VOD Deals - Long-Term Exclusivity: What's the Catch and How to Avoid?

Hey everyone, I'm a gaffer working on an indie feature right now. We're shooting on a C70 with a lot of practicals and some amaran 150c’s for fill, trying to make it look bigger than it is. The director and producers are starting to talk distribution, and a VOD platform has apparently shown heavy interest. They're pushing for an exclusive, long-term deal, citing 'guaranteed revenue.'

My gut is telling me this could be a bad move. I've heard whispers on other sets about filmmakers getting locked into deals that then severely limit future opportunities, but I don't really understand the specifics of why it's bad or what the long-term consequences are. Is it just about leaving money on the table, or are there deeper issues? What exactly are the common pitfalls of signing an exclusive VOD deal too early, and what are some actionable steps filmmakers can take to avoid them?