Do Film Festival Laurels Actually Matter for Selling Your Movie?
Let me say something that may sound harsh: nobody cares about your film festival laurels. At least, not in the way most filmmakers …
At Filmmaking Stuff, we are dedicated to providing filmmaking articles related to production, production equipment (cameras, lighting, audio), film scheduling, budgeting, casting and directing. From time to time, we will also include articles from guest filmmakers. We have provided the following ideas and filmmaking tips so that you can take action and make your movie.
Let me say something that may sound harsh: nobody cares about your film festival laurels. At least, not in the way most filmmakers …
If you’re making independent films today, you need to understand one thing: AVOD is where indie films make money now. When we talk …
If you take nothing else from this, understand this: your movie trailer matters more than your movie when it comes to getting people …
Most indie films don’t make money. That’s just the truth. And it’s not because the filmmakers aren’t talented. It’s because they’re not thinking …
For years, there was a clear range in independent film budgets. Under $2 million was low budget. $3 to $8 million was mid-range. …
If you’ve ever wondered what sales agents do at film markets, you’re not alone. A lot of filmmakers imagine deals happening instantly at …
I recently started playing around with Google Gemini’s AI video generation tools. If you haven’t experimented with AI video generation yet, it’s both …
If you’re producing indie films, understanding an option agreement can save you thousands of dollars — and a lot of stress. Here’s the …
If you’re planning your release strategy right now, you need to understand film distribution windowing — because the old rules don’t really apply …
What makes a film marketable?It’s a simple question, but the answer is not simple at all. And here’s the frustrating part: you can …
When people talk about film distribution, one of the most confusing parts for filmmakers is film rights. And honestly, that confusion is where …
Let’s be honest—2025 is over. It didn’t go the way a lot of us hoped. And that’s okay. What matters now is what …
Every January, the same thing happens. People make New Year’s resolutions, get excited for a few weeks, and then slowly fall off. The …
A lot of filmmakers are still thinking the old way—make a movie, put it on TVOD, hope people pay to rent it. But …
I want to start with a simple idea that has helped me a lot over the years: when things fall apart, you don’t …
When you’re reaching out with a pitch email to a film distributor, you have one goal: get the acquisitions person to actually click …
If you’ve ever tried to get a movie off the ground, you’ve probably heard the phrase film package. And I can tell you …
If you’re wondering what sales agents look for in a finished film, you’re not alone. Markets are always right around the corner. And …
It amazes me how many people working in this business don’t actually understand how film credits work. Especially when it comes to the …
What film festivals actually improve the odds of selling your movie? If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’ve said again …
When you finally sign a deal with a sales agent or distributor, you’ll get hit with a list of film deliverables. And sometimes, …
If you’re starting out in the film industry, you’ve probably asked yourself if you should work for free on film sets? It’s a …
When you’re making a movie, one of the big terms you’ll hear tossed around is minimum guarantees in film distribution. At first, it …
A lot of filmmakers don’t fully understand what sales agents do at film markets like AFM, Cannes, or the Berlin EFM. I hear …
When it comes to raising money for your film, the pitch deck is often the first thing a potential investor sees. It’s the …
If you’re a filmmaker wondering how to pick your first feature film, let me share a little truth with you: your first feature …
Over the years, I’ve pitched all kinds of film investors. Some deals ended up with money in the bank, and some didn’t. That’s …
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting your indie film into Sundance, Toronto, Cannes, or South by Southwest, you already know it can feel …
Don’t Waste Money on the Wrong Film Festivals Let’s talk about something that costs indie filmmakers thousands every year submitting to film festivals …
If you’re trying to get a sales agent or distributor to pick up your indie film, you’ve probably heard the term minimum guarantee, …