This is just a put this at the back of your mind type posts.
When you write something you should also think of the small things that people can possibly use as marketing later. Things that can be used in a trailer or poster that will grab the interest of the audience.
Some may see this as a great line or an image.
The reason I say this, is that the teaser for The Hostage, that comes out in Summer USA, gets 5 times the dislikes than likes on YouTube. The reason is obvious, it shows the story from one side. Two white cops beating up a black guys in a chair.
That isn’t the story, it is all people see. That deserves the ratio of dislikes.
The reason is. I didn’t layer in something more. It all happens in performance. The twists and turns, the fakes, the intriguing turns. But there is no visuals. That horse has bolted and the marketing guys will do what they do. But I could have given them something more to work with. A lesson for the future. It may not have survived production. The actors may have taken it in another direction. But I didn’t consider it. So it doesn’t have it. The challenge would be giving the story something that wouldn’t be a spoiler.
That's a good point. However, I am surprised with what is going on here in the USA that any marketing folks wouldn't realize that would be a hot button issue. Glad and happy for you that the film is made. It sounds 1000 times better than the trailer. Cheers!
Diana Becronis Martwick I think that is the point. Middle of the road guarantees you’ll be ran over.
It is memorable, but just misses the feel. The next one could be better.
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You're probably on the money with your assumption but keep this in mind; you're going to have a tough time with this kind of thing in indie film full stop and it's going to be exasperated if you're well known within screenwriting/filmmaking circles. Platforms like Youtube, Reddit, Facebook. and IMDb really draws the haters in and they'll attack you for simply having the audacity to make a low budget film.
When Break Even released, somebody went as far as to downvote every piece of trivia attached to the film's listing on IMDb. That's how petty people can be.
definitely the weakest part of me... I've tried insurance sales before and I frickin hate it so much... I was so sad when my screenwriting program taught us that we need to sell ourselves... nah yo chill let's just be fwends and make movies.. why so hard? wah
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CJ Walley trolls and haters are completely confusing to me. I cannot see the point in such activity. I couldn’t be bothered wasting my time, but others can. I hope it builds good reviews going forward.
David DeHaas I think the value in selling yourself has many impacts. You’ll be working with them for a year and people like to please people they like, which could get you a better offer.
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Craig, there are lots of folk out there with nothing else to do but bash others. They are mostly no-accounts trying to fluff themselves up by downgrading others. It an ego thing.
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It's one of the tougher sides of indie filmmaking. You just have to remember that it's you/your material that's living in their heads and not the other way around. I just wanted to throw it in the mix as that may be part of the reason you are seeing that activity.
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One of the first things I do is imagine the trailer and work it in as I go.
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I saw an interview on film courage with film maker Jeff Deverett.And he was talking about before he even shoots a movie he gets the marketers together to find out what they need from him to do their job.And the marketers tell him he's the only film maker whose ever asked them in their entire careers.Food for thought.
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@Craig There's no such thing as "bad" publicity but I get the problem your marketing people are showing a one sided aspect, obviously frustrating to you the artist cos the real deal is still uncovered. Since lockdown I've been researching self marketing, NOT cos of any money issue but we now live in age where never before has there been "So much available resource for free global promotion". (To quote latest guru Houston Howard who I hope to meet September.) I agree with @ C.J Negative energy thrown out into the ether is inside the head of the giver, not the receiver but as artists of fine sensibilities we tend to suck it all in and stew.
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There's also no reason a writer couldn't come up with some tagline proposals to send to the studio's marketing folks for consideration.
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Debbie Croysdale could agree more, from a recognition POV. Building awareness is good. Therefore no bad publicity. But the message/impression is the thing desired. It is great to be known, but as what?
I know the story (of course) and I have sent through a series of beats that I think if strung together does not ruin the outcome and will produce a more positive outcome.
I am contacting every podcast that interviews people in a hope of generating more publicity. Then blogs and other online media.
Once release is closer they have a plan. It originally contained festivals, but I believe that they think that has less value at the moment.
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I second taking a look at the Jeff Deverett interviews as Craig Prickett has mentioned. They're very sales and distribution focused and insightful.
Marketing is a whole other area where a writer can bring a lot to the production plus it can actually help feedback into your writing.
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Imagining the trailer is good, imagining the poster is better. On it you need a killer tagline over an image that already tells the whole story and blows you away. Very difficult to accomplish, but not impossible. The tagline should not only be related to the theme but must have a strong 'unsettling' inner meaning all the trolls talk about, It's like have you seen this scandalous movie, It's about... Oh shit, I just admitted I've seen it...