Producing requires that you look beyond your own projects and looks at how you build it better for everybody. I frankly don’t have respect for producers who only work on their projects. I want to know they give back to the community in general. That does not have much to do with packaging frankly, but it is why I write this blog.
To that end, I want to share with you my thoughts on how to package your film in such a way that your film will gather momentum, get made, and succeed in the marketplace. I have come up with twenty points. I wanted to know what I forgot, so I hope you add to the list.
- Recognize what you are doing when you package a project. You package a project because you want to finance or sell your film. You put actors in it not just for the creative enhancement, but also for the financial benefit. If you fail to make the movie or to use the actors well, you devalue them in the market place. That’s a HUGE risk for them. It’s not true that if an actor attaches herself to the project and it doesn’t get made, no harm is done. Attaching an actor exposes them to the marketplace — and kind of checks their value. If a project an actor attaches himself to does not get made, it appears that buyers are not interested in them (because they presume that audiences does not value them). By attaching actors to your project, you are risking their career. Do not even approach them, until you are can demonstrate to everyone around them that is not the case.
- Develop a positive reputation for consistently delivering films of quality and acclaim. It may sound like a Catch 22, but
