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Month: January 2010
Tribeca Film
Proposals are due on February 1st. Please see www.tribecafilminstitute.org/youth for details and guidelines.
Via social media, namely Twitter and Facebook, I have gotten to know a lot of filmmakers, their work, and all the excellent things they are doing to build a artist-centric, sustainable, and profitable film community. One of the latest such endeavors is FilmEES, founded by D.A. Sebasstian (Go-Kustom). I asked him to explain what he was up to. This is his post.
The basic idea to start a film Coalition came from several discussions film makers were having on Twitter about Indie-Film Distribution Models and Film Screening Clubs. Two popular hash tags used in the discussions were Ross Pruden’s #infdist and Craig Wilson’s #indieMM
The biggest difference between us and other Indie-Film Coalitions or Collectives is we are not just a website. We are scheduling real events starting in Seattle and San Diego and moving around the globe. Of course you can see members bios, discussions and Video Clips on the FilmEES website but the site is basically just a watering hole.
Lisa Heselton got the basic site up just a few days ago and we just added several new website moderators to add functions quickly to FilmEES. I also am really excited about the DVD Short Film Series we are putting together under Craig’s #indieMM Series. These DVDs will be available online and through other means.
As a record label owner I am very familiar with compilations and their marketing, much more so than an average film maker. I come at this from a musicians background. Being a signed recording artist for decades doesn’t help my film making but definitely schooled me on marketing and self promotion. I hope to share that with others- as well as how to make money on your film very quickly, like I did. If you bypass the traditional distribution models and make the film as cost effective as you can you have a chance.
My first feature Hot Rod Girls Save The World has sold 1,300 DVD copies in just 10 months, with very little advertisement and because I made the film for less than $5,000 I am in profit territory now. It can be done. But FilmEES is definitely not the D.A. Sebasstian show. I am a catalyst and moderator. It is the members that will shape what this organization becomes. So far it seems this starting group of FilmEES Members are doers, not just talkers. This brings results into the real world quickly.
We’ve also got support from IndieFlix.com who is helping us set up a FilmEES – IndieFlix Catalog page for our members so they can sell their titles through the FilmEES website, but retain direct control of their titles.
This was an initial idea list for the FilmEES Goals- originally presented in #infdist on Twitter.
1: To establish an international network of Indie-Film Producers, Actors and Companies.
2: To build a data base of information contributed by Members both in the promotion of Indie-Film and making of Indie-Films
3: To create a series of International Showcases using Membership to promote Short Film, Webfilm, Feature Film and Music Video.
4: To create regional networks to help regional Indie-Film Producers & Productions.
5: To establish websites to promote FilmEES Member Films.
6: To create DVD releases with Member trailer and promotional content for Member Projects.
7: To create a massive once a year meeting and Festival for all Members to share, meet and screen their work.
8: To foster upcoming indie-film makers (programs) so they can find creative channels to get their film made.
9: To structure fund raising channels for aspiring FilmEES Film Makers. Maybe with partner groups or organizations.
10: To make movies!!!
As the FilmEES group grows and our projects are available for film viewers to see fist hand the quality of members and their work, the Coalition will gain recognition. Of that I am sure. FilmEES website www.filmees.com
Join us!
D.A. Sebasstian is an artist, film maker, sculptor, writer, inventor, television producer and musician. He fronts the bands Kill Switch…Klick (or KsK) and D.A. Sebasstian & The Inner Demons.
He also runs Go-Kustom Rekords, Films and TV. His first feature film was Hot Rod Girls Save The World released in 2008 and he is currently in post-production with Rat Rod Rockers! Sebasstian is also a features writer for Car Kulture Deluxe, Gearhead Magazine, Industrial Nation, Outburn and Ol Skool Rodz.
He also runs Go-Kustom Rekords, Films and TV. His first feature film was Hot Rod Girls Save The World released in 2008 and he is currently in post-production with Rat Rod Rockers! Sebasstian is also a features writer for Car Kulture Deluxe, Gearhead Magazine, Industrial Nation, Outburn and Ol Skool Rodz.
Today we have a guest post from Jon Reiss announcing his generous offer to do some free consulting for filmmakers with features at Sundance.
As some of you might know, one of the reasons that I wrote Think Outside the Box Office was after those first Filmmaker articles I wrote in Fall ‘08 about my experiences distributing my graffiti doc Bomb It, many filmmakers contacted me to help them with their films. However they were all broke, as most filmmakers are. The book started as a brain dump so that I could share my experiences with others. I figured people could at least afford $20-$25. (After many requests the book is now available as a PDF from my site for $14.95)
But filmmakers still need individual advice; how to apply the new distribution and marketing models and landscape to their specific films. And unfortunately since filmmakers in general are not saving money for distribution and marketing, they are still broke.
So I wanted to do some kind of community consulting “event” at Park City this year. I thought about sitting in a coffee shop for 2 hours a day and having online sign ups for 20 minute sessions (I still might do this if enough people request it).
However, Lance Weiler asked me to do a live consulting session at the Slamdance Filmmaker Summit (Saturday January 23rd) with two filmmaking teams one narrative/one doc. Anyone in Park City can attend and it can also be live streamed (along with the rest of the Summit that I recommend you all check out).
I’ve decided to expand this to 10 more feature filmmakers from either Sundance or Slamdance. I will provide 45 minutes of consultation by phone or Skype before the festival begins and 45 minutes during the festival. This can be used in any way the filmmakers want, from helping to devise a complete DIY scenario, to getting my opinion on any deals being offered.
For selection any interested film should email me by Thursday January 14th by noon at reiss.jon@gmail.com. Send me what you have eg synopsis, trailer, website, plans you have in mind etc.
I will pick the films and announce them by Friday January 15th.
For any other Sundance/Slamdance filmmaker not chosen I will be reducing my consulting rate before and during the festival from $75 an hour to $50 an hour. This rate will apply even for the chosen films if they want to go beyond the first hour and a half.
A little more than a year ago, I started this blog partially because I couldn’t bare the thought that another group of filmmakers were headed to Park City with false dreams of gold, mistaking the festival for a market, and thus missing out on an important media launch. I am not sure if any filmmaker truly headed into 2009 Sundance though with their “A Plan” to launch out of the fest i some sort of way. Some did adopt DIY or hybrid distribution afterwards, but this year shows a much different picture, with already at least four films declaring the festival as their launch.
With their being very little of an acquisition market in The States these days for specialized film, what are the other filmmakers doing? How can they fully consider their options? Hope has risen. There is an answer.
Filmmaker, TFF blogger, author, and distribution consultant Jon Reiss is very generously offering up ten FREE consultations to filmmakers with films in the Sundance selection. This is a fantastic opportunity to figure out what is best for your film. Maybe you already know, but even then how great is it that you get someone to bounce your ideas off of.
Details will follow tomorrow, but let me see it would be very wise for you to give some thought NOW as to why you need to speak to Jon and how your film could benefit.
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