Producing : Getting your film out there by Tyler Wolfe

Tyler a lot a film festivals do not accept film if they are available online. Defeats the purpose .. if you see what I mean. Is it a short or feature? What is the genre? What is it about? Would it appeal to film festival folk?.. Questions you might want to ask yourself.

Congrats on completing your project, Tyler! Is it okay to see a trailer?

Hey Shawn, since it is only about 7 minutes total, I dont have a trailer for it. Thanks for your interest!

Hi Tyler your film is still long enough for a trailer. You can have one for say 30 sec. Always helps with promotion.

Getting your film out there – one of the more difficult tasks facing today's independent filmmaker. After you put your soul, time and hard earned money into your project – then what? You have to ask yourself: “what's my goal?” If you're trying to build a career – that's one thing. If it's just a glorified hobby – that's another. Either way, you need to get your project seen. Posting it on the internet (among zillions of other films) may get it viewed by lots of eyes, but frankly who cares? Going the festival route is going to cost you a few bucks but has a better chance of having it seen by a (very) few eyes that matter. But honestly when it comes to promotion, the festivals use your film to promote themselves – not your film. I've started a new TV production (Northwest Filmmaker's Showcase) on a local cable network (of limited demographics) specifically designed to promote short films and their creators. The cost to filmmakers is absolutely free. The catch is that participation is by invitation only and I limit the show to Northwest filmmakers. I review films for various festivals in the northwest so I have a “leg up” on the best available. So in conclusion, I have to vote on the festival route – but you gotta have some good stuff!

Ideally, your target audience and how to reach it should be things you decide BEFORE you make a film of any length. Remember, it's called show-BUSINESS. No real businesman creates a product without studying beforehand who will buy it and how.

Erik, I did not make a short film to make money. Crazy, huh...

Lots of others do that, too, just for the heck of it. But it seldom launches a filmmaking career.

Erik, do you have an IMDb page? Would love to check out your films. Do u go by another name on IMDb?

My man, Tyler! I believe you could use a trailer as well. Showing and telling are two different stories, my friend. Also... Send DAVE McCREA, also on S32, a PM about what he would do. That's my partner in crime in New York. He'll get you straight

Thanks for your interest, Tyler. "Home by Dark", the microbudgeted family film I'm developing now , will definitely have an IMDB link. But most of my ten films have been small, below-the-radar microbudgets which have no IMDB link but have been very profitable. For example, "Jana", the first film I both produced and directed for $14, 500, has no IMDB link but has returned $120,000. And yes, these films have also had a positive effect on our world.

Yes first and foremost, filmmaking is a business but it's also a very creative compelling process for some. I've been a businessman for nearly forty years and let me assure you that every project- no matter how carefully researched – is subject to risk (and reward.) The business of filmmaking is undergoing an evolutionary process right now and as the gigantic old Hollywood dinosaur wobbles about, the nimble little filmmakers are busy scurrying about producing their little projects. The bad news is that the economic environment needed to support the behemoths has not yet shifted to meet the requirements of the insignificant small-time filmmakers. The good news is that there are a few of us striving to find an answer. Keep the faith and keep those shorts coming.

Thanks for all the advice and support everyone! Best of luck to you all.

All said and done Tyler, I did not make my film to make money. This is coming along as a bonus. The question is why did you make this film? When you answer that question, then it'd be clear who you want your audience to be. In this case the formula of women 18-40 urban??? is not for you since you did not make the film for monetary gain --For you, the audience might be a director that could potentially hire you, for your showreel etc... "Where would my film show that would benefit me the most" IS the question. Please let me know if you have any questions. Will be happy to answer. Shorts do not make that much money anyway unless you won an Oscar Award for it. And still they don't even break even. Sound of Tears is not doing bad in the festival circuit and is currently in distribution. I wrote, produced, directed and starred in it. T'was quite a ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iW13wI9_zI

Pretty impressive, Dorothy. Loved the music, too.

Thank you Erik.

Dorothy – a delightful film indeed. Obviously a strong statement from your heart and it certainly will do well on the festival circuit but what do you mean by its currently in distribution? There are Oscars awarded to live-action shorts (The “Phone Call in 2015, “Curfew” in 2014) and they provide strong impetus to the participants. But it's still up to you to grab the accolades and move your career forward. You've made a great start – keep on truckin'.

Thank you Doug, and for your informative insight. Sound of Tears is still in the festival circuit since its premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival and yes it is currently in the distribution phase as well.

Festivals Tyler, you meet other people while your work is shown, it will get lost on the Internet. Even if you're not expecting money, I bet it took a lot of work to make the film, so hit the festivals, that's my advice.

Dorothy – I went back and took a second look at your trailer. I stand by my first comments and I hope to see it in some of the festivals out here in the West. I'll offer a little critique (of your film only). It shows a little dark but that just may because I watched on YouTube. It's a powerful story, well produced – I want to see the film. But in my opinion, it's a niche film – strong appeal to a limited market. So I return to my question – what do you mean by “distribution phase”? Has it been picked up for theatrical release? If it has, congratulations!

Thank you Doug. Appreciate your critique. A lot of toil and sweat. Quite ambitious for a short with over 6 locations, crew of 14 and cast of 15. Didn't shoot on the Red like we initially wanted but it turned out all right. For more info about the film please visit www.soundoftearsfilm.com Yes it is a niche film you are right. However still a universal story that happens to lots of women and hence appeals to a many. Yes the contract is signed for distribution. Perhaps I am not understanding your question. Sorry.

Dorothy, congrats on your film! The trailer looks great. Will check out the website.

Thank you Tyler. Fingers crossed for more festival screenings. Actor to Actor...feel free to ask any questions or PM me. cheers

All depends on your marketing plan, niche and goals. Try film festivals first and get the most email you can during the circuit, then send thanks for viewing emails. After having al least 500 email adress release the VOD on a special rate for those on your list and the best part; try to ask them for their online review. These will create a window for your sales funnel.