Dear Jeremy, I have to say that there is legitimate gripes about the cost of rentals these days. However, I have found that many professors do not understand our economics either. I will not talk for Films Inc since I don't know their situation, but I can try to explain the small independent distribution companies rational. Try to imagine that every three months, you take out your personal check book and write one for $50,000 to $100,000 (16mm negatives cost $6,000 to $8,000 alone and there are maybe 100 customers out there to rent any one film) to show a film and hope the critics will like it and the audiences will come. That's exactly what we do everytime since our sole source of income is Milestone. These days, it's a very difficult time for foreign films with theaters cutting back to the mainstream, colleges showing everything on video and Blockbuster ignoring us completely. And then of course, 50% of anything we make goes (happily) back to the producer or legal owners of the film. Yes, there are many companies who provide a valuable service by providing public domain films to the public. Of course, the filmmaker doesn't see a penny and the prints are questionable. My best solution for you and others in your situtation is to deal with the distributors who are willing to understand your financial constraints and will do our best to work with you. There are many of us in distribution because we love and adore film and could make easier livings selling widgets. Dennis Doros Milestone Film & Video 275 West 96th Street, suite 28C New York, NY 10025 Phone: (212) 865-7449 Fax: (212) 222-8952 Email: [log in to unmask] ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]