Hopesploitation…It’s a phrase I’ve been using of late to describe the many avenues that charlatans use to take advantage of the indie filmmakers who are looking for any way to get into the industry and turn to these paid seminars where they offer pitches with industry experts who have no real interest in taking anything you have other than your money. In most cases most of what can learned in these seminars are available online for free if you do an afternoon of research. But the problem goes deeper, there’s a web of lies around some of the bigger institutions in the indie film world that claim to champion the truely independent filmmaker and in the end are just fleecing us the same as their lower-rent brethren. I was on a film set of a moderate budgeted indie feature and I overheard the producer on the phone talking about the premiere. I was a little surprised since the film was literally still in production, but hey nothing wrong with confidence. After the call ended the producer turned to the folks sitting at video village and announced that they were going to premiere at Sundance. I was like how does that work you haven’t even finished shooting? And the producer literally laughed in my face and said that those that submit blind to Sundance and every other large festival were essentially suckers. You have to be in the club to get in and your submission fee pays the salaries of the staff and they take less than a .01 percent of the submissions in the feature world, the rest are all planned premiers for larger indies that still haven’t found a distributor, and have the in with a festival programer. This is the same for all larger festivals if you don’t know someone don’t waste your money or time. We need to stop propping up these corrupt institutions with our money and dreams because of their mythology. It’s all a swindle based on exploiting your hope.
Distribution : Hopesploitation pt2 by Daniel J. Pico
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During the American Gold Rush, the ppl who made money sold shovels.
Show Biz same as Las Vegas. They didnt built it for winners; they built it for losers.
Good Luck on your projects.
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I agree that much of the industry can feel like fluff. But, like buying a lottery ticket, if you don't take a chance, you'll never have the opportunity to win.
That said, independent creators need to set realistic goals if they hope to achieve any real success. Too often, new writers and filmmakers chase millions in funding for a project despite having no track record, spending money on pitch decks and detailed budget breakdowns that aren’t likely to get them anywhere.
A more effective approach would be to self-finance a short film and hire someone to help bring it to life.
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Fellas, this is the wrong website to be against "hope" not tied to Commerce ($$).
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Daniel J. Pico Well, you have some pretty well founded complaints, but you were told the truth: no one who actually applies to Sundance (or any film festival, or any film market) is doing anything other than feeding the system for those of us who don't do that. Honestly though, this is something that happens in film for more than one reason. You can't blame professional film makers. Amateur film makers are the willing victims of their own fantasies and, by definition, not professional and not in the business of making movies. They are, or may be, in an amateur community of people who are into a very expensive part of film fandom and a very expensive hobby. Producers "produce" - we don't consume. Consumers and amateurs buy pitching services, coverage and script analysis services, etc. and other ego-stroking services. Professionals frankly DGAF what other producers think about their show or their script as a product. It's a business and it's to make money. Producers bring together all the resources needed to create and get a very complex product to market - and we don't leave our marketing or market impressions to chance or the vagueries of an amateur film festival selection process which is overseen by amateurs (which they all are). We TELL consumers what to think about our product, and maneuver to MAKE them buy it to the extent that is possible, like in any other business. As Stephen Folker said above, you can't win a lottery of you don't buy a ticket. Professionals aren't in the business of buying lottery tickets - that is for dreamers.
I think some are taking the wrong message away from this post... Many who would like to make the jump to the next level of being a professional are still being taken in by these scams that use their own mythology to fleece those who haven't been warned. I'm warning them... I'm tired of the scams this industry has spawned for the desperate and hopeful alike especially in these more difficult times. I'm not willing to stand by and watch a generation of talent be exploited. These issues transcend just Sundance or Toronto, it's an industry wide epidemic of scamming the independent filmmaker, whether it be the Sales Agents, pitch festivals, or the distributors themselves it's all designed to Independents for everything they have including their films for zero dollars upfront, and ultimately nothing on the back end either. Approaching this industry as playing the lottery is insane logic, any business run that way will fail. We can't predict what the audience will or won't do, but we can change the system to give us a chance at success. Equitable splits with streaming platforms, VOD, and transparency with distribution, and If my movie cost $100,000 and you want to distribute it, put up a MG or don't waste our time. These are not huge asks you can't have property or product for free in any other industry why its excepted here is just part of the grift that they've convinced a generation of filmmakers they have to give up something to get their foot in the door, when they have no access to the door to begin with. Defend the system we have, because you've had success in it, I have had some too, but I know that the industry is changing quickly, and it will not be recognizable in the next 10 years, and if we don't carve off our own territory we will be left to work support roles if we are lucky, and if unlucky community college to learn new skills.
Daniel J. Pico Well yes, but consider a different industry. How stupid would it be to run to General Motors and say "hey, I have this idea for a new car, I would like you to give me the money to build it"? - no one would ever expect to be treated with anything but contempt by GM if they did that. Yet, that's what about 99% of independent filmmakers do... exactly that. Right? This is a business. How crazy is it to think that you should PAY to run ideas past a producer (or even do it for free) who would see you as a competitor if your ideas are good... and when ideas are not protected under copyright and legal fair game (and moral fair game, IMO) how much dumber is it? I feel your pain. But the rage should, respectfully, be channeled into business efforts. There are ways, and many more opening up.