Seeking Advice: Early Exclusive VOD Deals - What are the risks?

Hey everyone,

Raj Patel here, working Focus Puller. I've been on a few indie narrative features lately, shot mostly on an AMIRA with Supreme Primes, and one recently on a V-RAPTOR XL. Our last project, a horror indie that we poured our hearts into (lighting mostly with PavoTube II 30X and some amaran 150c's), is starting to get some traction at festivals. The director is ecstatic, and we've already had a few preliminary VOD offers come in. Nothing concrete yet, but they're long-term and exclusive.

My concern is, are we jumping the gun? I've heard whispers about locking into these deals too soon and regretting it later, but I don't fully grasp the 'why.' Are there hidden costs, or do better opportunities genuinely come along after more festival buzz? We're a small team and this is our first feature getting this kind of attention, so it's all new territory.

What are the actual consequences of signing a long-term, exclusive VOD deal prematurely, and what practical steps can filmmakers take to avoid this common pitfall?