to enable, customize, and manage screening requests while setting appropriate fees and availability.

 

Theatrical Screenings

Enable theatrical screenings to allow your community to book movie theaters for your Film. These can be risk-free through Theatrical on Demand® or direct reservations with custom ticket distribution.

Disabling this feature removes the option for theatrical screenings altogether.

Auto-Accept (Instant Confirmation)

Automatically activated whenever you enable Theatrical screening requests, this setting enables instant confirmation of incoming requests by applying your set fee and booking the Event immediately. 

Screening Fees

Set fees for paid and free screenings, or use a standard fee for both. Adding fees ensures that inquiries are automatically accepted and charged accordingly.

• Fee Options:
  • Fixed Fee: Set a flat rate that must be covered before publishing the Event.
  • % Share of Ticket Sales (for paid Events): Earn a set percentage of net profits after Event expenses and service fees.
  • Per-Person Fee: Charge based on the number of attendees to a screening Event. 
  • Minimum Guarantee: Ensure a baseline payment before confirmation, covering costs via ticket sales or direct payment. Available for both % Share of Ticket Sales and Per-Person Fee. 

Availability Window

Set date ranges for when your Film is available for theatrical screenings, or select "always available" to accept ongoing inquiries.

Non-Theatrical Screenings

Enable non-theatrical screenings to broaden your audience through community events, schools, libraries, and hybrid experiences.

Disabling this setting prevents all non-theatrical requests.

Auto-Accept & Screening Fees

Auto-Accept can be used with screening fees to confirm bookings instantly. You can also manually approve inquiries if fees are not assigned.

Screening Fees

Set fees for paid and free screenings, or use a standard fee for both. Fees ensure that inquiries are automatically accepted and charged accordingly. Non-theatrical screening fees can be configured just like theatrical screening fees:

• Fee Options
  • Fixed Fee: Set a flat rate that must be covered before publishing the Event.
  • % Share of Ticket Sales (for paid Events): Earn a set percentage of net profits after Event expenses and service fees.
  • Per-Person Fee: Charge based on the number of attendees rather than total Event capacity.
  • Minimum Guarantee: Ensure a baseline payment before confirmation, covering costs via ticket sales or direct payment. Available for both % Share of Ticket Sales and Per-Person Fee. 

Host Type Fees

Different fees can be assigned based on the booking host type, ensuring equitable pricing:

• Educational (requires .edu email)
• Business/For-Profit
• Non-Profit (requires verified EIN and a .org email)
• Individual
• Faith
• Custom (e.g., veterans, seniors, students, donors, etc.)

 

Virtual Screenings

Offer virtual screenings with interactive Q&A sessions via Zoom or other platforms. Disabling this feature removes the option for virtual events.

Auto-Accept & Screening Fees

Auto-Accept enables instant confirmations with pre-set fees. Without this setting, manual approval is required.

Screening Fees

Set fees for paid and free screenings, or use a standard fee for both. Fees ensure that inquiries are automatically accepted and charged accordingly. Virtual screening fees can be configured just like theatrical or non-theatrical screening fees,

• Fee Options
  • Fixed Fee: Set a flat rate that must be covered before publishing the Event.
  • % Share of Ticket Sales (for paid events): Earn a set percentage of net profits after Event expenses and service fees.
  • Per-Person Fee: Charge based on the number of attendees rather than total Event capacity.
  • Minimum Guarantee: Ensure a baseline payment before confirmation, covering costs via ticket sales or direct payment. Available for both % Share of Ticket Sales and Per-Person Fee. 

Host Type Fees

Different fees can be assigned based on the booking host type, ensuring equitable pricing:

• Educational (requires .edu email)
• Business/For-Profit
• Non-Profit (requires verified EIN and a .org email)
• Individual
• Faith
• Custom (e.g., veterans, seniors, students, donors, etc.)

By configuring the right settings for your screenings, you can maximize exposure, manage bookings efficiently, and ensure fair compensation. 

    5. Configure Film Presentation Settings

Choose a streaming format. Whether you prefer simple playback or interactive features and TV app exposure, Gathr supports multiple streaming options to fit your needs.

Choose between these two streaming formats:

Vimeo Video Link - Basic Playback 

• • Simple playback experience

• • Supports Video on Demand (VOD)

HLS Link - Q&A Enabled + TV Apps (Recommended)

• • Integrated Film playback + live introduction or Q&A

  • Supports Video on Demand (VOD)

  • Enhanced audience interaction through Zoom 

  • Gathr TV app playback enabled

 

Vimeo Video Link

For Vimeo, input your Vimeo link by copying it from your Vimeo dashboard, after configuring the video to "Hide from Vimeo" and adding "Gathr.com" as an approved embeddable domain. 

   6.  Configure your Video on Demand settings

Easily enable Video on Demand (VOD) so your audience can rent your Film and set up Partner VOD so your Partners can share your Film with their communities, boosting viewership and revenue. 

Video on Demand

Starting with Video on Demand, you can leverage your Film as a rental directly to your audience from your Talent profile, as a product for sale in event checkout, and inside your virtual event watch page shop. 

To do so, it's as easy as toggling on Video on Demand and completing these settings:

• Price - How much will it cost to rent your VOD?
• Start date - When can your audience start renting your VOD?
• End date - When is the last date your audience can rent your VOD? 

After you save your settings, your VOD will be published. 

To further customize your VOD, access the link to VOD Advanced Settings in your Film Management dashboard in the Video on Demand tab. 

Alternatively, you can access your Video on Demand tab on the left sidebar menu at any time to view your Video on Demand. 

Partner Video on Demand

Take full advantage of your Video on Demand by enabling others to book it and share it across their communities and boost both viewership and revenue for your Film.

 

VOD Distribution Fees

To start with, customize how much and in what way you want to earn money for your VOD distribution. Choose from the following possibilities:

• Fixed fee & Maximum VOD Sales Limit - Set the dollar amount partners will pay to offer your Film as a VOD. Likewise, set a maximum sales limit for your fixed fee - this is required for fixed fees. 
  • For example, set your Fixed fee to $250 and set your Maximum VOD sales limit to 100 sales. 
  • Your partner pays $250 upfront to offer your Film as a VOD, and after they sell 100 rentals, they must rebook your Film to continue offering it as a VOD. 
• % Share of VOD Sales & Minimum Payout per Transaction - Earn a percentage of each rental sale of your VOD. If you'd like to earn a minimum dollar amount per transaction, you can elect to also set your minimum payout per transaction.
  
  • For example, you set a 25% share of VOD sales fee. 
  • Your partner pays nothing upfront to offer your Film as a VOD, and with every sale they make, you will earn a 25% share of each sale. 
  • In another example, you could set a 50% share of VOD sales fee with a $5 minimum payout per transaction. 
  • Your partner pays nothing upfront to offer your Film as a VOD, and with every sale they make, you will earn a 50% share of each sale, and a minimum of $5.
• Per Sale - Set how much you want to earn per transaction. 
  
  • For example, you can set $10 per transaction fee. 
  • Your partner pays nothing upfront to offer your Film as a VOD, and with every sale they make, you will earn $10. 

 

Availability Window

You can elect to limit your VOD viewing window by setting a start date and end date, or you can remove date restrictions. 

For example, if you'd like to maximize theatrical screening attendance, it might be a good idea to set your start date for after your theatrical screenings end.

Likewise, you can set the timing to coincide with marketing efforts for your Film. 

 

Video on Demand Booking Options

Streamline your bookings by enabling Instant Booking for your Film so all inquiries will be automatically confirmed according to your pre-set parameters. 

 

Video on Demand Pricing & Access

Set specific pricing controls for your FIlm as a VOD. 

• Minimum Price - Set a floor price below which your partners cannot price your VOD. 
• Maximum Price - Set a maximum price that limits how high partners can price your VOD. 
• Allow VOD to be offered for free - Toggle this setting on to allow your partners to offer your VOD for free. 

• Allow pre-orders - Allow your partners to activate pre-orders so they can capture sales even before the sales start date. Gathr automatically notifies pre-order purchasers when the VOD is available for viewing. 
• Rental Period - How long do viewers have to watch your Film when they purchase it as a VOD? Your partners won't be able to exceed your rental period after they've booked your Film as a VOD. 
• Rental Duration - Once viewers start watching, how many hours do they have to finish your Film? Your partners won't be able to exceed your rental duration after they've booked your Film as a VOD. 
• Allow Indefinite Access - Remove any limits for renters to view your Film.

 

Geographical Restrictions

Choose from allowing all regions to rent your Film, only allowing certain countries, and blocking certain countries. 

• No geographic restrictions - Renters from all countries in the world can rent and view your Filim. 
• Only allow certain geographic regions - Choose the countries from which renters can view your Film. 
• Allow all except certain geographic regions - Block certain countries' viewers from viewing your Film. 

   7.  Add Awards, Laurels, & Reviews

Showcase the awards your Film has received by adding laurels for each one. You can add your placement, such as "Winner," festival name, like "Toronto Film Festival," and the year of the festival.

Add up to 15 awards your Film has received, and they'll display on your Film and Video on Demand pages (including Partner Videos on Demand). 

Congrats, you've successfully onboarded your Film onto Gathr!