Posts Tagged distribution
December? Seriously?
It’s December 7th already. Where is this month going? There is so much to get done! I’m busier now than I’ve ever been. Just 40 minutes ago I made a list of the things I need to do. It’s long, enough said. I did however start knocking them off the list since a lot of them were important emails. It’s been hard to keep up with the normal everyday things on top of some of the STANDING FIRM responsibilities. I’m still trying to do what I can to get the film into other countries. Currently the film is in US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the African market which includes various countries but the biggest is South Africa. I’m attempting to tackle the UK, The Benelux (Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands), and Ireland, along with the Brazilian/Portuguese market (I know I’ve mentioned that one in the past, but it’s still not done yet). I can see why signing with a bigger company makes things so much easier, since none of this work needs to be done LOL. Signing with Sony for instance just has them working with all their Sony distribution companies throughout the globe. But it’s not that easy for the little guy like me!
Wedding plans are in full swing as we move towards Jan 22nd like crazy people. It’s been very stressful, but we’re moving forward and God is opening doors. There are some concerns I have but they will be worked out in due time. He’ll probably not like me mentioning this here, but my friend Ben isn’t doing very well (has cystic fibrosis) and has been in and out of the hospital constantly for the last few years especially. I want him in my wedding, but he can’t guarantee 100% he can be well (obviously), so I’m praying for God’s favor here and hope you do as well.
I’ve finished reading the Spectacular Sins book by John Piper and have moved onto Battling Unbelief, another Piper book. It’s been great so far only 2 chapters in, and I look forward to tearing through it. I’m not a reader, and I’m forcing myself into this because I can’t go on in my walk any long feeling like my brain is much. I need to be sharpened and grow in knowledge.
I’ve also purchased three books on screenwriting. Save The Cat! and Save The Cat Strikes Back! by Blake Snyder, and Screenplay by Syd Field. I’ve begun reading Save The Cat! and I can already see how useful the book is and why it’s so universally praised. If anyone is involved with film I suggest you pick up a copy for yourself pronto. Don’t be stupid and think “Oh I’ve seen hundreds of movies I know how to write a script.” No you don’t, quit fooling yourself, get this book. It quickly dispels the misconceptions you have about what a good story is, what it needs, and why it needs it to be good. I can’t wait to finish it and get on to the sequel then onto the other one I mentioned. I need to grow in my knowledge here. This is an area that isn’t my strongest. I feel like I can write decent dialog, and in some instances write something fairly good, but that’s just dialog. I need to work extremely hard on my story structure and on my ideas from the very beginning. The concept, the idea, the logline, the DNA of the story…it all matters. I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts as I go through these. Very exciting times right now. 2011 is likely to be a year of writing for me (I hope) and research as I try and develop whatever might become the next feature I do. It’ll be an interesting year, and Lord willing I’ll come up with something good!
Lots to be thankful for and look forward to, and plenty of things to do. Speaking of which I should probably sleep now…adios!
Getting Serious
I had a lot of very great responses to my previous post. Thanks to all who read it and found it encouraging. When I started this blog I hoped it could one day become something that someone could come to every once in a while and be sharpened, and I’m happy to say that day seems to have come. Even if it’s only a few people, it makes the time I spend on this late at night before bed completely worth it. This blog is not just a means of encouraging others but it’s always a way for me to externalize what I far too often internalize. It forces me to out the things I keep in, and work out what it is I’m struggling with day to day.
A recent comment from a friend mentioned how this blog and STANDING FIRM are an example of a more honest portrayal of filmmaking in the Christian market. It seems many present all of the good but very few are willing to bring the reality of this industry to light. Making films is hard. Not only is it hard but it’s extremely taxing on your mind, heart, and emotions. I prefer to be completely open about that with people and if I know for a fact (which I do) that many filmmakers or up and coming filmmakers read this, then I must be honest about the realities of this profession. We need to be careful that our films and art doesn’t become our God, and that we take care of ourselves, but to a degree this kind of industry can take its toll regardless. Producing and completing a film can be fun at times but wow is it a nightmare in a lot of ways. The money is difficult to spend and making it back is always a huge risk. Distribution is a beast that 99% of filmmakers don’t understand and one of the greatest issues is that nobody talks about it. Everyone is so incredibly afraid to share any information that it keeps us all in the dark. I can understand confidentiality to a degree, and I have my own lines drawn for that, but there is much in this industry (the indie Christian market) that is still unknown to most out there.
One thing I hope SAICFF’s Academy can touch on next year is the distribution, because I know a ton about this area now and have gotten some very generous phone calls and emails from the ones who know what they’re talking about. We need someone to stand up there in front of everyone next year and tell all the young 20 somethings and even younger what the realities are. Otherwise (in my opinion) everyone is blindly spending money on their films. It’s easy to tell folks to research their market before they make a film and consider the budget given the likely ROI (return on investment) but studying the market for most doesn’t go any farther than seeing the ranking of some films on ChrsitianCinema.com’s Top 10 list. We need to go farther than that. Everyone always thinks their film is something it’s not or they believe it to be far better than it is. Honesty needs to be key here. Artistic honesty must be present with all of us. We need to be honest about what our film is, how well it turned out (or didn’t).
I understand my view of filmmaking and in particular filmmaking with a message for Christ isn’t looked at the same by everyone. That’s fine, but I present what I write here from my perspective. I’m looking at this calling as a call to action. It’s a ministry for me in many ways, so my idea of “getting serious” is a little different. I’m still cooking up that article on why I’m in the Christian market so you’ll have to wait a bit longer for that but until then there’s an article that came out a while ago from Chris Bueno that articulates some of what I wish to say. Chris used to be apart of Carmel Entertainment, who helped bring Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof to fruition. The article is a more mechanic approach to the idea I’ll be presenting. Mine will be that mixed with a more theological approach.
I need to get on my face before God about this short film for this summer, and whatever feature he might want me to do next (if any). I don’t want something good next time with this short, I want something extraordinary. Something that from the ground up is built to be a winner on all fronts. That’s going to take some serious work, but I’m anxious to get moving again on something. I have the itch! Time to scratch it!
PS. Standing Firm passed 30,000 fans on Facebook earlier today! AMAZING! Eph 3:20-21
Two Weeks of Insanity
The next few weeks are going to be pretty full and very busy. Tomorrow I’ll be getting anything done that I’ve yet to get finished this week, which is a long list. I’ve been behind this entire time. Tuesday night I didn’t sleep at all so I was up until like 2pm the following day before sleeping on the couch for a bit. That of course ruined my whole day on Wednesday and had me up that night too. I got some stuff done today but not as much as I would’ve liked. The worst feeling to me is feeling behind, backed up, and full of things to do that I think I have no time to complete. A lack of “progress” is like a pain in my gut.
Saturday I head to Ohio for a screening of STANDING FIRM at a church I committed to visiting months and months ago. I’ll be driving there with Denise, doing the screening, then driving right back home that night. Sunday there’s another screening here in NY to go to that I also committed to. Monday is one of my only days next week to really pound the pavement before the weekend so it’s gonna be insane. Tuesday is another work week with Vintage and the second week of e-Groups. Wednesday I have a special thing to go to I can’t tell you about yet lol. Thursday I have a meeting at The Chapel to discuss the screening we’re having there and what date to pick. My father comes in that night at like midnight and Friday we’ll be spending the day as best we can packing up the biggest stuff and getting it downstairs. In the evening on Friday I’m heading to a camp for the e-Group retreat which lasts until Sunday. Then on the 4th of October I’ll be finishing up packing (which I’ve already started) and I move to my new place on the 5th with furniture showing up the 6th. PHEW…Lord help me.
I’ve had to spend so much money I don’t have in the past few weeks. I hate spending money, it makes me feel sick. Moving into my own place is no joke and I’m literally starting with nothing besides my clothes, equipment, and my parents are giving me my old double bed. I have a new editing desk I had to buy which I’ve been waiting for like 4 years. The rest of the stuff for the apartment will need to be purchased. Basic furniture was already picked out (never done that before) and everything from toilet paper to a vacuum will need to be purchased sometime in the coming weeks. Can you say…BROKE? Whatever, it has to be done. I’m looking forward to starting a life away from the area I currently live. It’s tiring living down in the sticks, and I can’t wait to be up towards my new church family and the friends I’ve gotten to know really well over the last 2 years. God has made it clear that it’s time, so off I go!
It’s been a challenge keeping the sales of STANDING FIRM going. Today I got a message from a friend who works in radio asking if I wanted to fill a small gap they had. I said yes of course and promoted the film a little so hopefully that can rally some more local support. I’m telling you, making a film known is no small task. I’ve been concentrating my work on social media which is where the film is primarily marketed and where most of the awareness and sales are coming from. I have had to spend some money on ads in that arena, and it’s tough to see the fruits of that until you do it for a little bit so I’m trusting to see some results soon. We’re approaching 20,000 fans on Facebook which is amazing for a film this size. I’ve been working on that page for YEARS and I look forward to seeing it grow.
Lots of question marks and obstacles ahead, with no end in sight. Something I knew a long time ago is that promoting and pushing a film is never done. There’s always work to be done on it and time to be spent promoting it. It’s no secret, this film is partially my livelihood now, so I hope that I can get it to the point where it can at least get me enough to put in savings. Even for a film this small, there is money to pay out (lots of it), and it’ll take time to be done and get into straight profit arena. Even after that point, the film isn’t likely to sell much so it’ll require constant digging to find new sales life. I think there’s a common idea that it just flies off shelves if it’s on them, and that isn’t the case. Most Christian bookstores have never heard of the film. We’re Blessed that Lifeway Christian Stores got behind the film and placed it #1 on their Recommended DVD’s list, so it’s 100% guaranteed in every store they have, but no other store has that. I’ve had to direct dozens of people to new places to buy it because they can’t find it, or they want to get it at Redbox, Walmart or Target or something else and I have to redirect them. If there’s one hinderance of some of these bigger movies like To Save A Life or Letters to God most recently it’s that they’ve planted a bit of a spoiled mindset into the consumers of this market. They expect EVERYTHING to be in the same places they bought those at, and when they aren’t there they get an attitude like “Well…why not!?” It’s really tiring I’ve found, but I’m as gracious as I can be.
STANDING FIRM is the “Flywheel” of Praise Pictures Inc. so we’ll grow and progress, but this film like all first films was an uphill climb in every stage of production. Distribution and marketing post-release is no different. I don’t mean to be a downer, I’m excited to see all that God is doing with the film! 
I just try and put some reality in these posts every once in a while to smack the few filmmakers that read it (that might not know these things) upside the head. I see lots of pie in the sky talk and misinformed folks batting around numbers and math they don’t have any concept of. So consider me your reality check Sometime in the future I’ll do some more in-depth articles on what some real numbers are (if I can get permission from the creators of certain works) and show you just what must be done and what options you actually have to do well at this from a financial perspective. Will STANDING FIRM do well? Technically it’s already doing pretty good, but how well has yet to be determined. It still has a ways to go before everything is paid off, just like most films. I’m not Mr. Moneybags. 
Prayers appreciated for the weeks to come!
