For example, Abe Forsythe's Computer Boy, a 50-minute parody of The Matrix, was a top downloaded movie on iFilm earlier this year. Toward the beginning of November, LucasFilm signed an agreement with AtomFilms allowing Star Wars spoofs to be shown on the Web, and protected from litigation. Comedies seem to do better with Web audiences as well, regardless of whether they're endorsed by the butt of the joke. Of the top 10 most downloaded movies at iFilm right now, nine are either comedies or have strong comedic elements. Of the top 10 movies in theaters now, only three are adult-oriented comedies.
Filmmakers get nothing, other than a potentially wide audience for their work.
Both sites let filmmakers post movies for free, and neither pays the filmmakers royalties. The portals make money by selling advertising space throughout their sites, and at the beginning and end of the films. Both services also wrap independent film promotion with industry news and other services to entice visitors again and again. And both services review all submissions, and decide which films to post. The sites differ when it comes to submissions and types of content.