A Cause for Celebration

I am currently prepping a short film called Touch and it has thus far truly been a labor of love.  This week, finally, I have some really exciting news to report.  We are cast!

Congratulations all around because my very hardworking, patient and persistent casting director, Lisa Mione, did an amazing job and I am absolutely thrilled to get started working with the brilliant women she found.

Touch is a simple little film about two women waiting for a train who make a deep but fleeting connection with one another.  It’s one location, one day shoot and all about the performances so there’s zero room for error in the casting.  This is a quiet film that will provide no distractions from bad performances.

And I couldn’t feel more confident with my team.  After a very picky and exhaustive search we found our gems in Lily Knight and Tanna Frederick who have signed on to play the two women, Jean and Heather.

There’s a wonderful feeling that comes over me as a director when I know I’ve cast properly.  It’s excitement, anticipation, eagerness to get on set and record the magic.  And oddly a sense of calm.

To me, casting decisions are the most important ones I make on a film.  After a long hard search I know I’ve found the best women for the roles and that brings us that much closer to executing the vision that’s been dancing around in my head ever since the producer first brought me the script.

I can’t wait to get shooting!

Film Festival Survival Guide

I just got my festival acceptance letter, now what do I do?  First of all, congrats!  Now, let’s get to work.  Here’s a quick little guide to all things festival…

Every festival is different, but there are a few things you should have no matter where you go…

• Press kit - In it should be a logline & synopsis, crew & cast list, key bios, director statement, director photo, production stills, press release, list of awards & screenings, reviews, and any press you’ve already received. You can put other stuff in too, but if you want to check out the example for my thesis http://www.latebloomerthemovie.com/press.html.
• Postcards & flyers - these are great to print a large batch ahead of time, but make sure you leave customizable room for the screening dates, times and addresses because that will change with each festival. Also, if you think you might win awards, you may want to print a small batch early on in the festival run and another batch with laurels later.
• Poster - it’s good to have three - one for the theater, one for the press room and one for the ticket sales area. I come with an easel (you can get cheapo easy to carry ones at art supply stores), 2 posters mounted on foam core and one rolled up. Remember, your goal is to look like a real movie so people actually want to see it.
• Backup tape for projection. You never know, the festival could lose your film, the projector could go down, whatever. If you travel to the festival, bring a backup.
• A few dvd’s. Sometimes you’ll have an audience member freak out over your film and want to know where to buy it. Don’t be a jerk, just give them a copy. Also, you may want to give them to other programmers, press, other contacts or filmmakers.
• And don’t forget business cards for yourself!
• Something else. Everyone will have the six things listed above - what’s going to make you stand out?

Before you get there make sure you…

• Thank the programmers. In person, on the phone, via email, whatever. Someone loved your film and fought for it to be in the festival - don’t overlook them.
• Find out who the festival publicist is and let them know you’ll make yourself available for interviews. Be sure you supply them with whatever materials they need as soon as possible. The big fests will want a clips tape to give to the media.
• Send your press release out to local radio stations, newspapers, magazines, whatever.
• Get the party schedule.
• If you get in town early spend some time posting flyers where you think your audience is likely to be. If you’ve got a doc about marijuana - hit the head shops, colleges, police stations and AA meetings.

Once you get to the festival you have a few goals…

• Pack your house - It’s more fun with a packed house and you have a better chance of winning if the audience is all there to support you. I never had enough local friends to employ this strategy myself, but I’ve seen it in action and it does work.
• Win an award - No strategies on this other than packing the house but if readers have thoughts please send them in.
• Meet the programmers
• Meet other programmers - If you get your film programmed at one other festival at every festival you go to you will double your screenings.
• Get some press - You’ll feel like a whore, you are. Get over it. And if you brought a guest they should know they’re paying you back for that free ticket by talking about you and your genius film every chance they get. No free rides baby! You should be doing this beforehand as well. Find out online who reviews shorts and get some quotes for your poster.

The day of your screening…

• Get there early and set up your poster in the theater
• Make friends with the projectionist and check that the aspect ratio and sound levels are correct - those are the two things most messed up at festival screenings. Remember, the sound level needs to be a bit louder for a full theater than an empty one but if it’s too loud you’ll have audiences leaning away from your film and it may even clip in places. So check your softest and loudest moments.
• Sit near the door in case you have to run up to the booth. (Some fests will let you speak to the booth on walkie.)
• Speak to the audience. Rule numero uno - do not be a dick. I don’t know if it’s nerves or what, but some filmmakers come off like complete knobs in front of an audience and if you think that doesn’t affect what box people check for the audience award you’re nuts. Be gracious, funny if you can, humble, honest, and open. Be yourself but be these things also. These people are there because they love films and are asking questions because they want to learn something. Be prepared for the usual - What inspired you to make this? What was the budget? How did you find your cast? What did you shoot on? What are you doing next?
• Finally, relax. Sometimes little film festivals will end up being your favorites and at others you’ll learn that the filmmakers are an ornament to the town schmoozing that’s really the primary focus. Whatever. Do a good job, have a good time and learn something.

p.s.  A pet peeve of mine with short films and indie features is that sometimes it seems filmmakers don’t realize that they are competing on the open market.  Once your film is out there the goal is not to get praise from friends and family who will support you no matter what crap you make, it’s to be judged positively on equal footing with “proper films.”  You want a “job well done” from Hollywood Reporter, not Aunt Bee.  So in terms of quality do your best to look and sound like a proper film.    Everything that you make and give out will say something about your movie.  Make sure you’re sending the right message.

Yay! We won!

Next blog I’ll go back and talk about how to prepare for festivals, but right now I’ve got good news.  The ad I directed for Viesso won the award for Best Commercial at a packed 7,000 seat house at the Nokia Theater at the Elevate Film Festival.  Pretty cool.

Check it out…

Sorry for the quality on YouTube but I think you’ll get the gist.

If you like it rate it and pass it on.