QUADCINEMA 4-WALL SELECT
Being in the movie business for over 38 years (the QUAD CINEMA in New York
opened in 1972), and being an enthusiastic IDA member, I‚ve spoken to,
worked with and advised hundreds of filmmakers. Here are the 6 mistakes I've
heard and seen most often:
1. Filmmakers become obsessed with having their film play at innumerable
Film Festivals. They often measure the film's success by how many festivals
they can play in. One or two of the majors are OK. But that should be the
limit. Chances are you will not meet a distributor who will buy your film
for big bucks and it‚s unlikely your film will be reviewed in the major
media. The Festival newspapers do not count.
2. Filmmakers fail to budget at least $20,000.00 for Self Distribution,
which they most likely will have to do. Without some Self Distribution money
to start off, your film will end up on your living room shelf, a reminder of
one of your major living achievements. Filmmakers should never say upon
completion of their film that "I do not have any money left to do anything.
Help me!"
3. If you want to take the road of finding a distributor, pick one that has
a defined record of booking films like yours. There are too many
distributors out there who will take all your film rights and do nothing.
Also, do not hook up with a distributor without having an Entertainment
Lawyer advise you. Your brother-in- law who handles real estate law for a
major firm will not know what to look for.
4. Never, never, never sign away your DVD/ONLINE rights to anyone unless you
carefully compare deals offered by others. Also, this is something you can
do yourself, probably as good a job as most DVD/ONLINE distributors. And,
you control the income. If you're going to make money with your film, it
will come primarily from DVD/ONLINE sales. Trust me!
5. Too many filmmakers pick a publicist who has a great reputation, comes
highly recommended, but does not know the film business. Good PR people know
the major film players in the media. If the PR person you're considering
can't show you past results in getting films reviewed, talked and written
about in the media, very politely show him or her, the front door.
6. Filmmakers lose sight of the most important goal, which is to get the
film reviewed by the major New York film critics. Unfortunately, no other
city will do. This is by far the best way to give your film exposure,
credibility and the "hook" to stand out in this field crowded with thousands
of other indie films.
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