Author: Ted Hope

Categories
Bowl Of Noses

Read Before You Buy

Lookybook is a great website that allows you to look at a whole picture book before you buy.  Okay, okay: we know most of you think you are too big for picture books, but let me tell you something: as old as a nose grows, good work still smells just as sweet as the day the first nostril fell off the vine (can you put two colons in the same sentence?  isn’t that like having four nostrils?).  

And what if you want to find a good new book — one that is not a hand-me-down to your four year old brother or that five year old girl who lives next door?  How are you going to do that if your parents don’t want to take you to a book store?  You have to give the little ones something fresh now and then don’t you?
Or maybe you need to get some ideas for the kids’ book you are going to draw or write this weekend?  Didn’t know you were going to do that?  Do you know how much college costs these days?  Better start to earn some money — be you a parent or a kid.
Anyway, one of the neat things about Lookybook is you can build your own bookshelf and place all the good ones on it — which will help that girl and your brother know what’s good to read.  Here’s just one of their books.  It’s much bigger on their website, but if you click on the eyes here, it will grow like Pinocchio‘s nose — but not for the same reasons!


Categories
These Are Those Things

Simple Is Best (Well, Maybe, Best After Complex)

BankRobber music hipped me to Anni, and I was immediately won over by this song and video.  Granted, in my dreams I play a fiddle (some people fly, others breathe underwater, but me, I fiddle).  I just got her new disc Rockwell and it is one of the bright spots on the horizon for the weekend (NY Comic Con being another!).  I find myself won over more and more by the simple things.  Give me a unique voice and unique style, and I’m there.

Categories
Truly Free Film

The Workbook Project Podcast on iTunes

Didjaknow The Workbook Project had a podcast that you can download?  I didn’t until yesterday.  Oh happy day.I just subscribed.  More knowledge to be gained as I walk these mean streets…

Categories
Truly Free Film

14 Steps To A Social Media Plan

Seybold Scientific had a great posting on what you need to do build an effective social media plan.  It’s written for businesses but is easily adaptable for film.  Read the whole thing, but here’s a brief on the first four:

1) Clearly articulate who your stakeholders are before you begin.
2) Clearly articulate the key issues these stakeholders care about as it relates to your offering. Use a bulleted list with no more than three or four words per item.
3) Begin by researching which, if any, top bloggers are discussing these issues. 
4) Inevitably, any substantial subject matter area has a back channel where top bloggers and influencers chat.

Categories
Truly Free Film

It Could Be Getting So Much Better All The Time #6: Marketing Money

Actress, writer, director, producer, political activist, choreographer, and independent film enthusiast Rosie Perez knows, it’s all about the money:

If you do not have the realistic financial support, outside of your production buget, to promote and advertise your film in the same way studio supported films are, the possibility of a successful box office is lessen, which then lessens the possibility of financial support for your next independent film project, regardless of it’s content, which then hurts the future of all independent films.

Most independent film makers and lovers would say that it’s not about making a profit but that is naive and pure independent snobbery. If your film is not marketed to the masses or even just to the independent film lovers’ community in a relevant way, the chances of making a substantial profit is not likely. If your film does not make a substantial return, your film will be considered a failure. If your film is considered a failure, just based on the box office and not on the content, the studio’s, distributors and future independent financial investors response will be that independent films do not work and will be hesitant to support other projects! This is a hard truth that “we” as independent film makers do not want to accept. Well, we can not afford to be blind any longer.

Marketing dollars for television ads, magazine and newspaper campaigns, movie trailers shown not only online but in theaters , press junkets, billboards or at least poster snipes are
vital. Even the “festival” route takes a lot of money after your submission is accepted – word of mouth just does not cut it anymore and if you do not think this is true you are fooling yourself. This is not a part of selling out, it is being business smart about getting your independent, artful and important film seen by as many as possible!

Independent film makers must be competitive and this can be done with out losing our souls. We can be market savvy producers with out selling out our product. We get on our high horse and say amongst ourselves that we do not care about the box office, we care about the content of our films, which we should and do, however, in the real cruel world we must care to an extent otherwise we will be left in the dust.

Much hard love to the Independent Film World,
ROSIE PEREZ

Categories
Truly Free Film

Hope said "Hit" and Lipsky "Suck It" … then came the response

Karina at Spout called me out on my liberal use of an already overused term.  You ask me though, the meaning of the word “hit” left this world long ago.  And it brought a smile to my face to type each letter as a result.  I couldn’t resist.

Her further critique of Jeff Lipsky’s Reasons To Be Bullish, Pt 1 & Pt 2, then reminded me of the response of few friends have called me out on my current optimism: that it left them depressed. 
What can I say? In every silver lining broods a deep dark cloud.  Karina labeled it “cranky old man-ism”.  She might have something there: I am writing this from the rocker on my front porch.  But Karina got some good response back too.  Old men and their reprimanders are always worth a hoot in my book or blog.  Check it out.
Categories
Truly Free Film

Sundance Creative Producing Initiative

This past summer I was a mentor at Sundance’s first Creative Producing Lab.  I was completely impressed.  In regards to Jane’s earlier post today, this is that program.  Granted it can only be accessed by a very limited number of participants (there were 4 fellows last year), but it was a comprehensive and intensive program that I would advise for everyone.

And you know what?  The deadline to apply is quickly approaching.
You can also find the application and additional information on the program at the link below:
http://www.sundance.org/applications/CPI/

The Sundance Creative Producing Initiative much more than just the summer lab though  (from Sundance’s own literature): 

it is a year-long creative and strategic fellowship program for emerging American producers with their next project.

The program was conceived to develop and support the next generation of American independent producers. For over 27 years, the Sundance Institute has offered in-depth year-round programs for feature screenwriters and directors. In an increasingly competitive and complex marketplace, the health and excellence of the independent film movement hinge on sophisticated creative and strategic producers with whom these directors and writers can collaborate.

The initiative focuses on the holistic producer, who identifies, options, develops and pitches material, champions and challenges the writer/director creatively, raises financing, leads the casting/packaging process, hires and inspires crew, and navigates the sales, distribution, and marketing arenas. The program is designed to hone emerging producers’ creative instincts in the scripting and editing stages and to evolve their communicating and problem-solving skills at all stages of realizing a project.

Five producers will be selected for a one-year fellowship and participate in the following:

Creative Producing Lab (described below)
Producers Conference attendance
Sundance Film Festival attendance (screenings, networking opportunities)
$5,000 living stipend; $5,000 pre-production grant
Year-round mentorship from 2 industry advisors
Community building among producing fellows
Year-round support from Sundance staff
SUNDANCE CREATIVE PRODUCING LAB

Fellows will attend a 5-day lab focused on creatively strengthening their projects from script to screen. The idea is to give producers the chance to explore their own creative take on material and to give them skills and experience in evaluating and developing this material at script stage and beyond. Scripts will be discussed in one-on-one sessions with advisors, as well as in a collective notes process with the group. Case studies will be used to explore creative issues in the production and editing processes, while techniques in communicating with writer/directors and potential production partners will also be addressed.

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates must have produced at least one short or feature-length narrative or documentary film (no more than 2 narrative features total).
Producers must have a completed, legally-optioned, scripted narrative project in hand with a director attached to the project.
Candidates may not be writer or director of submitted project.
Candidates must be based in the U.S., although submitted project does not need to be English language nor filmed in the U.S.
Sundance Institute strongly believes in strength in diversity and actively encourages applications from women, people of color, differently abled people, and all persons who support the Institute’s mission.

I should also add on another front, it is also deadline time for IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs.  I just blogged about it on Let’sMakeBetterFilms over on HammerToNail.  Check it out too.  Get those applications in the mail!  These are great programs that we are fortunate to have.