FILMMAKING STUFF Filmmaking Stuff provides resources for independent filmmakers. The website includes articles on how to take a story idea from script to screen, including articles on scriptwriting, producing, finance, shooting, editing, directing, marketing, distribution and how to build an audience. Filmmaking Stuff also has articles detailing how to make money making movies – including interviews with Hollywood Producers, Directors, writers and other filmmaking professionals.

Read Jason Brubaker's article on Self Distribution in Movie Maker Magazine, The Future of Movie Making 2010

If you get by a news stand, make sure you check out the latest issue of MovieMaker magazine. It’s The Future Of Movie Making 2010.

In the issue, you’ll get a whole bunch of useful movie making information, including the 25 Must-Have Movie Making Apps, information on HDSLR camera as well as a great interview with Roger Corman.

But if you want my humble opinion, one of most informative articles can be found on page 38.  There you’ll find some great tips on Self Distribution Solutions. You’ll get a step by step guide for taking your feature film from festival failure to self distribution success. And the best part?

I wrote it.

Ok. At the fear of sounding a little too self promotional, I’ve read the entire issue from cover to cover. And every article is useful. If you’re not near a news stand, you can read some of the articles and order an issue of the magazine by going here.

And if you have read my article, let me know if you have questions or comments.

Posted under Distribution

Filmmakers with a strong vision for what they want can make it. Image via Wikipedia

Making movies is both awesome and incredibly challenging. And becoming a professional filmmaker requires a certain amount of dedication that is easy to talk about – but not always easy to live by.

In my filmmaking career, I’ve experienced heartache as well as the surreal, super exciting moments that come when people get to know me and my work. Making stories and building an audience that supports our work is the reason we do what we do.

But in order to get from point A to point B, it is essential that you create a clear and exciting vision for your filmmaking future… Because (believe me) you’ll need something exciting to focus on, should things get challenging…

… And as a filmmaker, things always get challenging.

I have known many people who started out their filmmaking careers with all the movie making passion, energy and enthusiasm in the world, only to drop their dreams at the first sign of trouble. Other friends have disappeared without ever making a movie. And one of my friends went crazy, stole a bunch of money from his filmmaking team and left town.

Why? Because creating a dream for yourself and paying the price, (no matter how hard) to realize your potential -  that’s the tough part.

I’m serious about this. Making a career making movies is a long term game. It won’t happen over night. In fact, success probably won’t find you on your first feature or your second feature film. So you have to get tough.

Here is a strategy worth applying to your own life: One of the mental attributes that all successful people share in common is a never ending ability to keep their eye on the prize. And if you’re looking for the secret formula for all your filmmaking success, it is this: patience plus unyielding persistence in a face of adversity will get you through a tough spot. NEVER give up!

GOALS

Here is what separates the professional filmmaker from the horde of crybabies.  They have goals. And you should too. And I’m not just talking general stuff, like “Hey, I want to make movies and get rich and all the crap.” Who doesn’t (on some level) want the things that sort of lifestyle offers?

But what I’m asking you to do today, dear filmmaker is to set very specific goals for your filmmaking future.

What does your ideal future look like?

In order to create meaningful success in both your filmmaking career and your life, you MUST get a clear idea of what you want. This will involve not just setting goals for yourself, but actually taking out a pen and writing them down.

The following actions will help you hone in your movie ideas, your money ideas and also help you paint a picture of the wonderful life you want to live:

ACTIONS

1. Take out some paper and write down three ideas for movies you want to make in your lifetime.
2. How much money would you like to have?
3. How much money do you have now?
4. What will you do to get the money you need?
5. The people you hang out with will influence your success. Are you hanging out with people who share your vision? Or, are you hanging out with negative people?

After this, you’ll get a pretty good idea of where you are and where you want to go. From there, you can begin to take steps in your desired direction.

Here is an affiliate recommendation. A few years back, I stumbled upon the following audio program and even though it talks about general goal setting, I totally thought it was a great tool for helping me refine my own filmmaking goals: Master Strategies for Higher Achievement: Set Your Goals and Reach Them – Fast! (Your Coach in a Box)

I don’t know if I’m hitting a nerve with you or not. But long before I made my first money making movies, I can remember driving around my small home town dreaming of a time when I would not only have a few features under my belt, but I also dreamed of a time that I could share my experience with you.

If you find yourself faced with filmmaking self doubt, you’re not alone. The important part is that you at least get a picture of what you want that is very specific. Then you should take time to work backwards. And who knows, maybe a decade from now we will be working on movie projects together.

Posted under Filmmaking

Filmmakers can now sell their movies on iTunes - Image via Wikipedia

As a filmmaker, uploading your movie to iTunes is a pain in the butt.

And if you’re new to feature filmmaking, let me explain a few things. One of the biggest challenges you have is getting your movie seen and sold.

Assuming you’ve traveled the festivals, you probably know that the distribution deals that once fueled your filmmaking dreams have dried up. And these days, even if you get a deal, one of the selling points of the deal will probably involve some distributor touting the wonders of iTunes.

Now before you protest, I’m not saying that better deals aren’t out there. They are. And I’m also not saying that you can’t get a dream distribution deal – you can. And great job if you land one!

But for the other 98% of filmmakers, if getting a return on your movie is a goal,  some choices will have to be made. Typically your choices are:

1. Do I take the crappy deal with the shady distributor? (If you have one.)
2. Or do I just market my movie myself?

If you’ve been reading this Filmmaking Stuff long enough, you probably know where I’m going with this. So let me take you there… If your deal does not pencil, it is NOT a deal! Period.

It simply comes down to this: do you want 3rd party validation? Or do you want cash without the middle man?

If you picked the ladder (and I hope you did), then your next order of business is to focus on a marketplace. And if you haven’t gone down this road before, let me tell you that there are only 3 TOP markets for your movie.

1. Amazon – They own a company called CreateSpace that will assist you in getting your movie into the Amazon marketplace as both a DVD and a VOD streaming option.
2. Netflix- This is a mail order movie rental house that also offers VOD streaming.
3. iTunes -I probably don’t need to tell you what iTunes is. In fact, I saved the best for last (and it is the focus of this article). But did you know you can now sell your movie through iTunes?

When attempting to get your movie seen and sold, if you do not get a deal, and you are not on those sites – then as a filmmaker, y you have cut your potential for revenue significantly. This is because the big 3 provide a marketplace full of hungry customers ready to buy movies.

“OK, Jason Brubaker – That’s great. But how do I get my independent movies on iTunes?”

Great question.

I am pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Distribber. They are owned by IndieGoGo and as a company, the service provides a one stop shop for filmmakers working to get their movies on iTunes, Amazon and Netflix. You simply pay a 1 time fee (which is reasonable, especially if your production team decides to buck up and each pay a little.)

Then assuming your movie makes the cut (there is a screening process), you get your movie on the Big 3. And unlike traditional distribution deals, this movie sales tool offers 24-hour access to your sales stats and your money. So once you’re set up, all you gotta do is log in to your account, check out your sales and view your cash balance.

And the cool part? No waiting for checks. No more “creative Hollywood accounting.” With this movie sales tool, you may withdraw your funds at any time via Paypal. To learn more, check out the site at: www.MovieSalesTool.com

If you have questions about this service, you’re welcome to email me. jason(at)filmmakingstuff.com

Posted under Distribution

Filmmakers: Do you have websites for your movies?

When your in the filmmaking process, getting a website up and running is one of those things that filmmakers oftentimes forget. Please don’t. Given the ways in which distribution is changing, having a great website for your movie is probably one of the most important aspects of your eventual movie marketing campaign.

If you’re not technical, that’s OK. The following tips will help you:

The first step in your movie marketing campaign involves reserving some domain names. For example, once you have a title for your movie, you need to go out and reserve your website address names. These addresses are called domain names. And the names you pick will be influenced by the name of your movie.

For example, our first feature was called special dead – so we reserved the domain names www.specialdead.com and www.specialdeadmovie.com. (You’ll notice the sites are very simple. There is one objective – sell the movie. Anything that doesn’t help us achieve this objective has been cut.)

You should write down some names for your movie websites.

You can get domain names through sites like UltraCheapDomains or GoDaddy. But when it comes time to set up a website, in addition to your domain names, you will also need hosting. So I prefer a one-stop-shop.

Luckily, most hosting companies also sell domain names. I use www.MovieSiteHost.com (I get a commission when filmmakers use this link.) You can get hosting for your website there. But if you do your research, you will also find a few other places as well.

The nice part about MovieSiteHost is they give you one domain name as part of your hosting package. And the prices are incredibly affordable. Then once you’re set up, you can buy additional domains there too (not additional hosting – all of your websites can be included on one hosting account).

Once you get set up with your hosting and your domain name, the next step is actually creating a website for your movie. This is still open to your creativity. Just make sure you cut all the fluff. You website should have one purpose. You need to collect the name and email address of each visitor. These people will become your fan club and your most important asset.

Posted under Filmmaking