<!-- Please take care to not orphan any references accompanied by invisible comments when editing. --> {{Infobox company | name = Indie Rights, Inc. | parent = Nelson Madison Films (est. 2003) | logo = NelsonMadisonBigLogo.svg | logo_size = 260px | type = | key_people = Linda Nelson (CEO)<br>Michael Madison (COO)<!-- see ref TFC --> | foundation = {{sda|2007}} | location = 825 S Hill Street, #604<br>Los Angeles, California<br>United States<!-- see ref TFC --> | industry = Film | products = Motion pictures | homepage = {{URL|indierights.com}} }} '''Indie Rights, Inc.''' is an American distributor of independent films, based in Los Angeles, California. Indie Rights is a subsidiary of '''Nelson Madison Films''' and was incorporated in 2007 to act as distributor for other independent filmmakers.<ref name=variety>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/news/osiris-adds-to-its-indie-library-1118002358/ |title=Osiris Adds To Its Indie Library |last=Graser |first=Marc |work=Variety |date=April 12, 2009 |accessdate=September 27, 2014}}</ref> The corporation began as a private MySpace group<!-- styled at the time as MySpace --> where the makers of independent films could get information about the changing face of film distribution; founders Linda Nelson and Michael Madison created Indie Rights so that distribution contracts could be signed by a legal entity. The corporation distributes films largely through video on demand services, though more recently it has overseen such theatrical releases as ''We Are Kings'' and ''Fray'', both in 2014.

Nelson Madison Films has produced three features: ''Bigger Than Live'' (2002), ''Shifted'' (2006) and ''Delivered'' (2011).<ref name=Thompson /><ref name=secrets />

==History==

===Background=== Linda Nelson is a former investment banker and computer systems analyst based in Los Angeles since 1980;<ref name=Thompson /> Michael Madison moved there in 1999 from Duncanville, Texas, to work as an actor and film producer.<ref name=DMN>{{cite news |last=Meyer |first=John P. |url=http://go.dallasnews.com/news/2007/feb/02/movie-review-and-commentary-ishiftedi-nelson-madis/ |title=DVD Review and Commentary: ''Shifted'', By Nelson Madison Films |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=February 2, 2007 |accessdate=September 29, 2014}}</ref> They first partnered in 2000 to create and distribute the NSYNC concert film ''Bigger Than Live'' for IMAX theaters. In 2003, they formed their own company<ref name=variety /><!-- cites previous sentence and fragment --> with the goal of making independent features using local talent. Madison acts and handles writing, producing and directing duties; Nelson writes and produces<ref name=DMN /><!-- cites previous two sentence fragments --> while developing distribution plans for other filmmakers.

===Lawsuit and recovery=== ''Bigger Than Live'' broke even during its theatrical run, but Nelson and Madison "failed to tie up the necessary rights in our initial contract" and lost home video distribution in a lawsuit that shut down their production office. They moved into "more humble digs" and tried again with the crime thriller ''Shifted'', learning the ins and outs of distribution while attending film festivals.<ref name=secrets /><!-- cites previous two sentences and preceding fragment --> Nelson soon discovered that the chances of getting a film seen at a major festival such as Sundance or Cannes without having connections in the industry "are slim to nothing."{{sfn|Parks|2007|loc=p. 89}} The company began a private group on MySpace called Indie Co-op, where filmmakers could get details on self-distribution, including attendance at smaller festivals where films are likely to benefit from local coverage and reviews.{{sfn|Parks|2007|loc=p. 87–88}}

Nelson believed that film distributors didn't have any systems for accountability in place,<ref name=Thompson>{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Anne |url=https://variety.com/2007/digital/news/independent-films-going-online-1117963017/ |title=Anne Thompson On Hollywood: Independent Films Going Online |work=Variety |date=April 13, 2007 |accessdate=September 27, 2014}}</ref> and that they tended to buy the rights to entire catalogs rather than individual films,{{sfn|Parks|2007|loc=p. 87}} so she and Madison decided to do it themselves. Since they needed a legal entity to make distribution contracts valid,<ref name=secrets>{{cite web |last=Courshon |first=Jerome |url=http://www.distribution.la/rights.html |title=Interview with Indie Rights |website=The Secrets to Distribution |accessdate=September 26, 2014}}</ref> they incorporated Indie Rights in 2007.<ref name=dandb>{{cite web|url=http://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/indierightsinc-glendale-ca-23357961.html|title=Indie Rights Inc – Glendale, CA – Business Profile|website=Dun & Bradstreet|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref> Nelson said doing both film production and distribution gives them a greater understanding of the challenges that filmmakers face than would a company that focuses only on distribution.{{sfn|''Minding VOD Windows''|loc=3:00–3:05}}

===Film distribution=== Indie Rights distributes globally to on demand platforms such as Amazon Video, Google Play, Hulu and iTunes,<ref name=VOD>{{cite web |last=Kendrick |first=Tommy G. |url=http://actorstalkacting.com/047-vod-distribution-with-linda-nelson/ |title=047 ATP Intro to VOD Distribution with Linda Nelson <!-- tips 4 and 14 --> |website=Actors Talk |date=January 2014 |accessdate=September 29, 2014}}</ref> where filmmakers can earn up to 80 percent of the revenue.<ref name=revenue>{{cite news|last=Koungoulos|first=Afrodite|url=https://www.columbiaspectator.com/arts-and-entertainment/2015/04/09/take-two-film-festival-support-independent-creators/|title=Take Two Film Festival to support independent creators|publisher=Spectator Publishing|via=Columbia Daily Spectator|location=New York City|date=April 13, 2007|accessdate=April 9, 2018}}</ref> Innovations include searchable film rentals on YouTube and through video game consoles. In 2014, the company was the first independent studio included on M–GO, a subscription service supported by six major studios that offers films for home viewing while they are playing in theaters.{{sfn|''Minding VOD Windows''|loc=27:26–28:43}}

Filmmaker and Baylor University professor Christopher Hansen turned to Indie Rights in 2015 when his film ''Where We Started'' failed to make the major festival circuit. After a short run at the Arena Cinema Hollywood led to favorable reviews, the film was released via digital platforms.<ref name=WWS>{{cite web|last=Kosek|first=Jane Kelly|url=http://www.allaboutindiefilmmaking.com/2015/06/q-with-christopher-hansen.html|title=Q&A with Christopher Hansen, Writer/Director of Where We Started|website=All About Indie Filmmaking|date=June 19, 2015|accessdate=July 14, 2015}}</ref> Theatrical releases by Indie Rights also include ''9 Full Moons'' (2013), featuring Amy Seimetz and Harry Dean Stanton;<ref name=9FM>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiewire.com/film/9-full-moons |title=''9 Full Moons'' |publisher=IndieWire |accessdate=September 27, 2014}}</ref> ''We Are Kings'', the feature-film debut of ''America's Got Talent'' winner Bianca Ryan,<ref name="WAK">{{cite news |last=Rechtshaffen |first=Michael |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-we-are-kings-review-20140920-story.html |title=Review: ''We Are Kings'' Has Heart of Blues but Misses Art of Filmmaking |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 19, 2014 |accessdate=September 19, 2014}}</ref> ''Move Me No Mountain'' (2023), and ''Druid Peak'', starring Spencer Treat Clark and winner of Best Feature Film at the 2014 Omaha Film Festival.<ref name=OFF>{{cite web|url=http://omahafilmfestival.org/category/winners/|title=Results From the 2014 OFF|website=Omaha Film Festival|accessdate=July 21, 2016}}</ref>

Indie Rights became part of the Independent Online Distribution Alliance in 2008,<ref name="IODA">{{cite news|last=Hoffman|first=Jessica|url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/IODA-Expands-Video-and-Film-Distribution-Network-Onto-Amazon-873239.htm|title=IODA Expands Video and Film Distribution Network Onto Amazon|work=Marketwired|date=June 26, 2008 |accessdate=October 20, 2014}}</ref> and is a member of the Independent Film & Television Alliance,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifta-online.org/sites/default/files/IFTA%20Members%202018.pdf|title=IFTA Members 2018|publisher=Independent Film & Television Alliance|date=Winter 2018|accessdate=April 8, 2018|archive-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171444/http://www.ifta-online.org/sites/default/files/IFTA%20Members%202018.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> which presents the American Film Market each year in November. Nelson and Madison also conduct seminars for independent filmmakers looking to build an audience through social networking.<ref name=wshop>{{cite web|url=http://www.eventbrite.com/e/industry-panels-dffla-tix-will-be-sold-at-door-ltd-quantities-tickets-3836069788|title=Industry Panels Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles|website=Eventbrite|accessdate=October 21, 2014|archive-date=October 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022043553/http://www.eventbrite.com/e/industry-panels-dffla-tix-will-be-sold-at-door-ltd-quantities-tickets-3836069788|url-status=dead}}{{indent|3}}{{cite web|url=http://www.burbankfilmfest.org/seminar-schedule/|title=A Day of Free Industry Panels and Seminars|website=Burbank International Film Festival|accessdate=October 21, 2014|archive-date=October 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031072635/http://www.burbankfilmfest.org/seminar-schedule/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, Indie Rights launched its own subscription channel available through services including Roku.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://channelstore.roku.com/details/112162|title=Indie Rights Movies|publisher=Roku Channel Store|date=October 8, 2016|accessdate=April 8, 2018}}</ref>

===Filmmaking=== Starting in 2010, the budgetary constraints of independent film-making required that Nelson Madison Films go tapeless. ''Delivered'', their second "crime thriller", was their first to utilize Red Digital Cinema cameras and Adobe CS5 production software.<ref name=HDVP>{{cite web |last=Blair |first=Iain |url=http://www.hdvideopro.com/film-and-tv/feature-films/special-delivery.html |title=Special Delivery: Using RED Cameras, Adobe CS5 and Social-Networking Sites Like Facebook and YouTube, ''Delivered'' Could Be the Next Model for Indie Film |website=HDVideoPro |date=October 20, 2010 |accessdate=September 26, 2014 |archive-date=October 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014035157/http://www.hdvideopro.com/film-and-tv/feature-films/special-delivery.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Madison directed, and played the lead role in an "uneven performance" where "at times he's spot-on".<ref name=delivered>{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Mark |url=http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/46778/ |title=''Delivered'' |website=Film Threat |date=February 15, 2012 |accessdate=October 8, 2014}}</ref>

==Films== By early 2018, Indie Rights had distributed a catalog of more than 450 films.<ref name=TFC>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefilmcatalogue.com/companies/indie-rights|title=Indie Rights|publisher=Independent Film & Television Alliance|via=The Film Catalogue|accessdate=April 8, 2017}}</ref> The list includes:<!-- EDITORS: before adding films to the list, please see this article's talk page -->

* ''Unconformity'' (2022)<ref name=FT>{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Alan|title=Unconformity|url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/unconformity/|access-date=October 28, 2024|publisher=Film Threat}}</ref> * ''Bluff'' (2022) * ''Active Shooter'' (2020), Robert Bryce Milburn's feature film debut starring Joshua Mikel from The Walking Dead and Catherine Dyer from Stranger Things. *''American Songwriter'', Michael Altman 's award-winning 2012 documentary that spawned a sequel<ref name="Altman">{{cite news|last=Yeghiayan |first=Michael|url=http://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/news/08/08/2013/glendale-ready-for-its-close-up/|title=Glendale: Ready for Its Close Up|work=Crescenta Valley Weekly|date=August 8, 2013|accessdate=October 1, 2014}}</ref> * ''Butterfly Crush'', the 2010 Australian film that won multiple Best Feature awards on the U.S. independent film circuit<ref name=Crush1>{{cite web|url=http://www.reelindependentfilm.com/2011-recap|title=2011 2nd Annual Reel Independent Film Extravaganza Event Recap|website=Reel Independent Film Extravaganza|date=2011|accessdate=November 20, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Crush2>{{cite web|url=http://theindiegathering.com/page23.php|title=2011 Indie Gathering Winners|website=Indie Gathering International Film Festival|date=2011|accessdate=November 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106201316/http://www.theindiegathering.com/page23.php|archive-date=January 6, 2015|url-status=usurped}}</ref> *''Capps Crossing'', a 2017 slasher horror film<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-capps-crossing-review-20170608-story.html|title= Review: Low-budget slasher 'Capps Crossing' gets lost in the woods of overexplaining|last= Myers|first= Kimber|date= 8 June 2017|website= Los Angeles Times|publisher= |access-date= 23 December 2023|quote=}}</ref> * ''Carving a Life'', a 2017 romance drama about the effects of alcoholism. * ''char-ac-ter'' (2009), a documentary about "the life and craft of acting" featuring Dabney Coleman, Peter Falk and Charles Grodin<ref name="amazon">{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dmovies-tv&field-keywords=%22indie+rights%22 |title='Indie Rights': Movies & TV |website=Amazon.com |accessdate=September 26, 2014}}</ref> * ''Delivered'', winner for Best Supporting Actress (Alana Stewart) and of the Special Jury Award (Action/Adventure) at the 44th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival<ref name=WFI>{{cite news |last=Parks |first=Louis B. |url=http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Banquet-brings-WorldFest-to-close-1617420.php |title=Banquet Brings WorldFest to Close |work=Houston Chronicle |date=April 18, 2011 |accessdate=September 29, 2014}}</ref> * ''Dreams on Spec'', a 2007 documentary featuring interviews with James L. Brooks, Nora Ephron and Carrie Fisher<ref name=DoS>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiepixunlimited.com/film/5102 |title=''Dreams on Spec'' |website=IndiePix Unlimited|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}</ref> * ''Ekaj'' (2015)<ref>{{cite news|title=Ekaj|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ekaj|access-date=October 29, 2024|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref> * ''Entwinement'' (2013), multiple award nominee at the Madrid International Film Festival and London Portobello Film Festival<ref name=entwinement>{{cite web |url=http://www.solarusfilms.com/films/entwinement/ |title=''Entwinement'' |website=Solarus Films |accessdate=September 28, 2014}}</ref> * ''Flesh On Fire: Addicted to a Dream'', winner of the 2014 LA Film, TV & Webisode Festival Audience Award for best documentary<ref name=FOF1>{{cite web |url=http://lafilmtvnewmediafestival.com/Awards.html |title=Awards |website=LA Film, TV & Webisode Festival |accessdate=September 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103052852/http://lafilmtvnewmediafestival.com/Awards.html |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><!-- cites award --><ref name=FOF2>{{cite web |url=http://www.gofobo.com/movie/flesh_on_fire_addicted_to_a_dream_2012 |title=''Flesh on Fire: Addicted to a Dream'' |website=gofobo |publisher=Entertainment Printing Services |accessdate=October 8, 2014}}</ref><!-- cites distribution --> * ''Fools On the Hill'', a 2012 political documentary featuring Ed Begley Jr. and Dean Cain<ref name=amazon /> * ''Fray'', 2012 Best Feature Film winner at both the UK Film Festival<ref name=frayUK>{{cite web|url=http://ukfilmfestival.com/awards/|title=Awards|website=UK Film Festival|accessdate=July 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130015904/http://ukfilmfestival.com/awards/|archive-date=November 30, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Arizona International Film Festival<ref name=frayAZ>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmfestivalarizona.com/2012/festivalawards.php |title=2012 Arizona International Film Festival Best of Category |website=Arizona International Film Festival 2012 |accessdate=September 27, 2014 |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016010615/http://www.filmfestivalarizona.com/2012/festivalawards.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> * ''Love All You Have Left'', a 2017 drama about Anne Frank living in the attic of a grieving family. * ''OzLand'', a 2014 fantasy/sci-fi drama inspired by L. Frank Baum's ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''<ref name=OzLand>{{cite web |url=http://www.cdispatch.com/lifestyles/article.asp?aid=45345 |title=Williams' 'OzLand' picked up for distribution |website=The Dispatch |date=10 October 2015 |accessdate=October 28, 2016}}</ref> * ''The Playground'', a 2017 thriller about five individuals intertwined in a fable orchestrated by a dark entity. * ''Purdah (film)'', a 2018 documentary by Jeremy Guy that is 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes * ''Sincerely, Brenda'', the 2018 film by Kenneth Nelson Jr. that won multiple Best Feature awards on the U.S. independent film circuit * ''Shifted'' (2006), the company's first production, featuring Jeris Poindexter, Jill Wagner and Vanessa Johansson<ref name=Shifted>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/SHIFTED-Michael-Madison/dp/B000FTJ66A |title=Shifted |website=Amazon.com |accessdate=October 8, 2014}}</ref> * ''Skid Row'', a 2008 documentary starring Pras (credited as Pras Michel) of Fugees<ref name=skidrow>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiepixunlimited.com/film/5015 |title=''Skid Row'' |website=IndiePix Unlimited |accessdate=September 26, 2014}}</ref> * ''The Story of Lovers Rock'' (2012) featuring Maxi Priest<ref name=amazon /> * ''Tovarisch, I Am Not Dead'', a documentary by Stuart Urban first screened in theaters in 2007<ref name=amazon /> * ''Transatlantic Coffee'', winner of seven awards (including First Place [feature film] and Best Directing) at the Spring 2012 Los Angeles New Wave International Film Festival<ref name=coffee>{{cite web |url=http://www.lanewwave.com/lanewwave/spring_2012_Winners.html |title=Los Angeles New Wave International Film Festival Fall 2011/Spring 2012 Festival Winners |website=lanewwave.com |accessdate=September 26, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006084429/http://www.lanewwave.com/lanewwave/spring_2012_Winners.html |url-status=usurped }}</ref> * ''We Make Movies'', a 2017 comedic mockumentary about a group of college students making a movie for their town's Film Festival.<ref name="We Make Movies">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4136534 |title=We Make Movies |website=IMDb |accessdate=July 3, 2017}}</ref> *''The Bestowal'' (2019), a sci-fi drama from filmmaker Andrew de Burgh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tubitv.com/movies/513118/the-bestowal|accessdate=March 10, 2025|website=www.tubitv.com|title=The Bestowal; Tubi}}</ref> *''The Forgiving'' (2020), a drama centered around a despondent writer finding his salvation through the ghosts of his past.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08ND84TKW/|access-date=2020-12-05|website=www.amazon.com|title=Watch the Forgiving &#124; Prime Video}}</ref> *''Goodbye, Petrushka'' (2022), a comedy about an American girl who goes to Paris. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B5JD6592/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r|access-date=2022-10-27|website=www.amazon.com|title=Watch Goodbye, Petrushka &#124; Prime Video}}</ref>

==See also== * Film distribution * {{portal-inline|size=tiny|Film}}

==References== ===Footnotes=== {{reflist|30em}}

===Sources=== * {{cite book |last=Parks|first=Stacey|date=2007|title=The Insider's Guide to Independent Film Distribution|publisher=Focal Press|isbn=9780240809229}} Cited as Parks 2007. * {{cite AV media|last=Parks|first=Stacey|url=https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/filmspecific/id/3060870|title=Startup Film School Presented by FilmSpecific.com: Minding VOD Windows with Linda Nelson of Indie Rights|website=libsyn.com|date=September 11, 2014|accessdate=October 17, 2014|ref={{SfnRef|Minding VOD Windows}}}} Cited as ''Minding VOD Windows''. * {{cite AV media|last=Parks|first=Stacey|url=https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/filmspecific/id/2402925|title=Startup Film School Presented by FilmSpecific.com: New VOD Platforms and Revenue Streams: An Interview with Linda Nelson of Indie Rights|website=libsyn.com|date=July 17, 2013|accessdate=October 17, 2014|ref={{SfnRef|New VOD Platforms}}|archive-date=October 17, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141017091318/https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/filmspecific/id/2402925|url-status=dead}} Cited as ''New VOD Platforms''.

==External links== * {{Official website|http://indierights.com}} * {{facebook|indierightsmovies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indie Rights}} Category:2003 establishments in California Category:Companies based in California Category:Companies based in Los Angeles Category:Film and video technology Category:Film distributors of the United States Category:Film production companies of the United States Category:Video on demand