few HOW TO questions

L

LDS

Hey I am kind of new to this whole FILM thing... I've done short films and music videos but they all ended up on YouTube... but my 2013 resolution is to make my first Feature Film... And no not any big production... Besically I have this simple idea and I just want to try it - I may fail but I'll embrace it and learn from it as I always do...

Im newbie so here are my questions to anyone who is enough experienced:

- when I finish my film - what do I do to sell it? - meaning... can I just send it to some studios/productions eg BBC Film hoping they take it?

- how can I make it to the cinema? can I even make it without studio or higher people?

- how do I send it to festivals meaning some big ones (Toronto Film Festival, Cannes (the official one) etc... do I need the film on 35film?

- and finally I bet you will think Im a dreamer but... how do I send it to awards? (BAFTAS, OSCARS <- looooooooool yeah go on LAUGH! :P)

etc... any good websites or something? :)
 
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LDS said:
Besically I have this simple idea and I just want to try it - I may fail but I'll embrace it and learn from it as I always do... Oh, you'll learn a lot, alright. :lol:

Im newbie so here are my questions to anyone who is enough experienced:

- when I finish my film - what do I do to sell it? - meaning... can I just send it to some studios/productions eg BBC Film hoping they take it? Figure out it's distribution BEFORE you even start planning it.
DO NOT wait until after it's in the proverbial can

Remember:

20120325FilmitAndTheyWillCome.png


- how can I make it to the cinema? can I even make it without studio or higher people? Only with an insane amount of luck + talent.

- how do I send it to festivals meaning some big ones (Toronto Film Festival, Cannes (the official one) etc... do I need the film on 35film? Google UK & EU film festivals and usually you upload to withoutabox. No. You don't need 35mm film. Most stuff is online, now. Sometimes they want a DVD, especially for the DIY smaller local festivals.

- and finally I bet you will think Im a dreamer but... how do I send it to awards? (BAFTAS, OSCARS <- looooooooool yeah go on LAUGH! :P) Yeah, you're either dreaming or toking. They'll call you about any award nominations.

etc... any good websites or something? :)
Click to expand...
Budget: http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=39122
VOD: http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=37825
Marketing: http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=38636
Don't do any of this: http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=44510

GL!
 
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- when I finish my film - what do I do to sell it? - meaning... can I just send it to some studios/productions eg BBC Film hoping they take it?
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You can, the chances are rather low unless you learn more about distribution and marketing first. The business side of filming (in my opinion) is more complicated and difficult than the art of filming itself. Who knows, you might make a masterpiece and distributors may be fighting to distribute your movie.

Put it this way, over 5000 movies are made every year. Maybe 90% never see the inside of a cinema. Most of the others get a limited release with only the select few getting a decent cinematic release.

- how can I make it to the cinema? can I even make it without studio or higher people?
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2 Ways. A). Get someone else to do it, like submitting it to distributors and hoping like hell they think your movie is a masterpiece worthy of investing lots of wads of cash on your P&A. or B). 4 Wall it yourself.

Well there is another option (what I call renting a distributor), but I doubt you'd have the budget for it.

There are lots of distributors though. Your only choices aren't the majors.

- how do I send it to festivals meaning some big ones (Toronto Film Festival, Cannes (the official one) etc... do I need the film on 35film?
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Depends on the festivals. Most accept both some digital format and 35mm. Check each festival you're interested in for those details. Some will simply want a Bluray.

- and finally I bet you will think Im a dreamer but... how do I send it to awards? (BAFTAS, OSCARS <- looooooooool yeah go on LAUGH! )
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BAFTAS I don't know anything about, but to get it to be considered for an Academy Award, (I heard) expect to spend millions of dollars to put it up "For Your Consideration" in advertising like in American Cinematographer and the go to websites. You need it to be nominated first hence the advertising. Or you could go the Steven Spielberg route: Go on tv and say you don't care. Of course you need to be a big name before anyone will care. If you think it's worth the investment, go for it. No guarantees though.

etc... any good websites or something?
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Yes, there are lots of websites and somethings out there. Lots and lots and lots. Try Amazon.com. It probably holds the biggest cache of filming related materials that I know of.
 
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Talking about distribution...
What about Netflix? They seem to take in a few indie films/indie series. Look at VGHS by the Freddiew crew from Youtube. Their show is on there in film format.
 
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Yes, you can attempt to sell it to whoever you want, be it the BBC, or some studio. Look at online channels, including Amazon, as well as Vimeo's new service.

Making it to the cinema is really tough. Essentially, you either spend a lot of money on getting your film to an acceptable standard, and then get a distributor on board, or you submit to festivals and distributors and hope that they like your film enough to put money in to get it to an acceptable cinema standard.

Pretty much all film festivals accept a DVD or digital copy (and only accept that) for submission. If you get selected for exhibition, then you need to provide them with a dub in a certain format. The festival advises, but it's usually a DCP, 35mm print or HDCAM SR.

There are some film festivals that are tied in with awards, and can get you into Oscar consideration. It actually happens a lot more than you think, just that you never hear about them because they're not in the main ceremony. It doesn't really mean much though, I know of a few people who have won Oscars for their shorts and their careers certainly haven't become 'the next Spielberg'.
Now, if your film is picked up for distribution, however, that's a different story - Beasts of the Southern Wild is a good example of a (relatively) low budget indie film getting picked up, and even just getting a limited theatre run, and yet getting nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Direction.
 
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Two things distributors and promoters look for is a minimum level of production values, according to THEIR standards and name recognition.

Gonzo's company has something like a formula worked out that spending something like half a million will statistically make a film meet minimum production values that are acceptable to them.

Distributors also want names they can sell.
 
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Horror is the exception. There are some really low end horror distributors that distribute some very poor quality films with bad sound, poor editing, bad dialogue, bad acting, blank wall rooms, bad titles, and poor costumes and makeup.
 
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LDS said:
Hey I am kind of new to this whole FILM thing... I've done short films and music videos but they all ended up on YouTube... but my 2013 resolution is to make my first Feature Film... And no not any big production... Besically I have this simple idea and I just want to try it - I may fail but I'll embrace it and learn from it as I always do...

Im newbie so here are my questions to anyone who is enough experienced:

- when I finish my film - what do I do to sell it? - meaning... can I just send it to some studios/productions eg BBC Film hoping they take it?

- how can I make it to the cinema? can I even make it without studio or higher people?

- how do I send it to festivals meaning some big ones (Toronto Film Festival, Cannes (the official one) etc... do I need the film on 35film?

- and finally I bet you will think Im a dreamer but... how do I send it to awards? (BAFTAS, OSCARS <- looooooooool yeah go on LAUGH! :P)

etc... any good websites or something? :)
Click to expand...
99% of movies don't get theatrical distribution. Those that do consider it a break even promotional venture at best.
Avoid the big film festivals. Entering those is just like giving them free money. Instead pick smaller ones like San Fernando Valley film fest, Malibu Film Fest, CineVegas, etc.
Amazon will sell any DVD. Sign up with their Advantage program. Tunecore, Stonehendge productions and some others will distribute your movie digitally but it costs like $750 just to get started.
 
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