Film distribution in the digital age.
- Cultural DIY?
In the New York Times, Michael Kimmelman recently wrote about what he termed DIY Culture- sort of the positioning of local versus global commerce. There seem to be assumptions that go along with this kind of thinking that confuse global and modern or local and old-fashioned, as he writes about the prevalence of bookstores in Berlin:
This was more than just a system of distribution and sales; it was a cultural as well as economic affair. It influenced civic life and social relations in ways that browsing books on Amazon or Google can’t.
Now, I am a huge… [more]
- Hobbies are Fun- Filmmaking should be too
There has been some good feedback to the post I had up on IFP’s blog this week, “At Least Hobbies Are Fun” (the title refers to a comment made during The Conversation by Ira Deutchman about someone sort of ‘accusing’ filmmaking to be a hobby). A sample from the post:
But there is a reality, it seems to me, that is missing from the discussion. Selling independent films is not and never was a “business model” (or- if you wish- not a ‘good’ business model), in the context that making these films should be the basis… [more]
- The Cobbler- A new model for entertainment artists
Have an article up at QuestionCopyright.org about a new approach for filmmakers and other entertainment artists in the reproductive economy. Sample:
For the first time, it is possible for a filmmaker to make a film on a very small budget, use promotion and distribution methods that are low-cost or free, and find enough revenue to break even and possibly to support themselves in a basic fashion. It means you probably won’t become a millionaire, but in return your chances of being able to support yourself through your work go up, and they go up more the… [more]
- Mixing it up at the IFP Lab
I’ll be presenting a workshop at IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Documentary Lab this week and I’ll be interested to see up close how filmmakers are thinking about audience engagement. Twitter is abuzz today about Jeff Steele’s take on the crowdfunding model (he’s against it) and he calls audience building a “Loser.”
Building an audience as a way to appeal to investors/financiers might sound like a great idea, but having a bunch of YouTube hits does not translate into dollars and means almost nothing to the buyers or financiers.
Of course, his comments are in the context of films… [more]
- Focusing at DIY Days
I’m excited that amid the general fun and mayhem of DIY Days this Saturday (Brian Newman has promised to make jaws drop!) I’ll be leading a short breakout session on the topic of Focus (not the car).
In a world where you make your film, and now your game, and your website and your twitter account and your facebook and you go to networking events and you apply for festivals and maybe book screenings and see other people’s films and try to make some money and maybe go for a drink or something… How do you stay… [more]
- The Conversation is ongoing
Had fun moderating and ‘advising’ at The Conversation on Saturday. Lots of thoughts always arise when you get many interesting and innovative thinkers together, but I think one thing has been on my mind and only became more intensely so after a day of discussing various kinds of viability for media creation.
There are some basic realities in an economic context that are altering the fundamental possibilities for filmmakers now. When I was focused on the distribution end, I saw this as largely troubling. I do think there will be things I currently love that may not… [more]
- Use Advertising to Promote Your Work- And Win?
Shooting People is sponsoring a contest that leads to an intriguing thought. Create a commercial of less than 90 seconds and you could win various prizes, including a MacBook. But maybe more excitingly, this may be one of those interesting opportunities for product placement- of your own stuff. My advice is to make a >90 second commercial that seems like an ad for Chex Mix or Kodak but REALLY (and subtly) is an ad for your stuff! If they actually use your amazing ad, that is some exposure it’s pretty hard for an indie to… [more]
- Copy Night is about copyright and coolsexyfun
OK, I don’t know if Copy Night will exactly be the equivalent of a dance party, but it will be an opportunity for anyone with an interest in the current and future state of copyright law to kick back and discuss the relevant issues in an informal and relaxed setting. We’ll be meeting at Swift Pub at 34 E 4th St between Lafayette and Bowery at 7PM on Tuesday, March 23rd, in what will ideally be the resurrection of this monthly event. Please join us… [more]
- Thom Powers on the success of Stranger Than Fiction
A video made for THE MAIN EVENT: Finding YOUR Audience, a panel I moderated at SXSW. Thom Powers, founder of the fantastic NYC doc series Stranger Than Fiction and doc programmer for TIFF, shares a few tips with filmmakers hoping to capture some of STF’s success for their own releases.
Thom Powers on making a doc screening a success from Laure X on Vimeo.… [more]
- The Main Event at SXSW
Here is the slideshow from the panel we did at SXSW. More to come!
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