Filmmaker 101

Filmmaker Marketing 101:
Tips for filmmakers looking to get in the know

1) Have a MySpace or Facebook page (see two below). Be relevant; have friends that reflect you and your work. Your photos should reflect you. You can go for the devil horns look if you want. You might shock me, but I’m not giving you any work nor will I work with you, sorry…well not really.
If I have to wait more than a minute for your MySpace to load, I am not staying.

2) MySpace/ Facebook does not count as a Web page. Even a blog page is far better then just a MySpace or Facebook page. If you send pros to your my space....

3) Use Twitter. Follow those who follow you.

4) Do something. Do something for others. It's called networking. Try it.

5) The Son of God, Obama, is not going to give you $$ to make a film, thanks for asking. Try old school work and look for investors. Have a plan in writing and follow it. The SBA will help for free.

6) Blog and keep updating the blog. Note to self: read #6. Tweet about the blog. Cut and paste your blog into your MySpace.

7) Mentor others, even if it's the kid who wants to see what a filmmaker does. Make them an intern.

8) Support your local Film Fests (note IMHO); Milwaukee Film is too close to the old Milwaukee International Film Fest to be supported. Go for it if you want; your outcome might be better than mine with MIFF.

Rip off companies

In the last few days I have heard story after story about film makers not getting paid after selling a film.
Mind you there are two sides to a story yad yada yada still
Film makers:
1) Have everything in writing
2) Have a lawyer look over contracts BEFORE you sign then
3) Check backgrounds and ask for references. If the company gets pissed off might be a reason they are not happy to provide them.
4) If a deal is to go to be true it is.
5) If the company starts not living up to their end use a lawyer sooner then later
6) Tell the world have facts to back it up.

One of the reasons these fools get by with this is no one knows about who they are and what they are doing

Note I am not a lawyer and do not play on on TV

The BTR show!

Starting this week we will be adding a equipment/software review to the Indy Film Wisconsin BTR show, You can hear it via the player on the blog.
From the Red to editing software we are going to help find out what rocks and what sucks, no holds
bard.
Last week I was too ill to keep the show going for the moive review of Black Widows so I will of course talk about this interesting film.
If you want your film reviwed please email me at wclingman@wi.rr.com. Same if you would like to be a guest.

Thanks!

Film Wisconsin Trivia

trivia there is a prize!!

Name the films that Film Wisconsin(The Film Office) brought to Wisconsin other then Public Enemies in 2007-8.

How many Studios does Wisconsin have as of 1 Nov 2008 that have made at least one film?

Email answers to wclingman@wi.rr.com

Today

The day is up to you. Action is far better then talk, talk is cheep NOTHING even got done by talking someone had to act move do whatever.
Sure it's hard to pick up that phone knowing that there 90% chance the investor is going to say no.
There is a 100% chance if you do not make the call.
Same with location or anything else.
Be brave take action today!