Goodbye 2008

I leave you with this cute picture of my sister's two adorable Dachshunds.

I hope 2008 was a good year for you. I hope that 2009 is even better!

Happy New Year everyone!

Top Ten Things in 2008 aka Year's End

Here's to wishing you all a Happy New Year.

At this time of the year there are endless top ten lists. So here is my top ten list of things for 2008. It was a very good year for me.

10. Rock Band in the New Year - Last year, I spent the New Year's right by rocking out the vocals on Rock Band with my friend Randy and his friends up in SF. It was a blast. My favorite was War Pigs by Black Sabbath.

9. Warhammer Online - I traded my old MMO addiction City Of Heroes for a new addiction Warhammer Online. I'm not generally a big fan of PvP, but the way it is structured is very fun and interesting.

8. Global Economic Crisis - I'm not sure how much of this was self fulfilling prophecy. A rumor can lead to runs on the banks which just exasperates the problems. Despite whatever theory you may have about the cause of the current downturn in the economy, it's definitely going to effect us all. Just remember that this is nowhere near as bad as the great depression where we saw unemployment figures over 20%. I doubt we've seen the worst of it. Most likely we will have at least another 3-4 years of hard times. So just hunker down and prepare to stick it out. Now may be a good time to get rid of expensive habits like Starbucks Lattes, smoking, drinking or gambling.

7. Coachella - Every April I spend three days out in the desert listening to as many bands as possible. Some are great, some are just okay and some suck. But it's okay because there are five different stages. So if one band sucks you can always check out a different one.

6. Promotion - Making the transition from sales support to actually doing the sales was not easy and I had a ton of stuff to learn but it was worth it. Nothing worth doing is ever easy, it seems. But I got a nice promotion this year, which I think more accurately reflects my level of experience and ability. There's nothing worse than toiling away at a job you could do with your eyes closed. I am really enjoying the challenge of my new responsibilities. Plus I also enjoy meeting new people and traveling.

5. Milk - Seriously, if you have not seen this movie, I urge you to go see it and to bring along a couple of friends. For some reason, the movie hasn't been released as wide as it should. Some of my friends still haven't been able to see the movie because it isn't playing anywhere near them. Please, Focus and Universal, open this puppy wider. More people need to see it. And it has added poignancy considering the ongoing debacle of prop 8. Which leads me to:

4. Prop 8 - Honestly, I don't know where to begin. Our foes think the fight is over, but it only just began. When you are talking about the civil rights of millions of Americans, you can rest assured that we will keep fighting until we have won. Although, along with many in the LGBT community, I wondered, "Where are our leaders?" The old guard failed us: HRC, GLAAD, LAMBDA Legal, etc. They were too busy throwing parties while ignoring the people on the street. But the good thing is that this loss has spurred a new generation of activists. The people protesting in the streets aren't veteran protesters. They are everyday gay and lesbian people that are sick and tired of being pushed around.

3. Obama - While I am on the subject of politics, let's talk about Barack Obama. Personally, I was always a much bigger supporter of Hilary. And let's face it, Obama is no friend to the gay and lesbian community. Sure he gives us lip service, but his actions speak louder than any speech. Where was he during the prop 8 campaign? And, of course, we have the slap in the face with him invited Rick Warren to the inauguration. This is a man who has said that homosexuality is the same as incest and child molestation. In fact, his church welcomes everyone except for people who are gay. Nevertheless, it's a big step forward for this country to finally have elected its first minority President. Enough about politics, here's some personal moments:

2. Moving - After 8 years of roommates, I figured it was finally time to move into my own place and become an adult. I am enjoying the freedom. Although, since I am a social person, I miss the random conversations with my roommates. It also helps that I moved to an area that is within walking distance of a ton of shops and restaurants.

1. Distribution for 'Coffee' - Finally, the most important moment for me was securing distribution for one of my short films. I had always waited until I got an offer from a company that I trusted. Finally a good offer came along and I took it. I hope it does well and that I make some money back from it. Of course, now I have no excuse not to start making some more short films.

That's it for 2008. Here's to hoping that 2009 is just as good, if not better.

Tangerine Jam

As I write this I am enjoying homemade tangerine jam on top of toast. It's delicious.

10 tangerines basically makes enough jam for three jars. I just put some in the fourth jar because I wanted to taste some for myself. The other three jars are Christmas presents.

I'm not normally this into cooking. But I just hate to let things go to waste. Plus, it's not like making jam is all that hard. You just put some tangerines in a saucepan, add some sugar and salt and let it simmer for an hour. Yummy! And it tastes better knowing that I made it.

No time for blogging

I'm too busy enjoying my Christmas present to myself: Rock Band 2. Although I feel a little weird sitting in my apartment singing rock songs by myself. I guess like most other things, it's more fun with more people. Now I need to go out and make two or three more friends.

Lemon Tarts, er, um, Pies

So I decided to try my hand at baking some lemon tarts with a couple of the lemons that I picked from the tree out in Palm Springs. I am also planning on making some Tangerine jam out of the tangerines I picked as well. I didn't have any tart pans and couldn't find any at Smart and Final so they will wind up being Lemon Pies. I'm sure they will be delicious nonetheless. Interesting note, I was going off a recipe I found online and it wound up making enough filling for two pies. So I made two instead of one. Also, I decided not to add the whipped cream because I thought it might be too much. Plus, I don't feel like learning how to pipe cream.

Next up: Tangerine Jam

Tweet Tweet

Okay, so I have succumbed to the beast and joined Twitter. You can follow me at www.twitter.com/todfilm. Now you can follow my inane and utterly boring ramblings throughout the day.

Getting A Job In Hollywood In a Recession

If you have a job in the film industry in this economy you should be thankful! This weekend, most of us in the US will be spending time with friends and family. I actually prefer it over Christmas because there is no obligation to get presents, to visit relatives or to decorate. This holiday is all about getting together and eating as much as humanly possible. And of course, the infamous Black Friday the day after, when all of the stores announce their big deals for the Christmas shopping season.

If you are out of a job and looking for work, my heart goes out to you. Most of the big companies won't be hiring anyone until after the first of the year. Right now is a very tough time in the film business. A lot of companies have been announcing layoffs, including Lionsgate, The Weinstein Company, Canwest and more. It's even been affecting the international buyers as well. Despite what they want you to think, we are in the midst of a global recession. So it's time to hunker down and try and wait it out.

But as a way of giving back and helping out, here are a few places to begin your search for a job in the film industry:
www.showbizjobs.com
www.entertainmentcareers.net
www.mandy.com
www.hcdonline.com

And you can sometimes find stuff on non-industry related sites like:
www.monster.com
www.craigslist.org

It's important to try and keep busy while out of work. Now is the perfect time of year to start volunteering for your local charities. Additionally, you may want to think about going back to school and taking some classes while out of work. You need to do everything you can to market yourself and make yourself more attractive to employers. Hang in there until after the first of the year, when budgets have been approved and companies start hiring again. Hopefully, things will start to turn around soon.

Attendance drops at AFM

The headline says it all:

From Variety:
Attendance drops at AFM
Market buyers down 6% for L.A. film event

As one buyer told me, "You could practice archery on the second floor."

Year after year, the attendance has decreased at AFM. But this year the difference was notable. I had about half the number of meetings I would have at other markets. Most of the buyers I spoke to said they were leaving on Sunday, halfway through the market. By Monday and Tuesday, the only people wandering the halls were producers desperate for money trying to find money for their ill fated projects.

What is the cause?
Some of the blame can be placed on the global financial crisis. Asian buyers are usually a large presence at the market. But they have been hurt hard by the financial crisis.

But there are other factors at play as well that I have touched on previously.

What is the solution?

The length - The market is way too long. Maybe back in the heydays of the 90s their might have been enough product to warrant a seven day market. But nowadays, most of the markets are shrinking to four or five day events. AFM should really be a Wednesday to Sunday event.

The timing - I know they will never move the market back to February. But the timing of the market is horrible. It's right after Toronto and MIPCOM. Most of my buyers I met with a few weeks prior so it makes no sense to meet again a month later. I know they originally moved it from February because it was too close after NATPE and Sundance. I know timing will be bad regardless. But looking back, it makes sense to have a market midway between Toronto and Cannes. And next year, with the possibility of MIFED coming back, AFM is going to have to change strategy in order to stay relevant to the international film community.

Location - I know that Santa Monica has been home to AFM for a long time. But personally, I think that they should think about moving it. The city, the theaters and the hotels have all become rundown. Where to move it to? Hollywood becomes an option. You have the Mann 6, Hollywood and Highland and the Arclight all down the street from each other. And you have the Renaisance and the Roosevelt hotels just down the street. That also makes it easier to have the tie-in to the AFI Film Festival, a tie-in that has never really been all that effective since they are across town from each other. Or they could do like the LA Film Festival has done and move to Westwood. I love the new setup of the LAFF. It's so much more convenient and everything is within walking distance. It's a lot more convenient than trying to cram into the Sunset 5.

We'll see what the market looks like next year. Next market up for us is NATPE, which isn't a huge priority for us. There's a bunch of smaller markets but nothing huge until MIPTV and LA Screenings in the Spring. So now it's just a matter of cleaning up the outstanding deals and gearing up for the Spring.

Post MIPCOM, Pre-AFM

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." - Charles Dickens

Things are so crazy right now finishing up from all of my MIPCOM follow up and getting ready for AFM next week. However, I just wanted to talk real quickly about something that was the talk of MIPCOM: the global financial crisis and its effect on the international film business.

Everyone that I talked to at the market was wondering aloud about the global financial crisis and how that would effect our business. And the conclusion is that there are both good and bad aspects of what is happening internationally. Firstly, there is less cash around for some of the smaller companies and distributors, who seemed to be less of a presence at the market. But all of the major buyers, broadcasters and distributors were still out in force and buying. But I think that the downtown in the economy is mitigated by one thing: the writer's strike.

The writer's strike kept the studios from producing as many movies and TV shows as they would normally. That meant that the appetite from some of the broadcasters was greater due to a lack of studio product to fill their pipeline.

However, the further implications of the financial crisis has yet to be seen. Plus, there is the anxiety over the negotiations for the SAG contract. At one point, a strike seemed imminent and studios halted production. But with the recent increase in production, it seems that the studios seem to believe that there will be a resolution to the SAG conflict in the near future. But only time will tell.

Looking forward to the AFM market next week, things seem a little quieter than in years past. I think it may be due to several things:

1. A lot of the US minimajors have gone away. Warner Independent, Picturehouse, New Line are all going away or are already gone. On top of that, the recent exodus of executives at the Weinstein Company will most likely mean their acquisition appetite may be diminishing as well.

2. Back in 2000-2001 when I first started going to AFM, there were still plenty of bigger budgeted completed pictures that were available. A lot of these films were financed by big film funds from European countries. Unfortunately, one too many risky investments didn't pay off and these funds wound up drying out as a source of investment. (There are also other reasons for this as well that I don't have the time to go into.)

3. It could also be a simple perception issue due to the fact that AFM is now more spread out. It is no longer just in the Loews but has spread over to Le Merigot as well. And with the addition of screening rooms in Le Merigot and the Fairmont as well, buyers are more spread out than ever.

4. Timing: AFM used to be in February between MIPCOM and MIFED in the Fall and Cannes in the Spring. But people complained about the proximity to Sundance and Berlin so they moved it to November.

5. Communication: It used to be a lot more difficult to connect with and talk to distributors from around the world. With the spread of email, video conferencing and digital online screening rooms, it's easier than ever to get someone to buy your product without ever having met face to face. For a lot of the smaller distributors, it could be a cost cutting measure to not have to travel halfway across the world for a film market.

Either way, we'll be fine. We have a steady flow of product and big pockets. It's some of the smaller companies out there that may have to scramble harder to stay afloat in this new world economy.

Coffee to your door

So the news can finally be announced! My short film Coffee is going to be released as part of the short film compilation First Out 3 from Alluvial Filmworks. The street date for the DVD is January 6th and should be available from most major retailers including Barnes and Noble, Blockbuster, Virgin Megastore, etc.

I'm pretty excited as this is a first for me. It's been a long and interesting journey that began with a short film script I wrote while in a screenwriting class at UCSB. Then back in 2003 after turning 30, I decided to get off my ass and finally start making short films. I had always wanted to make this short script into a film. After a year of editing and post-production, the short film made its premiere at the 2004 Austin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Then I spent another two years going to various film festivals.

At the time, the options for distribution on short films was severely limited. I had several offers from fly-by-night, start-up internet companies that wanted to take my film for free and put it up on the internet. I was always wary of these deals and waited for the right opportunity. Now I am glad I turned those offers down. So I guess the lesson is to take your time in evaluating offers, vet the company making the offer and don't sign with any company that you don't feel comfortable with.

Click here to pre-order the film on Amazon.com.

Now I guess it's time to get off my ass again and make another short film or two.

When is enough enough?

"Art is never finished, only abandoned" - Leonardo da Vinci

As we get ready for MIPCOM and AFM, I cannot help but think about deadlines and the nature of this business and art in general.

When I was making my short films, it was easy to keep editing and re-editing. Unfortunately, the law of diminishing returns means that you get less and less of a benefit the more you tinker with a film. At a certain point, you need to say to yourself, this is probably the best it is going to get. There will always be those problem children, the scene that doesn't feel quite right or the awkward edit. Eventually you have to learn to look over those small little details and look at the bigger picture. There are tons of little goofs and mistakes in most films. Heck, imdb.com has a whole section devoted to mistakes in movies. Some of my favorite ones:

1. Star Wars: Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When C-3PO and R2-D2 are in the control room of the Death Star, as the storm troopers get the door open and go storming in one of the storm troopers hits their head on the door. This goof was highlighted in the remastered version with a comedy "donk" sound effect.

2. My favorite movie Harold And Maude: Crew or equipment visible: When Maude pulls the banjo out of a cabinet, you see the reflection of crew and lights.

3. There's even a whole debate about the bandage on Ving Rhames' neck in Pulp Fiction.

But the point of this post isn't about pointing out goofs in films. The point is that you eventually have to stop tinkering and get on with things. The same can be said of scripts as well. You can tinker and tinker away at a script until it doesn't resemble the original script. And usually, by that point, the thing that made the script interesting in the first place is gone. It's a delicate dance to know when something is done enough to start showing it to people. Show it too early and you've made a bad impression. Take too long and you've lost all your original passion and excitement over your project.

I know there are a lot of writers out there that have been tinkering with their scripts, changing a page here or there but never getting anywhere. When you are lost like that, it may be a good idea to step back and try and take an objective look at the script.

There's also the story of Wong Kar Wei, who was supposedly in the middle of a long drawn out editing process on his film Ashes of Time. It was dragging on so long that he decided to go out and make a simple and quick movie in order to clear his mind and rediscover his passion for filmmaking. The film was Chungking Express. He shot it in 23 days and it wound up being the film that was his big break on the international film circuit.

Ultimately, I guess my point is to be careful of being too much of a perfectionist. Your script will never be 100% perfect. Your film will never be 100% perfect either. Films are messy things. And it's those little imperfections that make films so interesting and intriguing. So get it as good as you possibly can and then move on to the next project.

2008 - The Summer Of Music

Well, the summer is officially over. And it seems this was a summer of music for me. I've never been to so many great concerts in one short time span. Part of it was due to having some disposible income. Another part of it was that there were so many great bands that came to Los Angeles this summer.

This summer, I saw:
The Dresden Dolls, The Police, Elvis Costello, Black Kids, Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls, George Michael, Yaz, Janet Jackson, and Goldfrapp

There are also so many more I want to see in the coming months, including Stars, Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Sigur Ros, James, David Byrne, Duffy, Antony and the Johnsons, etc. There's just too many good acts and not enough time and money to see them all.

Music and film are inexoribly linked together. As a filmmaker and watcher, I find that film is an art form that is truly multidisciplinary. It brings together painting, music, writing, and several other art forms all into one experience for the audience. I think that's part of the reason why it holds such a fascination for me. It can truly transport the audience to another time, another world, or another dimension.

There are a lot of great music acts out there that are surpassing the traditional path of establishing an audience. With Youtube and Myspace and Facebook, a band can create a community of fans, without having to deal with the antiquated methods of the record industry. It's never been easier to discover new music. I have easily spent hours upon hours exploring the internet, watching videos and listening to new music. I rarely listen to the radio anymore. Who needs to when I have 30 gigbytes of music on my ipod?

One of these days, I'd love to explore my dual fascinations of music and film. Perhaps one day I'll make a music documentary or music video.

Distribution News

Well, I had to take down one of my short films due to a pending distribution agreement. I can't talk too much about it. But I will definitely post more info when it is available.

AFM - Quick Update

If you would like more info about attending the AFM, go here.

What to do at the American Film Market

Judging from some of the searches leading into this blog, there are quite a few of you interested in the American Film Market, aka AFM. Probably because it is in Santa Monica, it will be the first film market for a lot of independent film makers. Most of them don't have to travel far so they don't have to worry about arranging travel and lodging for the market. And for those who do, it's a whole lot cheaper than finding a place in Cannes, where you can easily spend $5,000-$10,000 for a room for the week. There are a lot of cheaper alternatives in Cannes, but we can go into that later in another post.

I've been going to AFM in one way or another for about 7 years now. I missed the whole boobies and blood era of the market, when it was all about Z-grade horror films and erotic films from around the world. Nowadays, there is still a lot of that, but there are also films of all types, including family films, comedies, and theatrical level movies.

So what is an independent filmmaker supposed to do at AFM? Is it worth paying all of that money for a pass? Should you even go at all? And, of course, the answer to all of this is "It depends."

In an ideal world, you would already have an international distributor lined up to represent your film. You'd have ads in all of the trades, and maybe even a banner in the atrium. (As a side note, I personally think they're overpriced and worthless, since they are blocked by the trees and no one looks at them. But that's just my personal opinion.) Then you could go around the market, meeting other distributors and producers, talking up your next film and securing financing for your next slate of films. It can happen.

Most likely, you won't have that luxury. You might not have a clue about any of the distributors or how to go about getting one. Well, here's what you gotta do. The lead in time for the market is one to two months. If you want to go in prepared, you have to do your homework. You can go on the AFM website and look at the list of exhibitors. At first it may seem daunting. There are thousands of companies on there and no information about them. But there are two indispensable tools at your service. The first is google.com. In this day and age, it shouldn't be too difficult to find the website for almost any distributor. The second is the Hollywood Creative Directory's Distribution Directory. It's a must-have for any independent filmmaker. You can either buy it at the bookstore or get it online at www.hcdonline.com.

Once you have found your top ten or twenty or thirty distributors, start dialing. Call the person in aquisitions and ask to speak to them. Tell them about your movie and ask if they'd be interested in seeing your movie. If you're lucky, one of them will like your film enough to want to buy it before the market and present it at AFM. If you have a distributor at the market, they will usually have a guest pass they can loan you for the day, so you don't have to shell out the money for those overpriced badges.

If you're not lucky, then you need to plan on getting a badge and setting up meetings at the market. I'm in favor of the targeted strike as opposed to carpet bombing. If you do your research and set up your meetings ahead of time, you could probably get away with a one day pass. If the acquisitions people all have your screener already, all you need is to set up face to face meetings ahead of time. And you'll only need a one day badge. If you have the money, you can buy a full market badge. I'm not sure the half market badge is worth it, since you only get to attend the second half of the market, when people have already spent all their money, excitement and energy.

Another helpful tip for international filmmakers. Check whether your film commission will be attending the market. It might be useful to meet with them at the market. And they can probably offer you further advice as a filmmaker as well. Some may be more helpful than others, but it never hurts to contact them.

You will need to bring DVD's of your film and a one page information sheet about your film. Put your contact info on everything! Everything! In the rush of a market, flyers get lost, dvd's get lost. The important thing is that they know how to reach you. For more info on what to put in your materials, see my post "10 Tips For Independent Filmmakers Seeking Distribution."

Overall, my advice is to be professional. This is a business environment. Wear a suit or business attire at all times. That way, you will stand out from all of the other filmmakers out there trying to get distribution. If you are going to be asking someone for money or to represent your film, you want to look your best. Don't waste your money on trinkets and giveaways. Save that stuff for the film festivals. And unless you have a star in your movie, leave your actors at home. Good luck and remember to have fun!

Babylon WTF

Okay, if you're not a fan of genre films, you can skip this entry. This is the lost in translation story of Bablyon AD.

So this past Labor Day weekend, I went out to Palm Springs for some well deserved rest and relaxation. It was nice to just lounge out by the pool and relax. In between lounging at the pool, going to the local lounge bars and eating delicious food, I managed to check out Babylon AD.

Let's just say that at the end of the movie, I turned to my friend and asked him "What happened? I'm totally lost." He replied "I was depending on you to tell me what happened." Doing a little research I found some possible information on why this movie turned into such a horrible mess.

Apparently, the movie is based upon a French science fiction novel called Babylon Babies by Maurice Georges Dantec. The director Mathieu Kassovitz (La Haine, Gothika) had apparently been working for 5 years to get the film made. Supposedly, the film was originally slated to begin in 2005 but due to various problems wound up not finishing filming until 2007 over-budget and behind schedule. According to reports the studio took the film away from the director and cut at least a good 15 minutes from the film. I'm assuming those 15 minutes were the scenes that actually contained the story.

The ironic thing is that Vin Diesel dropped out of Hitman to do this film. Hitman did about $40 million in the US. I suspect this film will do little more than half that amount.

In the end, we'll never know if the director's cut is any better, unless they decide to release the director's cut of the film. Maybe they're waiting for the special unrated Director's Cut version for the DVD release. You never know. Studios have been known to do wackier things.

Where did the month go?

Time has been just flying by. The last couple of weeks have been crazy as we have been getting ready for MIPCOM in October. Then, of course, AFM is right after in November.

I may have touched on this before, but there is an interesting distinction between TV Markets and Film Markets. I started out working in Acquisitions for a home video distributor, so I was used to the vibe of Film Markets. Important film markets are AFM, Cannes, and Berlin. Mostly the film markets are less formal, with people walking around with ponytails and flip flops. Sure, you still have the professional people in suits, but there is more of a relaxed air. The type of programming at film markets tends toward the genre stuff like horror, thriller, etc. It's mostly regional distributors and DVD distributors, with the occasional TV buyers for some of the bigger films.

The TV markets, like MIPCOM, MIPTV, and NATPE, are strictly suit and tie and very professional. The other distributors attend, but mostly it's broadcasters from around the world looking from programming. There you will find everything from series, TV movies and formats (where they sell the concept to a distributor who will create a localized version.) The culture shock between the two markets was pretty pronounced for me coming from the film market world to the button up world of TV markets.

That's kind of the difference in a nutshell. The line between the two is blurring as more DVD distributors are attending the TV markets and more broadcasters are attending the film markets.

Overall, there's been a proliferation of film markets and festivals over the past couple of years. It seems like every month we're getting invited to go to yet another market or festival. But I honestly don't see the reason to meet with the same broadcaster I met with only a month ago. With email and websites and streaming trailers, there is less and less reason to meet with someone every other week. We can meet two or three times a year face to face and do the rest of our business via email. Not only is it more cost efficient, it uses less resources and doesn't increase our carbon footprint.

The 2008 Olympics

Not much to update around here. I've just been sitting at home with the A/C cranked up and watching the Olympics. Overall NBC has done a good job in terms of the broadcast. I'd say the quality this year is definitely superior to Athens. But then, I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the time difference. When we are watching in prime time, the events are being broadcast live or relatively recent. In Athens, the time difference made it weird, with live events at 2 in the morning. Although, there are some people upset by the timing of the broadcasts with NBC withholding the more important events until prime time for the ratings. But you can't please everyone. If they only broadcast everything live then people would be complaining because they couldn't see the good stuff since most people work during the day. Just goes to show you can't please everyone.

NBC has also done a great job of building up the drama. Will Michael Phelps go for a world record? Will he beat Mark Spitz' record? Will the male gymnastic team recover from losing its top two athletes? Just watching the 400m Men's Relay had me on the edge of my seat, cheering for the Americans. And part of it was because of the drama of the war of the words from the French team. And partly because they were the underdogs. And also because of that last bit of speed at the end when they came from almost a full length behind. Also, I think Zhang Yimou deserves all that praise for the opening ceremonies, despite the little cheats.

Overall, the ratings for the Beijing Olympics have been higher than the past two Summer Olympics. The question is whether they will be able to keep that interest once the swimming events are over and we are onto track and field. Without the draw of Michael Phelps, will there still be high interest in the games? Or will they find other American athletes to hype and build buzz around? I guess only time will tell.

AJ Schnack's Advice on Film Festivals

AJ Schnack wrote a wonderful article on the state of Film Festivals and how an independent filmmaker can navigate that journey. He is the documentary filmmaker behind such great films as Gigantic, about the music band They Might Be Giants, and Kurt Cobain: About A Son. If you are a filmmaker preparing to head down the festival road, it's a worthwhile read.

However, I am beginning to think more and more about the necessity of doing the whole film festival and traditional distribution model. If you are trying to appeal to a younger audience, or a more tech savvy audience, it may be more worthwhile to just put it out there for free on the internet and build an audience virally like the Loose Change filmmakers are doing. It's certainly something to think about. With new technology and new media, are the old established models necessary?

Unfortunately, the dirty secret that no one seems to be mentioning is that very few people are making any money on the internet with filmed entertainment, with the exception of porn. So the question is whether an internet/new media film can make enough money to justify the cost of making a film. I guess if you are making low-budget, digitally shot, personal films that have a built in and dedicated audience, you may be able to sustain yourself by using new media. But ultimately, the numbers still haven't yet caught up with the amount of money you would get from a single television sale or DVD release.

10 Tips For Independent Filmmakers Seeking Distribution

Let me preface this with a couple of disclaimers. The following is my personal opinion based upon my experience of working in the independent film world for the past eleven years. I have worked in film production, film festivals, acquisitions, distribution, sales, and operations. A lot of this is advice that can be taken with a grain of salt. What works for one person may not work for another. There are things with which you may agree or disagree. Please feel free to comment if you have any questions, additional advice, etc. The following is a work in progress.

1. Genre, selling points – It’s important to think about this in pre-production or even earlier. It’s important to think about what sort of niche your film fits into. It’s rare that an independent film can cross over into many different demographics. You can increase the likelihood of getting distribution if you pay attention to this sort of thing. If you are making a horror, what are the sorts of things that horror film lovers want to see in a film? If it’s a family drama, be careful about including too many swear words, drug abuse or violence. Think about your audience and what is or is not acceptable to that audience. I’ve seen too many films linger without distribution due to overlooking some key elements. This also helps in marketing strategy after your film is complete and you are looking to release it into the market. Is it a festival film that will need some attention from film festivals? Is it a genre film that might be better off simply focusing on genre distributors. Also take a look at films that are similar to yours. Which distributors have had success with your type of film? Chances are that if they have had success in the past, they will want more films of that genre.

2. Press kits – This has been the subject of debate on a good deal of different film websites and forums and among filmmakers and distributors. Some people say that it is important to design a great looking press kit, including a screener, a poster, stills from the film, a short and simple synopsis, etc. Is it necessary? Yes and no. Most distributors pay attention to the film first and foremost. The best looking screener package isn’t going to convince them to acquire your film if it isn’t right for them. On the other hand, it can be a great deal of help for film festivals. If you get accepted to a film festival, having a poster, stills and postcards are practically required. But as a filmmaker, put the vast majority of your effort on your film. If you only have $1000 left in your budget and you have to decide between fixing the audio in your film and creating a poster, fix the film first. Make sure the film comes first. I’ve seen plenty of films where if they had spent as much time on their film as they did on their press kit, they would have made an excellent film. Also, most of the bigger distributors are going to create their own artwork and posters. They have designers on staff just looking for stuff to do. Smaller distributors may not have the budget and being able to use your artwork can be an advantage.

3. Film Festivals and Markets – Festivals and markets are very different creatures and one or the other may be right for your film. Film Markets like AFM, Cannes and Berlin tend to be more genre driven. Film festivals can be more open to more difficult films, films that are either a difficult subject matter or need that extra push to get attention. Film festivals can also be handy for certain niche films like Urbanworld for African American films or Frameline for gay films. There are festivals for many different niches, African American, gay, female films, documentaries, issue driven films, family films, etc. Distributors who attend those festivals usually have a more focused interested in those genres. This is not to say that you have to play in a niche festival, just that it can be another option to get your film out there and seen.

4. Deliverables – If you wind up getting distribution, there are certain things a distributor or sales agent is going to need to sell your film internationally.

Textless material – any shots that have text, make sure you keep the same shots without text. This is used for dubbing your film into foreign languages.

M & E or Music and Effects. Please keep your dialogue tracks separate from your music and effects tracks. This makes it easier to dub the film into foreign languages. Also be careful of using music within the scenes. Once you start having dialogue and music on the same track, it becomes almost impossible to separate.

Stills – If you are shooting a feature film, make sure you hire a professional photographer to come to the set to take publicity stills. These are vital selling elements for a distributor. Without stills, it becomes very difficult to create artwork and promotional materials. If you are short on cash, find a local photography student to do it for you for a small amount of money. Don’t try and do it yourself. You’re going to be too crazed on set to worry about taking pictures. Let someone else worry about that while you are setting up shots.

Trailer – Most likely, the distributor is going to create their own trailer. And the guy/gal you hired to edit your feature probably doesn’t specialize in editing trailers. Editing promos and trailers is a totally different skill set from editing a feature film. That being said, a trailer is a key selling element in seeking distribution. Focus on telling the story. If you have any effects shots, explosions, or CG, you want to include a bit of that in the trailer. But don’t go overboard. There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing a trailer full of car chases and explosions only to find out that 90% of the film is a period piece drama. Make sure the trailer is an accurate reflection of the film. Don’t try to get flashy and do special effects. Just keep it simple. Remember that you are creating a sales tool, not a piece of art.

5. Website – One of the most cost effective sales tools for the independent filmmaker is the website. It’s important to have a couple of things a potential distributor is looking for: Synopsis, Running Time, Cast, and a Trailer. It’s relatively inexpensive to set up a website nowadays. All you need to do is register the domain name and find a web hosting company to host your website. If you aren’t web savvy and don’t feel like shelling out the money for your own website, you can set up a free film blog on any of the blog services for free. Also, you can create a page for your film on youtube.com, withoutabox.com, myspace.com, or facebook.com. Edit: Also make sure you sign up for a twitter account for yourself as a filmmaker and follow other like minded filmmakers. It's an important selling tool. But be yourself. Don't simply try and promote the film. Join the discussion and become a part of the filmmaking community.

6. Finding similar films and filmmakers – Other films that are similar to yours aren’t your competition. They are your support group. Share information and work with other filmmakers. You may be able to help them, and they may be able to help you. The independent film community is a lot smaller than most people realize and word spreads fast. Give out copies of your film to other filmmakers. They may know a distributor that is looking for a film like yours. And if your film is similar to theirs, you may be able to work together and package your films together. Distributors have release schedules to fill. If they can buy two films at once, it makes it easier for them.

7. You, the filmmaker! Another important sales tool is the filmmaker him/herself. If you are involved in the promotion and release of the film, that helps to alleviate the promotion costs of the film upon release. Make sure potential distributors are aware of your level of commitment. Let them know you are available for any press screenings or promotional screenings. Offer to do DVD signings in local video shops around the country. Also be sure to tap into your own network. If you are a member of a community organization, non-profit, religious groups, etc., offer to help the distributor tap into that market. Start your own mailing list of people interested in the film. A film with a hard-working, dedicated filmmaker with a mailing list of 10,000 interested community members is a lot more interesting than a film without that support network. If you don’t have that network, go on Myspace.com and start networking with other filmmakers and film aficionados.

8. Persistence – Let’s face it. Getting distribution for your independently produced vision can be a difficult task. Don’t lose focus. You will hear a lot of no’s before you hear a yes. You may also want to pass on the first offer you get. Hang in there for the long haul. Make sure the distributor you are dealing with is right for your film.

9. Organization – Do your homework. Pick up a copy of the Hollywood Creative Directory’s Distributors Guide. Look on the website of potential distributors to find if they have films similar to yours. Ask for references. Where have they sold their films before? I’ve known some filmmakers who have made the mistake of taking a big fat check without doing their homework, only to find that the distributor wasn’t equipped to release their film. Make sure a potential distributor is really a film distributor or sales agent. If you have to choose between a lower offer from an established distributor and a higher offer from a filmmaker or ad agency turned distributor, go with the experience. This industry is about contacts. Also, never pay anyone to represent your film!!!! Never! If a sales agent needs to be paid to represent your film, they don’t believe they can sell it. It’s not worth it. Spend the money on an extra 1000 postcards and screeners. Although, they have a right to recoup their expenses. Some people may disagree with me, but I feel the same way about certain film festivals that charge the filmmaker a fee to get into the festival. Acquisitions people are aware of these scam festivals where acceptance means that the check cleared. If you simply want to have your film screened in a movie theater, then go right ahead. However, it’s not going to help you sell your film in the least bit.

10. Be Friendly and Outgoing – As I said before, the independent film community is pretty small and word spreads fast. Keeping a friendly attitude can help overcome a great deal of hesitation on the part of distributors. And you never know who is answering the phone. I’ve known heads of major distributors that answer their own phone. So you always want to be friendly to whomever you are speaking to on the phone. Copping an attitude and pretending you are important usually doesn’t work. In this day and age, it takes less than five seconds to check imdb.com. Also, be prepared to listen to the distributors when they pass on your film. Find out why they passed on your film. Is there something you can learn that you can use on another potential distributor? Is there a way you can overcome their objection? I’ve spoken to filmmakers that refused to listen when I told them what they needed to fix in their film. Obviously, you must take everything with a grain of salt since what doesn’t work for one distributor might work for another. Also remember that Acquisitions people have good memories and talk to each other. If you are pleasant and friendly, they may actually refer you to another distributor that is more suited to your film. Although, you must also remember that some of the larger companies forbid their employees from making recommendations because of legal reasons. So don’t press too hard if they hesitate to refer you to a different distributor.

11. Be Realistic – Okay. So it’s not just ten. Here’s a bonus tip. Be realistic. Acquisitions people aren’t stupid, no matter what you might think. Most of them love film and love filmmakers. So if you go around saying that your little independent film that you shot for $10,000 in your parents basement is just like The Matrix, or some other big blockbuster tent pole picture, don’t be surprised if they laugh in your face. In addition, I know that the film is your baby and you poured your soul into making the film. But sometimes the market demand for your film doesn’t match your expectations. Sure, you read about these big seven figure deals coming out of Sundance. However, those deals are the exceptions and not the rule. In addition, a lot of those films have multi-million dollar budgets and film stars that have agreed to work for very little money. If you get an offer that recoups your budget and then some, take it. And you may not even get any money up front at all with a straight distribution deal. Don’t wait too long. Films aren’t like wine. They don’t get better with age. If you don’t sell it in the first two years after completion, your odds of selling it decline dramatically.

That’s it. Let me know what you think. Also, please let me know your success stories or challenges. The independent film world is a tough one. Keep going! Remember that, despite everything, we do this because we love it.

Coffee

Well, I have finally managed to post my other short film, 'Coffee,' up on youtube. Please check it out when you get a chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7CN6L6v5Ps

Sorry for not posting more often. I have just been busy. I am currently working on some more in depth posts for the future.

See you soon!

Moving

If I haven't posted in awhile, it's because I have been in the process of moving to my new apartment. I got the keys to the place on the 14th. I moved all the small boxes by myself with some help from a friend of mine. Then the following week, I had the movers come and move the big stuff. Finally, I am all settled in to my new place. I just need to keep at all those boxes in my living room taking up so much space. It's been stressful, but I have been trying to be as laid back and relaxed about it as possible. Hopefully, I won't have to move again for quite some time. It's nice to finally have my own place after eight years of roommates. I finally figured that I could afford my own place and it was time to grow up and be an adult.

Beard Watch 2008 Pt. 2

This is 3 weeks without shaving. The beard is filling out nicely. I am going to let it grow for another week before I start shaping it.

In other news, I signed the lease for a new apartment on Thursday. I am going to start moving my stuff on June 15th. It's a nice one bedroom in NoHo, near all of the shops and restaurants. That means that I will be walking more often and won't have to drive everywhere. this is hopefully going to save me some money, considering the price of gasoline.

Beard Watch 2008

So I decided to try and grow a beard. It's been 12 days since I last shaved. Here's the status so far. It still itches like crazy. They say you should use skin lotion to cut down on the itchiness and to shampoo the beard. So I have been using Lubriderm on the beard. It works a little but not completely. I've always wanted to grow a beard but every time I tried, I shaved it once it started to get itchy. This time I am going to try and go without shaving for at least four weeks before I do anything, just to see what it looks like. It's still a little splochy and hasn't completely filled in. But I am sure it will fill in in a week or two.

Whatever and ever amen

Forgive the Ben Folds reference. I don't have a specific topic to discuss. But I have been neglecting this blog thing. So I thought I would type up something witty and interesting. Forgive me if I bore you to tears. If details of my life bore you, please go to www.ihasabucket.com instead.

So I went for a walk this afternoon over to the local coffee shop (not Starbucks) and did a little reading. It was very enjoyable. It's so easy in this city of Lost Angels to simply drive everywhere and forget the joys of a nice leisurely stroll.

I've been reading the new edition of Jeffrey Gitomer's Sales Bible. He's a pretty good writer and all of his advice comes from years of experience as a sales person. It's good, practical advice coming from someone who knows what they are talking about. Not everything in his books are applicable to the film sales industry. But overall, it's pretty helpful.

I also went and saw a couple of movies: The Fall, which I unexpectedly enjoyed, and The Forbidden Kingdom, which I didn't enjoy as much. I felt that The Forbidden Kingdom seemed like a watered down version of the old Kung Fu movies made for a Western audience. It didn't seem to work for me. Mostly because I felt that the motivation for the main character was really lacking. However, The Fall I really enjoyed. I'm about 50/50 when it comes to what they call art films. Art for art's sake really bores me. But this film had a wonderful feel to it. Plus, I enjoyed that it had a sense of humor despite the dark subject matter of the film. It's certainly a lot better than his first film The Cell, which was visually stunning but severely lacking in plot development.

Okay, enough of my dimestore film reviews. Back to playing some 'City of Heroes'.

Coachella Pt 2

Well, it's been a week since I spent three days in the desert listening to music. It's an annual event for me. This was the fourth time I've gone. I will try and go every year from now on, as long as I am able.

Some quick thoughts on some of the bands:

1. Prince - This was pretty much a once in a lifetime thing for me. I like Prince enough, but would never actually pay to go to one of his concerts. But this was amazing. I knew we were in for a treat when Morris Day came out and did Jungle Love. Then he transitioned into Sheila E doing Glamorous Life. The rest of the set was amazing. I danced and screamed like crazy during the whole set. Of course, by now everyone has heard about the amazing cover of Creep he did.

2. Goldfrapp - Probably my favorite of the weekend, made all the more impressive considering all of the technical and sound problems they had. I really hope that Goldfrapp tours this year. I will definitely be there.

3. The National - I can't believe I missed them. But they were on the same time as Goldfrapp, and there was no way I was gonna miss Goldfrapp. I hope they do a tour on their own. They're opening for REM at the Hollywood Bowl, but I am not gonna shell out a ton of money just to see the opening band.

4. Dan le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip. This is the set everyone is gonna regret missing. the last time I asked about their album at Amoeba, all I got was a puzzled look. Apparently their album is coming out in the UK in a couple of weeks. Hopefully the American version will come out soon.

Overall, it was three days, 25 bands seen, and a ton of Gatorade. I had ablast and can't wait to see what they do for next year.

You can see the pics I took with my crappy digital camera on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7959466@N08/

Coachella

I will be heading out to the desert Thursday evening for three full days of music and dancing.

The donut of the week is:
Jelly Donut

This delicious creation is a staple of any donut eater's diet. The sugary goodness outside mixes with the sweet filling inside. Nothing beats a nice jelly donut.



So I am heading out to Coachella for the fourth time this weekend. So many amazing bands are playing. Prince, Portishead, MGMT, Goldfrapp, Aphex Twin. It's almost too much to process. I will be dancing my ass of this weekend. I'm sure I will be regretting it on Monday morning. But it's definitely worth it. And the best part is that Prince is headlining on Saturday. I didn't think I would ever see him play live, let alone at Coachella.

MIPTV

The Donut of the week is:

Chocolate Custard Filled Donut

The classic indulgence donut. Glazed chocolate goodness, then a surprise burst of sweet velvety custard goodness. After a week traveling and working, there was this sweet beauty awaiting my return. Eat one of these and all is right with the world.







Okay back to my normal postings.

MIPTV

MIPTV is one of the two big television markets in Cannes. MIPTV or MIP for short is held in early April. The other, MIPCOM is held in October. These are primarily TV markets, so the majority of buyers and product is geared to television. There are a ton of broadcasters from around the world, in addition to a handful of regional distributors and video distributors. The majority of the product there is television product, tv series, formats, and tv movies. There are also some theatrical movies being sold as well. However, the big markets for theatrical movies are Cannes in May and AFM in November.

This was my first time attending MIPTV and the first time at a market where I was selling. I've been to Cannes and AFM before but in a more supportive role than actively selling. Before the market, I was more concerned about having as many meetings as possible because I didn't want to be standing around. In addition, I didn't want to give my bosses any reason to think that I wasn't prepared to begin selling. I didn't want to hear any 'Why didn't you contact X broadcaster?' But once I got there, I was thankful I didn't have back to back meetings. By the time my afternoons rolled around, I was suffering from jet lag so much I just wanted to go back to the apartment and go to sleep. I'll remember to try and schedule most of my important meetings for in the morning next time.

Overall, I had fun. And my boss told me I did a good job. Now it's just a matter of following up and hoping they actually want to buy our product. It's a good thing that buyers seem to be interested in our product. That's all for now.

I'm flying away...

The donut of the week is:

Chocolate glazed old fashioned donut!

Nice and crispy with a chocolate coating. I love to break off pieces of the donut and eat it in sections.







I don't have so much to write about at this time. I'm in the middle of getting ready to get on a plane on Friday.

T-Minus 8 days and Counting

First things first, the donut of the week is:

Plain glazed donut

While I normally enjoy chocolate coated or filled donuts, it's nice once and a while to have a nice simple glazed donut. Plus I can fool myself that it's somewhat healthy since it doesn't have any chocolate.







So the big thing on my mind is MIPTV. In eight days, I will be getting on a plane to fly to the south of France for MIPTV. I've been to Cannes before for the film festival, but this is the first time I am going with my new company. It's also the first time I am going solely to sell. So it's both exciting and scary at the same time.

If you aren't familiar with MIPTV, it's one of the two big international TV markets that take place in Cannes during the year. The first is MIPTV in April and the second is MIPCOM in October. It's a TV market, so the dress is very professional with everyone in a suit and tie. It's not like the wild west vibe of AFM or the Cannes Film Market.

We'll see how I do once I get back. I've been doing a ton of research on broadcasters. I know more that I care to about Scandinavian broadcasters. But they say that research is the difference between a good salesman and a great salesman. I'm just lucky I get paid to travel the world and talk to people, the two things I love to do the most, right behind watching movies and sex.

Bad blogger! No cookie!

I'm afraid I'm not a very good blogger. I can never think of what to write in here.

So I came up with a thought that I would post the donut of the week. Every Wednesday at work, we get donuts. And I loooove donuts! That's not so good for my waist but it's good for my happiness! Donuts make me happy. So without further ado, I present to thee:

Donut Of The Week:
Cake donut with sugar frosting and rainbow sprinkles
I'm afraid my digital camera doesn't take very good pictures up close. But you can imagine this pure sugar creation was quite delicious!

Greetings!

This is my first blog post. Finally got around to creating one.