Stay Away From Victory Multimedia

This blog's purpose is to consolidate and report Independent Producers' DVD distribution problems with a distributor named Victory Multimedia, also known as Victory Audio Video Services, Inc.

This blog is not associated with the company, and is a collection of various peoples' experience with Victory Multimedia.

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If you are an independent producer looking to distribute your film on DVD, or distribute it through Netflix's Video on Demand service, you undoubtedly know how difficult it is to get that done.

There are only a few major distribution companies that handle most of the DVD distribution in this country: Alliance Entertainment, Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Wax Works, Hastings, Anderson Merch., and Video Products Dist.

If you have tried contacting any of these companies about distributing your DVDs, they most likely have pointed you to smaller sub-distributors who handle independent producers like you.

Even Netflix will refer you to another company.

A lot of these companies unfortunately recommend Victory Multimedia.

It is very sad that large DVD distributors like Alliance Entertainment (AEC), Ingram, Baker & Taylor and others steer independent producers toward a company that cheats them out of their hard earned money.

If you get only one thing from reading this article, it is this: DO NOT DISTRIBUTE your DVDs, CDs, or any other products through Victory Multimedia.

They might pay you a little bit of money for the first few shipments, but in the end they WILL NOT PAY you for your DVD distribution.

The money they owe you will build up just enough to the point that it hurts you, but it's not enough to pursue vigorous legal action.

If you do pursue legal action, they will drag things on, and make it more expensive for you, with useless legal procedures.

Randy Freeman is the main contact at Victory Multimedia. He is very shrewd. He is also rude. His modus operandi is intimidation, bullying, and lying.

David Solomon is the guy who deals with new vendors, though. He will send the contracts to you. He SEEMS very nice. But don't let that override what you read below.

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Here is some information I found about other independent producers' experiences in trying to find DVD distribution. My experiences are exactly the same:

Here: http://www.netmon.ca/netmon-inc-terminates-distribution-agreement-with-victory-multimedia/

"Netmon Inc., a leader in network management technology products including environmental monitoring solutions, has terminated its distribution agreement with Victory Multimedia due to non-payment by the distribution company."

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Here: http://ascii.textfiles.com/archives/2000

"Dealt with Randy before. He’s an a$$. Save yourself some time from calling him. Just dont do it. Find someone else."

"Victory Multimedia is evil. Randy is very mean-spirited and they are all about taking cash from the filmmaker."

"Also, dealt with Randy. Not a good experience. Avoid at all costs."

"DONT SIGN ANYTHING WITH VICTORY MULTIMEDIA. RANDY FREEMAN IS A SCAMMER AND WILL NEVER PAY YOU. HE ALSO IS THE BIGGEST JERK I HAVE EVER MET."

"For the newbie who signed with VM, please stay on top of your invoices and DO NOT LET too many pile up before you receive payment from VM as you do not want to send out too many dvds and never get paid. We started with VM (unfortunately!) and eventually terminated our contract with it because of nonpayment and of course R Freeman’s erratic behavior."

"We had the same experience with VM. I want to cancel our contract with them but can’t bear another phone conversation with Randy Freeman"

"Since then Victory Multimedia has not sent any payments, and now Randy Freeman is telling us that he hasn’t been paid by 8 different companies. I find it hard to believe that they all stopped paying their bills at the same time...I am preparing to file a lawsuit."

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And here: http://foc-log.blogspot.com/2010/03/word-about-netflix-victory-multimedia.html

"To me, it appears that Netflix has some sort of backdoor deal with Victory--they turn down flicks, wait until Victory picks them up, then they get them cheap from Victory. If the title doesn't rent well at Netflix, Netflix can have Victory ship back whatever they didn't open at the filmmaker's expense.

The fact that you can't find anything online about "Victory Multimedia" is suspicious enough. Real companies have real web sites.

Well, I'm hoping to spread some information about this deal, which in my opinion is a giant scam. I thought Netflix was a better company that that, but it appears that they are not. "

"Similar experience. Victory Multimedia is terrible to deal with."

"Victory Multimedia is a horrible company. If you are looking for distribution DO NOT USE THEM. The owner Randy Freeman does not answer emails he only uses the phone. This is part of his tactic so he can intimidate you especially if you are new to the business. He is rude, crass and incredibly conniving. You will end up spending a great deal on money on legal fees just trying to get paid. I am planning on writing a letter to Netflix and telling them about my experience with VM. Certainly they wouldn't recommend a company that so many people have problems with, right?"

"I have been having issues getting paid by them also and am interested in connecting with others with the same problem."

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Also here:
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?s=c1d480100892180ce65819eead68175f&t=21146&highlight=victory+multimedia&page=2

"Have you been recently paid by Victory Multimedia? I haven't. I'd like to hear from others having payment issues."

Here's a link to the New York State Supreme Court: http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/iscroll/SQLData.jsp?IndexNo=602664-2008

A lawsuit was filed for non-payment by Victory Multimedia.

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It seems to me that Victory Multimedia keeps just enough money to make it hurt, but not enough to go through the effort and expense to file a full-on lawsuit. Especially when the independent producer might live in another state from Victory Multimedia's main office in Inglewood, CA.

It is very sad that large DVD distributors like Alliance Entertainment (AEC), Ingram, Baker & Taylor and others steer independent producers toward a company that cheats them out of their hard earned money.

But those companies don't care. Victory Multimedia makes it very easy for them add titles to their offerings. Once they receive the DVDs that you ship to them, they pay Victory Multimedia, and their business is done.

They don't care that an independent producer like you hasn't been paid. Even if you call them, they will say they are not at liberty to talk due to confidentiality agreements. That's partly true. But they also know what's going on, and decide to look the other way.

As long as they are making money, and Victory Multimedia continues to send product their way, it doesn't matter to them.

In the end, it is the artist, the independent producer, who is simply trying to have his/her independent film distributed to a larger audience, who ends up being screwed.

It's also a shame that so many employees who work there are in on it. They know what's going on. That's why they avoid returning phone calls and answering emails about payments.

Shame.

Here is Victory Multimedia's info:

Victory Audio Video Services Inc.
Victory Multimedia
Randall Freeman
460 Hindry Avenue
Unit D
Inglewood, CA 90301
310-590-1388

Victory Multimedia, Victory Audio Video Services Inc., Randy Freeman, Randall Freeman, David Solomon