Producing : Networking Vs. Relational Equity by Jacob Matthew

Networking Vs. Relational Equity

Producer's are expected to be masters at the art of connecting. Our directors, screenwriters and other fellow filmmaking partners rely on us to navigate the film industry and find the "paths less taken" to get our films made.

This pressure often creates what I like to call the "Networking Fallacy," which I would define as: the temptation to view industry peers and mentors as transactional, thin relationships for our own personal gain. Well, for those of you who have unintentionally (or maybe intentionally) gone down this path, you know that this never works. High level producers, financiers and filmmakers aren't interested in these kinds of thirsty, shallow and overly eager producers.

So, what is there to do? We need to get our projects made and we need relationships to make them. What is a wholistic path forward to make great films and lasting relationships? Enter what I like to call "Relational Equity."

Here we don't meet people to take from them, let alone ask them for anything. On the contrary, we meet people with the honest intention to give instead. We plant seeds and invest in people, knowing the pay off may not come for months, business quarters or even years down the road. Instead of trying to take from people we meet, we refocus our energy towards adding value to the lives of others in whatever way we can with absolutely NO IMMEDIATE PLAN for getting anything back.

I know... you are saying, "What? You are crazy... I don't have years to wait! I need my film made now!" To you I say, "If you wanted fast results get out of the film industry."

There is no shortcut to this journey, but there is hope. If you take 12 months to invest in new relationships consistently and never ask for anything in return, you will be shocked at how fast that time goes and how quickly you will develop a diversified Rolodex of people who's trust you have EARNED.

Films are made on trust, not shallow asks. Films are built on real relationships, not transactional interactions. Films are made through Relational Equity, not Networking.

Doug Nelson

1
1 person likes this
- Jacob Matthew
3 years ago

I agree with you whole heartedly and if you get me started, I'll rant & ramble on for days. I'll follow your thread and comment as appropriate.

Cherelynn Baker

Well said! Thanks for sharing!

John Ellis

3
3 people like this
3 years ago

I've been shouting this into the void for years, Jacob Matthew. Biggest problem I see is that people simply don't want to work at making a career. They want to take shortcuts.

Success in this biz is a marathon, not a sprint - but most people don't want to hear that.

BTW, Less is Now looks pretty cool. To think I've been living the minimalist way for years and didn't even know it was actually a thing! :)

Karen "Kay" Ross

I've often said that the networking fostered here on Stage 32 is very much the "long game relationship". There are people I've met through the platform that within three months I'm working with them, but most I know for a while and then it picks up steam over time - ESPECIALLY in development. All the three-month relationships were with production people, but that makes sense because production moves fast. With development, you have to pace yourself.