Viewpoints: sales strategies

David Huey
President and CEO
Cine Excel Entertainment, Inc.
United States

David, most people don't know Cine Excel has been around for twenty years?

Yes, we have been financing, producing and distributing our films as we enter our third decade. Our main focus has been action films. We started the careers of action stars such as Gary Daniels & Daniel Bernhardt as well as working with veterans like David Carradine & Olivier Gruner.

How have you managed to survive all these years when other companies come and go?

I not only use markets as a selling place but also a way to listen to the distributors and see what they want. Since we are our own producers, we can produce directly for the buyers. I think also we give the buyers a fair price. Not all buyers can afford top A level product. I am aware of this and produce at a price where the distributor can afford buy and still be profitable. I need my buyers to stay in business, so I can stay in business.

How many films are in your library?

We have more than 100 feature films of Action Adventure, Martial arts, & Sci-fi and Horror. We've never really focused on the TV markets. Most of our sales have been at the AFM and Marche Du Film. But now our library is getting so big, more TV buyers have been contacting us, most are looking for a library of actions films. We are discovering action really never goes out of style. Action speaks an international language.

What is your latest production?

We finished "Reptilicant" starring Gary Daniels. Gary is a great action star and he's hot now, starring in "Tekken" We also finished "Carnival Evil", which has been getting great reviews. "Carnival Evil" marks our first film shot on Hi-Def.

What's in the future for Cine Excel?

We are entering the TV series business. Currently we are producing 13 half hour magazine type show called "Wow!" a show that will take your around the world and show you interesting stories about amazing, strange and extreme adventures.

Sounds interesting to the viewer but what makes this show sellable to the buyer?

Again we listened to our buyers:

• Buyers wanted a fast moving half hour show, our six segments per show are three minutes long, just enough to get you interested and tease you for the commercial break.
• The show is done without a host, therefore full scripts are provided, a territory can dub the show and it can seem like it's a natively produced program.
• The show is also delivered textless so all you have to do is put in your own language on any of the text graphics on screen. Plus if you wanted to subtitle the show you can because we deliver a version that is clean of lower thirds.
• We also listened and knew the buyers wanted a censorship safe show.
• Buyers wanted a show in Hi-def and standard definition. We made both.
• The show is half hour format but the segments of 3 minutes each is perfect for mobile content and the internet.

So are you out of the film business?

No, the TV business is an extension of our Film Production. We are still producing two to three feature films a year.

How can buyers get a preview of the films?

They can go to the website www.cineexcel.com or email me at cineexcel@msn.com.

I heard many buyers say that Cine Excel is one of the markets best kept secrets.

Ha-ha! Maybe not after this article. Thanks.