Following on from yesterdays blog about writing a screenplay, but writing with a deep and intimate understating of ‘who the audience is…’ Let’s go one step further. Seth Godins excellent Ted presentation here really nails it. If you haven’t watched it, you should do so now as he speaks about building ‘tribes’ with great insight.

In todays film making world, intimately knowing the audience is extended from the script and concept stage, right into CONNECTING with the audience quite literally – through social media, physical events and new technologies that evolve and appear by the minute.

As Seth would put it, we should be building a ‘tribe’ of people who are ‘really into’ what we are doing. And if you can do this, it’s a very powerful relationship to have, and one that should and will be mutually beneficial.

And there are plenty of people out there who could really be into ‘your thing’ – be it a horror movie, a doc, a short, a drama… there are literally billions of us on this planet. Whatever story you are choosing to tell, there are people who will be into it. Probably thousands, possibly tens of thousands… and at those numbers, you have a sustainable, heck a THRIVING business model.

The question is how do you connect? How do you expand that loyal ‘tribe’? How do you monetise the relationship? How do you manage that relationship so it grows? There are lots of superficial answers and myths – start a Facebook group, Twitter regularly, build an email list… but this is just the first few steps that everyone is taking. How can you go further?

It’s a question that will be answered in our killer WEEKEND workshop at Ealing Studios.

Your film CAN succeed or fail based on YOUR HARD WORK, TALENT, THE STORY YOU CHOOSE TO TELL AND THE BUSINESS MODEL YOU BUILD.

Finally, we are in full control of the flow of money back to us… the entrepreneurs and creatives!

It’s never been more exciting to be a film maker.

Distribution and Marketing In 2010: The New Model For Film Making Success

Location: London, Ealing Studios
Date: May 8th and 9th,
Price: £237 (inc VAT),
Want to pay by Cheque? (email us here)

This groundbreaking event is headed up by possibly the most important voice in independent cinema right now, Jon Reiss, and supported by Chris Jones of The Guerilla Film Makers Handbook, and LA based cutting edge film marketer Sheri Candler. Three voices. One powerful message and toolkit.

Also presenting will be experienced producers speaking about their own projects and how they have succeeded WITHOUT traditonal distributors and sales agents…

Throughout the event, we will workshop your project, ensuring that you leave with the tools to create a clear strategy that you can execute RIGHT NOW.

Saturday kicks off with us showing you how to create a 21st century ‘no budget’ (but lots of elbow grease from you) marketing strategy that will create deep connections between you, your film and your audience.

Key to the success of your film is this groundwork – in the past, this used to be a screenplay, but now that work is interwoven with a marketing campaign at concept stage. The good news is that this early marketing also acts as a cash attractor, so it could be funding your project from day one.

We will take you through the quagmire of the effective use of social media tools, creating and maintaining blogs, managing SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) to get you ranked at the top of Google, using industry sites like IndieGoGo.com, OpenIndie, IndieScreenings and many more.

Sunday and the focus shifts to the creation of a dynamic distribution and marketing strategy that is unique to your film, offering insights into the ‘real’ markets that are available (in which to release your film), how and why to engage your audience as early as possible, and how to think beyond the feature film to create new forms of content.

Key to these strategies is the understanding that you MUST generate multiple revenue streams and adopt a HYBRID distribution model.

Throughout, you will be encouraged to workshop YOUR project using the new tools and strategies you have learned, causing an immediate breakthrough in the way YOU choose to get your film distributed. 

Jon Reiss is truly a visionary who can see not only how distribution ‘is’ but also ‘how it can be…’ We are lucky that he has chosen to stop off in London on his way to Cannes to deliver this career and life changing seminar.

Jon’s book, Think Outside The Box Office, has transformed the strategies and careers of thousands of film makers since it was published just a few short months ago. His thinking is radical, but supported by his own real world experience as a multi award winning filmmaker. You can read reviews on Amazon here…

Sheri Candler recently handled the marketing for micro budget Slamdance horror, ‘The Yellow Brick Road;. Here’s what they had to say about her… “Sheri is very knowledgeable about social media and viral campaigns, understands the current state of independent film marketing, and always has the best interests of the film at heart.”-Eric Hungerford, Producer, YELLOWBRICKROAD

And yes, that’s me (Chris Jones) with Sheri, at the Producers Guild Of America Awards last year where Gone Fishing won BEST FILM.

We will NOT be running this event again in 2010 so this is your ONLY chance to attend. Good luck with your movies and we hope to see you at the event!