Want to raise money for an independent film? Elements may be your ticket to success, but you have to do things differently from those who are already established when things get tough. Here, I show how the people around you can help you raise money during preproduction, and market your indie film once it’s made. Enjoy!
—
Photo from Jannes at sxc.hu
April 2012, I sat in at the UT film production class. I was new to town, and professor Richard Lewis was one of the few teachers who let people to audit classes. One day, Professor Lewis spoke about attached elements.
Want to make a great film, one that gets in theatres? You need attached elements.
-A great script
-A Producer
-An A-list actor
-A director
Those are elements.
Why?
Each of these has a reputation. People know A-list actors and directors for their previous work. Moviegoers know who they are, and will often pay to see a film just because they are involved.
Producers have standing. When you see a Jerry Bruckheimer film, you know what kind of film you are going to see, and what qualities you can expect. It will be an action film – big stars, a few explosions, a love story, and a few funny one-liners.
A few strong elements can increase your chance of a successful film. What’s more, you have a greater chance of getting it made in the first place.
That is how producers make movies.
Indie filmmakers can benefit from what content marketers already know – everyone can spread an idea.
Today, a production assistant can have a blog with 10,000 followers. A grip can also be a writer whose work may not yet hit the NYT bestseller list, but has a decent-size audience.
A casting agent could host events with other actors and agents at a Mexican restaurant every second Wednesday of every month.
You may not convince Judd Apatow to make your film just because a blogger likes the idea, but it can help you if you’re making an indie film.
Say you’re raising money for a project on Kickstarter, and there are three DPs who can shoot demos and teasers for your project.
Should their ‘platform’ and power to spread the word about your film be a factor in which one you hire?
What if you asked this question to everyone you worked with?
What if, out of a hundred people, you found ten with a platform of some kind?
If three can help you raise money, and all ten can spread the work at film fests or to drive online sales, how much better off could you be?
Maybe this advice is ahead of it’s time – most people don’t have platforms, aren’t marketers, and don’t draw an audience.
But most aspiring filmmakers fail, so why leave any stone unturned?
Can you work with someone with a platform who can help you promote/ distribute your next project? Let me know in the comments.
I simply want to mention I am newbie to blogging and site-building and certainly liked this web blog. More than likely I’m going to bookmark your blog . You certainly have remarkable articles. Kudos for revealing your blog.
I simply want to say I am just newbie to blogs and truly liked you’re web site. Likely I’m planning to bookmark your website . You absolutely have good stories. Bless you for sharing with us your website page.
I just want to tell you that I am all new to blogging and site-building and truly savored this blog site. Very likely I’m likely to bookmark your blog . You actually come with awesome writings. Thanks for sharing with us your blog.
Every patient is a doctor after his cure.
I simply want to mention I am new to weblog and seriously enjoyed you’re web page. Likely I’m want to bookmark your site . You really have excellent articles. With thanks for revealing your website.
Thanks For Your Valuable Share. Waiting For Your Next Article….
I just want to mention I am all new to weblog and definitely loved this blog. Probably I’m want to bookmark your blog post . You actually have excellent articles. Appreciate it for sharing with us your blog site.
very good put up, i definitely love this website, keep on it
I simply want to say I am new to blogs and honestly liked this web page. Very likely I’m going to bookmark your site . You certainly come with tremendous stories. Bless you for sharing with us your blog site.
I just want to tell you that I am just very new to weblog and actually savored your blog site. Very likely I’m want to bookmark your blog post . You surely come with great articles. Regards for revealing your webpage.
I just want to say I’m newbie to blogging and honestly enjoyed you’re blog site. Almost certainly I’m planning to bookmark your blog . You certainly come with wonderful articles and reviews. Cheers for sharing your webpage.
Thank You OP For Your Valuabe Share & Definitely It Will Be Help My Next Project. I am Waiting For Your Next Share. Thanks A Lot Again
Hello there, simply became aware of your weblog thru Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate when you proceed this in future. Lots of other people shall be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!|
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?|
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.|
Really when someone doesn’t know afterward its up to other people that they will help, so here it occurs.|
Wow, marvelous weblog format! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you make running a blog glance easy. The entire glance of your web site is wonderful, as smartly as the content material!
I am really loving the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility problems? A handful of my blog visitors have complained about my website not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?|
Wow! In the end I got a blog from where I know how to genuinely get helpful information regarding my study and knowledge.|
Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday but never jam today.
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my site thus i came to “return the favorâ€.I’m trying to find things to enhance my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!|
continuously i used to read smaller posts that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this paragraph which I am reading at this place.|
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes which will make the largest changes. Many thanks for sharing!|
I like the valuable information you supply in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and test once more here regularly. I am somewhat certain I will be told lots of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!|
Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and everything. Nevertheless think about if you added some great visuals or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and video clips, this site could certainly be one of the greatest in its niche. Good blog!|
It’s going to be end of mine day, however before ending I am reading this fantastic paragraph to increase my know-how.|
Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme. Many thanks|
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.|
Hey I am so excited I found your blog page, I really found you by mistake, while I was looking on Digg for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say thanks a lot for a remarkable post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the moment but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the superb b.|
The mill cannot grind with the water that is past.
This article is actually a nice one it assists new web viewers, who are wishing in favor of blogging.|
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes that produce the largest changes. Many thanks for sharing!|