So you’ve completed a feature film - congratulations! You are now one of the very few who managed to get your feature or short produced. This article will focus on full-length features but you should use this mindset on all productions and projects you are working on. So while my thoughts here is based on film, your project might be different.
Let’s say you have just started writing on your script and a wrap party is far away in the future, then don’t worry. This article is for you as well but can actually be more important early on than you might think. The sooner you start planning, the better.
Introduction
Selling your film sounds like a hard thing to do, scary and the place where you really have to step it up? Right? That is simply not true. If you actually get a film made, then the quality should be your main concern. The market is over-saturated, that is true. However, the market is over-saturated with bad films with amateur scripts, low quality productions and many near misses. See this as your advantage and use this very advantage before you go into production.
Don’t look at comparables
Do yourself a favor and don’t look at comparables when deciding on what movie or genre to produce. Unless the distribution companies you are approaching already have similar movies they are about to market, that should not be a concern. You should be fine with releasing a similar movie, it is up to the distribution company to decide, don’t argue with them if they want to pass on your film. They have their reasons.
The more feedback and constructive criticism you can take to heart and actually think about, the better. That should be your comparable, is this script or idea really good or is it just me who believes that? Table reads and asking friends who are honest and can hurt your feelings is good. Do not love your script and do not let anyone else love it either. Be around positive critics.
please have a Great script
You will hear this, not only from me but from everyone. A good movie is because of a great script, don’t forget that. I’m not saying you have to work on a script for years or even months but the idea should be good, the script should be better and the script should be read by quite a few people, table reads and so on. If you need years to write a script, chances are, it is not very good. Sure, there are examples of great scripts made over many years but a good script needs to be active or alive in a way. You need to be able to tell the story for others to be interested and for other to invest time and money into the film. Be wise and finish the script as soon as you can.
Stop making pilots
A bit of a controversial thought but stop making pilots. Pilots was great for the 90’s era and should only be made with a production company behind you or the creator. Instead of making a pilot, make a feature or a series. Just put more time into planning, finishing the script and source great partners and colleagues. When you have that in place, a budget is next. however, don’t think to much about this, think easy. The goal should be to produce the film not getting someone’s approval.
Start with actually making a film
One way of selling your film is to have a film to sell, so figure out a way to produce your film in the most efficient way possible, use marketable talent in any way you can to create production value and have a great team.
Use everyday technology (for example social media) to market the production before pre and during post-production to keep the movie and story “alive” before you are about to sell it. These might seem like small tips and ideas but they can make the whole difference between a successful production and one that is not.
Understand the industry
As technology has made the production process easier with low film budgets and lowered the barrier significantly of who can enter the dream factory. It has, at the same time, also opened the gates to practically everyone and everything. Not good for everyone to be honest. So this change in the whole industry has changed the power structure in some good ways and some bad. Later on, this will be more stable but today, it is not.
While we are producing more now than ever before, distribution and release windows are constantly changing. The pandemic sure changed everything as well and might tell us how the industry will look like a few years from now.
I’m not telling you to predict the film industry and technology or to understand how investors and distribution companies will think in the future. That will come naturally and there is of course an important aspect of that as well. I want you to think just a year ahead and plan to have your film or project made in that time span, if possible. We all know film and other sources of entertainment will stay relevant for many years to come so just go with the flow. Just remember to study the industry you are active in.
When we are talking about understanding the industry, we should not forget the words, frases and terms that are frequently being used. Knowing them will help you in the long run. Read about words and terms in the film industry here.
As always, thank you for visiting! Make sure to visit my youtube channel for a more personal “experience”.