Is it bad to not care about what other people think?

[Happy Lemming]

I have a question... How do "lower cost" films get on tubi, crackle, xumo, filmrise, etc.??  These are all free streaming channels that show low cost or "B" type movies.  It does not appear any of these movies ever played in theaters.  I assume these channels buy or rent the films from the owners (of these films), who in turn show commercials during the movie to pay the owner for the film and make a profit for the channel.

Do you know how the process works??  Do you approach these channels with your completed film in hopes that they pick it up??  Do you contract (in advance) with them to take the film and put it in their electronic library (in advance of making it)??

43 minutes ago, ironpony said:

...my gf told me that I really should make because if I don't, I am just going to keep wondering what if, all my life if I don't.  Does she have a point there?

What do you actually do with your film once its completed (if you make it)??  How do you get to the end user to view it?? How do you recoup your costs and make a profit on your investment??

[bathanbc]

No that's not a problem. The real problem is people think too much nowadays. Social media isn't helping either. And most of modern depression stems from low self-esteem due to external peer-pressure

[ironpony]

On 8/24/2021 at 7:56 PM, Happy Lemming said:

I have a question... How do "lower cost" films get on tubi, crackle, xumo, filmrise, etc.??  These are all free streaming channels that show low cost or "B" type movies.  It does not appear any of these movies ever played in theaters.  I assume these channels buy or rent the films from the owners (of these films), who in turn show commercials during the movie to pay the owner for the film and make a profit for the channel.

Do you know how the process works??  Do you approach these channels with your completed film in hopes that they pick it up??  Do you contract (in advance) with them to take the film and put it in their electronic library (in advance of making it)??

What do you actually do with your film once its completed (if you make it)??  How do you get to the end user to view it?? How do you recoup your costs and make a profit on your investment??

Well this is why I wanted to work with someone who knows more about the marketing of it, and I can just concentrate more on the technical stuff of filmmaking I know more.  Do I have to both?  I mean does a person who builds cars for example, also have to market the car as well, or can that be done by someone else more qualified?

[Miss Spider]

I’m heavily in the art scene ( painting) but connect with a lot of filmmakers/producers,  etc and really as they say it’s not what you know so much as who you know.. You do need a good product ( show what you can do) but what you want to do is brand and network ASAP. Rub elbows with people who can get your stuff out there to a wider audience. Apply for local, smaller stuff to show what you can do and meet fellow artists 

You need other people . IMO the whole deal with any art is to connect with people 

Edited August 26, 2021 by Cookiesandough

[ironpony]

I haven't been able to find any distributors yet. I have connected with other filmmakers which is good, but it seems that most of my connections are people who also want to be directors and filmmakers, but not distributors.

[Miss Spider]

26 minutes ago, ironpony said:

I haven't been able to find any distributors yet. I have connected with other filmmakers which is good, but it seems that most of my connections are people who also want to be directors and filmmakers, but not distributors.

That’s good that you are making connections. Use without a box or some thing to find the right Indie festival and enter your film.  Major studios send acquisitions people to find the gems in the rough. Is your film worthy though? Try meeting film sales agents or producer’s reps too. Think big, you can dream all day, but often have to have 1) a good product 2) the ambition and finger on the pulse to succeed with the kind of competition you’ll have. Don’t  always rely on major distributors. You generally do you need to make the connections and work your way up in the circuit like anything else. Another thing I would consider is being your own distributor. Today you have social media to your advantage. Start a social media campaign/advertise your film even before you get it off the ground.

Edited August 26, 2021 by Cookiesandough

[Miss Spider]

Sorry. Something like without a box not without a box since it’s gone but you know what I mean.

 

Also, I want to add that the people that will get your stuff out there are not always the people that you would expect. I sold a ton of my paintings to this really weird dude. He owned a furniture store and he also had an exhibit he ran there and sold a ton of my stuff. Actually,  he hired a guy to do a doco film about himself lol.., it blew up a little more than you’d think and has over 300,000 views on YouTube as of. He’s a really eccentric person

Edited August 26, 2021 by Cookiesandough

[Happy Lemming]

1 hour ago, ironpony said:

Well this is why I wanted to work with someone who knows more about the marketing of it, and I can just concentrate more on the technical stuff of filmmaking I know more.

I imagine these marketing agents aren't going to work for free.  Do you pay them up front?? If so, do you have the additional funds to pay for the marketing and marketing people?? I think you would want to know how the whole process works (soup to nuts) before investing one dime into the making of the film.  The big question is how do your get your money back out of the film (you invested your hard earned savings into)  You need to do the research on ALL aspects of the film, not just the creation (part of it).

1 hour ago, ironpony said:

  Do I have to both? 

Unless you have unlimited capital to hire marketing people/marketing firm to promote your movie, then "yes" you have to do the leg work to get the film into some type of rotation.  Whether that is on a streaming service or small chain of movie theaters.

1 hour ago, ironpony said:

  I mean does a person who builds cars for example, also have to market the car as well, or can that be done by someone else more qualified?

I don't claim to know anything about automobile production, but I do know they do a lot of prototyping & testing.  They also make up full scale clay models.  I imagine various marketing people/firms are brought in and asked "Can you sell this car??".  The auto industry spends billions of dollars on Research & Development, Engineering, marketing consultants, etc. etc.  I understand the process can take up to 10 years from an idea to the production line.  At that point, billions of dollars are spent on marketing.  Have you seen how many car commercials are on TV??  I don't really think you can compare Ford Motor company to an independent film maker.  (Apples to Oranges)

 

[ironpony]

Oh I just thought like a car production they need experts in different fields, and one person cannot do everything.  But there seems to be this expectation on me to do everything, rather than find others to work with who can help.  Unless I should do everything?

[Happy Lemming]

1 minute ago, ironpony said:

Oh I just thought like a car production they need experts in different fields, and one person cannot do everything.  But there seems to be this expectation on me to do everything, rather than find others to work with who can help.  Unless I should do everything?

Car companies do have experts in various fields.  And they pay them quite well for their area of expertise.  Ford spent 7.1 Billion dollars on Research & Development for 2020.  In 2019 Ford spent 2.28 billion dollars on advertising. 

Yes, if you have unlimited funds, you could hire marketing people to promote your film, but that is not the case.  If you have the desire to produce this film, then yes you will have to market it, as well. 

People just don't "help" you with the marketing of your film, they are going to ask "what's in it for me??"  Keep in mind, these marketing people have to pay their bills, rent, food, etc. and they have to "sell" their expertise/skills in order to make money to live.

[ironpony]

Well if paying a marketing person is out of the question then I could just attempt to market it myself then if that's best.  I just didn't think I would do as good of a job.  I am not much of a schmoozer and thought someone else could be, but I can try.

[Miss Spider]

Most marketing will cost money even if you don’t hire a pr/marketing specialist  … unless you want to just publish your film to YouTube with a link to it on your Instagram … then let it fade into obscurity like zillions of other ‘filmmakers’ 

costs money unless you have connections/friends who see a return on their investment  : 

Social media ads including Instagrammers/social media people with lots of followers promoting your film

YouTube ads on trailers or other ads on websites/publications targeted to the audience that would appreciate your film

Google Adwords 

Physical marketing materials (cards, posters, banner) prob done by graphic artist 

etc 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 26, 2021 by Cookiesandough

[Happy Lemming]

28 minutes ago, ironpony said:

Well if paying a marketing person is out of the question then I could just attempt to market it myself then if that's best. 

Which brings me back full circle to my original question, which is "How do you get your film to be viewed by the end-users??"  I assume your goal is to be a successful film maker and make money in that profession.  If you do make the film, how do you recoup your money??  Have you approached any of the streaming services about getting your film into their library??  Have you contacted any of them concerning the actual process??  What research have you done to distribute your film (if you make it)??

[ironpony]

I haven't called any because I didn't think they would want to talk to me unless I had a movie to sell them.  But maybe they will be interested before.  I can email Netflix and Prime I guess.  There is one filmmaker I worked under who sold his movie to Amazon Prime.  I can ask him how he did it, but he doesn't usually give people time for advice in the past.  But I can ask him.

[basil67]

@ironpony my friend is a writer for the small screen.  The company she works for comes up with a script, a cast and a plan, then they present it to different TV services to find funding.  The last thing they got produced got rejected by Netflix, but was picked up and made by a local TV network.  They are currently pitching the completed show to the overseas market.

Edited August 26, 2021 by basil67

[basil67]

3 hours ago, ironpony said:

Oh I just thought like a car production they need experts in different fields, and one person cannot do everything.  But there seems to be this expectation on me to do everything, rather than find others to work with who can help.  Unless I should do everything?

This is why people are trying to tell you that the project is doomed.   You don't have a broad enough skillset to do everything. But nor do you have the money to hire experts.  

[Miss Spider]

& you don’t have a product or I’m assuming much of a portfolio to speak of? I’m sorry but can you imagine how many would be filmmakers email prime or Hulu? You intend to just email them about and idea and no movie or credentials whatsoever I’m sorry but GL with that… I doubt anyone will even read it . 

Edited August 27, 2021 by Cookiesandough

[ironpony]

4 minutes ago, Cookiesandough said:

& you don’t have a product or I’m assuming much of a portfolio to speak of? I’m sorry but do you know how many would be filmmakers email prime or Hulu? You intend to just email them about and idea and no movie or credentials whatsoever I’m sorry but GL with that… I doubt anyone will even read it . 

Well I was just responding to to Happy Lemming who said I should email the services before making the movie, or so I thought that is what he/she said.  Here's the quote:

Quote

Have you approached any of the streaming services about getting your film into their library??  Ha

So Happy's suggestion sounds like it was for me to contact the streaming services now before the movie was made when asked if I had yet.  So I was just responding to his quote.  But I can contact them after the movie is made if that's best.  That is what I thought I would have to do anyway, in order to be taken seriously.

[ironpony]

13 minutes ago, basil67 said:

This is why people are trying to tell you that the project is doomed.   You don't have a broad enough skillset to do everything. But nor do you have the money to hire experts.  

Well I still would have to hire people though.  For example, I cannot play the roles of the all the characters and would need actors.  I still need to hire crew and experts in different fields.  So isn't it normal to have to hire others, and not do everything myself?  I have never heard of a director doing everything themselves.  But I can try the marketing myself if I have to.  But I still need to hire people to do other jobs though.

[Happy Lemming]

15 minutes ago, ironpony said:

So Happy's suggestion sounds like it was for me to contact the streaming services now before the movie was made when asked if I had yet.  So I was just responding to his quote. 

Yes... you should know the process about how a movie is picked up by a streaming service.  It appears @basil67 has heard of the process.

51 minutes ago, basil67 said:

@ironpony my friend is a writer for the small screen.  The company she works for comes up with a script, a cast and a plan, then they present it to different TV services to find funding.  The last thing they got produced got rejected by Netflix, but was picked up and made by a local TV network.  They are currently pitching the completed show to the overseas market.

Perhaps @basil67 can contact her friend and provide you with more of the details regarding how the entire process works.

Again you need to know "everything" about the entire process.

[ironpony]

Okay thanks, I can do that.  But even I learn the process of selling it, I still would have to use my money to hire people do other jobs though, even so, right?

[Miss Spider]

Yes most likely, that goes into your budget.  Also that’s  where you should try to schmooze /make connections too bc I had projects I needed help with and having friends comes in handy not because I don’t pay them ( you should always pay anyone for their services) but they’re more willing to do it bc they know you or they’ll charge less because they know you or they know they’ll be putting their name on something good while they’re building their portfolio too.. Like I’m in a completely different art, but if I needed a videographer , I know a handful of GOOD ones just getting started that I could call on because I’ve met them thru art. Or when I needed posters made for an exhibit I know a guy great with graphic design.

 

You could get a way better actor interested in your project if you can sell it well 

Edited August 27, 2021 by Cookiesandough

[Happy Lemming]

3 minutes ago, ironpony said:

Okay thanks, I can do that.  But even I learn the process of selling it, I still would have to use my money to hire people do other jobs though, even so, right?

If I was in your shoes, I would PM @basil67 and ask her real nice to talk to her friend and see if the friend could provide you with a list of all the costs involved in this type of endeavor. Maybe get a sample budget of what items are needed and the salary cost. 

Of course you have to convert her figures to Canadian dollars. 

 

[Miss Spider]

That is useful information to have, but do you have a full script and short to pitch them to show the concept?? Like every  I’ve known has a few short films under their belt. That’s weird bc how do you know it’s what you like and you’re not just a writer. You DO NOT have to spend a lot of money,. Just get a group of friends and showcase your talents or the product you want to sell.  Start creating. If you have your script,  Are you good at selling your ideas to ppl . Good luck x 

Edited August 27, 2021 by Cookiesandough

[basil67]

@Happy Lemming  I found that Google had the answer.  She does limited episode series, the average production cost per hour of screen time is around $AU1.65mill.  (which is about $1.5mill Canadian) 

From the same source, a telemovie averages about $2.8mill

https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/fact-finders/production-trends/tv-drama-production/all-tv-drama-formats/hours-by-format

 

 

Edited August 27, 2021 by basil67