Hi. I'm after some advice. I am close to finishing my first feature film, just awaiting the last few notes of the score to be finished. The film is a black comedy drama, set in the UK, focusing on mental illness, abuse and homelessness but mostly through the eyes of a cineaste, so the whole world he witness's is reflective in cinema scenes from classics to trash cinema.
So, what next? I have the finished film, but what can i do to get it seen? Is it possible to get something like this sold and make revenue? Is it possible to actually get people to see this? Or will it end up on YouTube with 3 views? I am not a marketing expert or a sales man and i'd find it difficult to try to blag myself as such.
I've looked at Filmhub and wonder if this is the best option. Has anyone had any luck with them? I plan having a local screening to try to raise some funds and to allow the cast to see the finished piece, but was also thinking of festivals. Again, are these worthwhile and again, has anyone on here had any luck with them?
I could really do with your advice. Thanks.
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Festivals can be a good starting point. They can be a gauge if your film is at least attractive to a target audience served by a particular festival. Check out Without a Box, they're a great festival resource for filmmakers. They act as a central way of applying to most of the film festivals out there.
https://www.withoutabox.com/
A good next step is to market directly to distributors and sales agents at film markets. Cannes is going on right now, but look into Toronto, Berlin and American Film Market. You can also directly reach out to distributors. Spend the money on an imdbPro account and look at films like yours and research them on imdbPro. You'll find out what distributors picked them up.
Do your due diligence, though. If you get a nibble from one of those distributors, reach out to the producers of other movies they distribute and ask about their experiences. This is also a good reason to go to Film Festivals and talk to filmmakers to hear their good and bad experiences with distributers.
Finally don't be in a rush or feel pressured to take a bad deal just because it's the only offer you have at the moment. Take your time and get to know your market first. Right now, you're in a good position. You have a finished product and have done the hard work of getting it made. Now change hats and go sell it not because you need it sold but because the buyer needs what you have to sell and must pay you to get it. A good salesperson targets buyers who need what they have to sell, then works to convince them that this item is exactly what they need. Before you go to any meeting or make any call, repeat that mantra: "They need what I have. It's gold." Convince yourself, then convince them.
Good luck!
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Hi David. Thanks so much for the detailed response. It is so good to actually receive positive and supportive feedback. I checked out and signed up with the website you mentioned - it looks brilliant. Your comment about not being in a rush is really helpful, as after two years of working on this thing, i was beginning to think i should just get it sold or drop it on the first VOD platform i could find. Thanks.
Get Groups and professionals involved that deal with the medical side of this problem. Have a joint movie release with the medical side of the mental illness. It will add a huge audience!!! break a leg! :)
Hello Geoff. As an film distributor for independent films, I can tell you that film festivals is a good start. If it wins any awards, even better, but if it does not, do not think it is the end of the world. David has given you some good advice and he is correct. Marketing is also important. Another thing to keep in mind when dealing with a distributor is, how much experience does the distributor have, genres, etc. Are they a full distribution company, etc.
Congrats, Geoff. Once you have a completed film you could look at a festival called BLASTOFF ( www.BlastOff.us ) which is offering a 30% discount code BlastOffx30 . Awards include worldwide distribution for select films, via streaming, rental, and purchase outlets. Collective outlets probably have in excess of 20 million viewers - even a small piece of that can be significant.