Using both WEB 2.o and psychology. Darkside Films (www.darksidefilms.com) going over the top in bringing the grass roots and communality building to film.
The new now with old style KGB methods thrown in.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Lance
You all show follow Lance at Workbook Project. Very good info there.
The last Indy Film Wisconsin BTR Podcast has him as our guest. Check it out.
The last Indy Film Wisconsin BTR Podcast has him as our guest. Check it out.
Monday, January 12, 2009
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 $$ to make a film, thanks for asking. Try old school work and look for investors. Have a plan in writing and follow it. The SBA will help for free.
6) Blog and keep updating the blog. Note to self: read #6. Tweet about the blog. Cut and paste your blog into your MySpace.
7) Mentor others, even if it's the kid who wants to see what a filmmaker does. Make them an intern.
8) Support your local Film Fests (note IMHO); Milwaukee Film is too close to the old Milwaukee International Film Fest to be supported. Go for it if you want; your outcome might be better than mine with MIFF.
Tips for filmmakers looking to get in the know
1) Have a MySpace or Facebook page (see two below). Be relevant; have friends that reflect you and your work. Your photos should reflect you. You can go for the devil horns look if you want. You might shock me, but I’m not giving you any work nor will I work with you, sorry…well not really.
If I have to wait more than a minute for your MySpace to load, I am not staying.
2) MySpace/ Facebook does not count as a Web page. Even a blog page is far better then just a MySpace or Facebook page. If you send pros to your my space....
3) Use Twitter. Follow those who follow you.
4) Do something. Do something for others. It's called networking. Try it.
5) The Son of God, Obama, is not going to give you $$ 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.
RDI Opening
RDI OPENING
So I went to the RDI Stages grand opening in St. Francis, Wisconsin on Thursday. It was an interesting time. LOTS AND LOTS of folk were there. My guess would be over 500 people in the main room and a few hundred in the other parts of the studio area.
Unlike so many other film events that I have been to in Milwaukee, FILM MAKERS were there (yes, really truly)…nice speeches by the politicians and it was good to see the Lt. Governor get the recognition that she deserves. She did some great things to make Film Wisconsin happen, not so much the mayor of Milwaukee. Of course he was there. I would have liked to have seen my Reps. there like Rep. Robin Voss and Rep. Robert Turner, who both moved heaven and earth to get Film Wisconsin passed (as well as helped with “It Came From Lake Michigan”).
Of course the hardest working actor in Milwaukee, William Zenobia, was there with his bride to be (best of luck you guys). I guess the film he is producing, “Into The Pit,” (the Story of Dead Pit.com) is coming along well. One of the best things I saw was Bill getting pitched to be in an upcoming film because his work and work ethic are well known. I hear that far too many "actors" do a great job in wishing versus networking. (Note to others—if you are looking to get film work, try letting others know what you can do for them.)
I got to meet some folks who are going to change the city of Milwaukee’s outlook on film, one being Tam Nguyen, who is leading the way with a great Web site: http://www.conduitcinema.com Check it out. We are very happy that he is helping us out at Darkside Films/ Darkside girls.
Another cat I met and talked to for sometime was Mr. Dwight Cannon Jr., a mover/ shaker with Creative Spurts (http://www.creativespurts.com). I also had the chance to talk to Mr. Dan Kattman of Lighting Rod, none better in Milwaukee, and yes, I did beg him to play a dead guy in one of his films. Good news is he agreed to be on an Indy Film Wisconsin Podcast!
Wisconsin Rocks! Now lets work to keep the Film Wisconsin tax credits going and to do what we can to contact Governor Jim Doyle and tell him, “Hands off the tax credits.”
So I went to the RDI Stages grand opening in St. Francis, Wisconsin on Thursday. It was an interesting time. LOTS AND LOTS of folk were there. My guess would be over 500 people in the main room and a few hundred in the other parts of the studio area.
Unlike so many other film events that I have been to in Milwaukee, FILM MAKERS were there (yes, really truly)…nice speeches by the politicians and it was good to see the Lt. Governor get the recognition that she deserves. She did some great things to make Film Wisconsin happen, not so much the mayor of Milwaukee. Of course he was there. I would have liked to have seen my Reps. there like Rep. Robin Voss and Rep. Robert Turner, who both moved heaven and earth to get Film Wisconsin passed (as well as helped with “It Came From Lake Michigan”).
Of course the hardest working actor in Milwaukee, William Zenobia, was there with his bride to be (best of luck you guys). I guess the film he is producing, “Into The Pit,” (the Story of Dead Pit.com) is coming along well. One of the best things I saw was Bill getting pitched to be in an upcoming film because his work and work ethic are well known. I hear that far too many "actors" do a great job in wishing versus networking. (Note to others—if you are looking to get film work, try letting others know what you can do for them.)
I got to meet some folks who are going to change the city of Milwaukee’s outlook on film, one being Tam Nguyen, who is leading the way with a great Web site: http://www.conduitcinema.com Check it out. We are very happy that he is helping us out at Darkside Films/ Darkside girls.
Another cat I met and talked to for sometime was Mr. Dwight Cannon Jr., a mover/ shaker with Creative Spurts (http://www.creativespurts.com). I also had the chance to talk to Mr. Dan Kattman of Lighting Rod, none better in Milwaukee, and yes, I did beg him to play a dead guy in one of his films. Good news is he agreed to be on an Indy Film Wisconsin Podcast!
Wisconsin Rocks! Now lets work to keep the Film Wisconsin tax credits going and to do what we can to contact Governor Jim Doyle and tell him, “Hands off the tax credits.”
Monday, December 22, 2008
Open Source Idea
The idea started after reading the Workbook project web page and newsletter., there I have read story after story and heard media creates who I have great respect for talk about how SHARING and working TOGETHER makes better end products.
And that joint efforts just makes sense. Further reading of the workbook project newsletter talks about why a media maker need to share more accurate financial information to those one is looking for to investment.
(Sidebar have a real web page My Space/Facebook does not count.)
This is a part of the process of Open Source INFORMATION is key. Small indy film has many roadblocks belive it or not open information removes same.
So a project I am working that will go public very soon will create a media project that will allow interested parties investors or not access to as much information as we can . Mind you some actors and crew do not want their wages known and we understand this.
What will you be able to get
budget information
shot information
Story Boards
how we are able to get the equipment etc.
The business plan as written.
Accounting information Other then steps needed to protect from ID theft etc.
our ideas for creating the universe that everyone will be able join via your own media work.
Yes our project will form the "rules" Good Guys bad guys shade of gray guys why they interact etc and if want to do something with it go for it.
Again crew and cast pay information will be off limits as well some companies doing product placement may not want to share that information we understand.
Yes my goal is that anyone on line can see how we are doing. Trust is made by information.
This project will be distributed by our self's we are TIRED of being ripped off and abused by distubters not looking to make money (we all have kin to feed) but to rip us off. Just this morning I heard a story about someone who paid a distribution company $5,000 up front then 50% AFTER marketing expenses!! (of corse there is nothing written about how much that is)
So we are planing to use WEB 2.0 to make distribution as easy and inexpensive as possible.
We have the power! We will use the power!
The New Now is here!!!
And that joint efforts just makes sense. Further reading of the workbook project newsletter talks about why a media maker need to share more accurate financial information to those one is looking for to investment.
(Sidebar have a real web page My Space/Facebook does not count.)
This is a part of the process of Open Source INFORMATION is key. Small indy film has many roadblocks belive it or not open information removes same.
So a project I am working that will go public very soon will create a media project that will allow interested parties investors or not access to as much information as we can . Mind you some actors and crew do not want their wages known and we understand this.
What will you be able to get
budget information
shot information
Story Boards
how we are able to get the equipment etc.
The business plan as written.
Accounting information Other then steps needed to protect from ID theft etc.
our ideas for creating the universe that everyone will be able join via your own media work.
Yes our project will form the "rules" Good Guys bad guys shade of gray guys why they interact etc and if want to do something with it go for it.
Again crew and cast pay information will be off limits as well some companies doing product placement may not want to share that information we understand.
Yes my goal is that anyone on line can see how we are doing. Trust is made by information.
This project will be distributed by our self's we are TIRED of being ripped off and abused by distubters not looking to make money (we all have kin to feed) but to rip us off. Just this morning I heard a story about someone who paid a distribution company $5,000 up front then 50% AFTER marketing expenses!! (of corse there is nothing written about how much that is)
So we are planing to use WEB 2.0 to make distribution as easy and inexpensive as possible.
We have the power! We will use the power!
The New Now is here!!!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Carefull
The gilmer of film making and Stardom is not worth your soul. Trust me. Dream act work hard yes. Deal with abuse put up with crooks drugs booze no. I can not tell anyone how to live your life, however in the morning light you can not look yourself in the mirror time to rethink.
If your life become a drama best seen after 11 PM on pay for view get the help you need. There is help out there take advantage of it, please.
If your life become a drama best seen after 11 PM on pay for view get the help you need. There is help out there take advantage of it, please.
Monday, December 15, 2008
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
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
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