Our code of ethics.

Sorry for the silence, the world has taken over for a bit.

We thought we'd share our code of ethics with you, because the link to it on our website seems to be perpetually broken (we're in the market for a solid web designer, btw).

VARIANCE FILMS CODE OF ETHICS

1. We believe in every film we release, or we won’t release it, regardless of what “release fee” we’re offered.

2. We will give honest, direct, and well thought-out advice every time. We will not promise to make you rich, and we will not tell you we can do things with your film that we know we can’t deliver.

3. We will never say we have done something we haven’t, that we can do something that we cannot, or that we don’t need to do something that we should.

4. We cannot guarantee success. But we can guarantee that we will chase it on your behalf, aggressively.

5. The money is never funny. Accounting will always be transparent, accurate to the penny, and honest. Every filmmaker is entitled to see every check we receive or issue on his or her behalf, every time.

6. We are accessible. When you work with us, you will never have to work to get your calls returned.

7. We work on the films we have before we chase after the films we want. Once you’re in the family, you’re in the family, and family comes first.

8. We do not play favorites. Every film we work on will receive all the attention it needs, or we will not take on the film.

9. Every film we work on receives the best vendors and partners we can find that come in within the budgetary parameters, and we will always negotiate the most favorable rate possible. We will never accept kick-backs or ”refunds” from any vendor in exchange for our business, and if we receive one, we will deliver the money directly to you.

10. Bad news or mistakes will always be communicated honestly, openly, and immediately. We do not make excuses, because while we do aspire to be, we are not perfect (nobody is). If we make a mistake, mess something up, forget something, we fess up- we do not blame others or cover it up.

Releasing a film is like being trusted with someone’s child. It is a responsibility that we take very seriously, and we encourage you to aggressively check our references and reputation within the industry (as you should with any vendor you hire to work on your film). We believe that if we do a bad job, people will find out- so we don’t do bad work.