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Assuming everything goes to plan at a given Film Festival distributors should be interested in your film. This SlideShare shows the 10 things not to do if you want to keep them on your side.
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#AFM2014TEN WAYS TO MAKE DISTRIBUTORS TOTALLY HATE YOUR GUTS
OVERVIEW
Assuming everything goes to plan at a given Film
Festival distributors should be interested in your
film. This SlideShare shows the 10 things not to do if
you want to keep them on your side.
Thanks to Elliot Grove, founder of Raindance, for
kindly allowing us to reproduce his article.
NUMBER ONE
Do not make it nearly impossible for a distributor to see
your film.
If a potential film buyer misses the one and only screening of
your film at a festival then send them an online link to the
film, don’t make them wait months for another screening.
Remember your potential client may need to watch the film
while travelling or at home on the weekend so make it as
easy as possible for them to do this.
Do not try to clog up their email.
Even if a distributor expresses interest in your film you do not
need to send them daily updates, or let them know every
time you have a new Twitter follower, Facebook message
and so on.
NUMBER TWO
Do not send totally irrelevant emails
Referencing news stories like Neil Armstrong’s death, Lance
Armstrong’s doping allegations, aboriginal plights with Exxon
in the Alberta oil sands project – in short, anything that you
think of perhaps with no relevance to your film – will not
work!
NUMBER THREE
NUMBER FOUR
Do not consider silence as
a sign to try even harder
If a distributor doesn’t
respond to your telephone
messages or repeated
emails, then take the hint.
The adage, no news is good
news, is not a signal to
pursue even further.
NUMBER FIVE
Do not follow-up at your own pace
Even if a distributor calls or emails just as you are
going home, you cannot wait to respond in your own
time – reply as soon as possible. Similarly if
someone is expecting a screener, don’t wait to mail
it at the end of the week when it suits you, send it
straight away.
NUMBER SIX
Do not follow up like an insane person
This one will get you noticed and for all the wrong
reasons. Do not send gifts of chocolates, wine and
flowers. Equally don’t write insane blog postings
about the distribution company, or set up auto-
tweets every 15 seconds. You will soon be despised
along with the worst of your competitors.
NUMBER SEVEN
Do not take things really slowly
Once a distributor has made the decision to buy your
film, don’t go super slow. Do not invent mentors and
crew members you need to consult before you sign off.
Super slow is a guaranteed way to disgust and annoy
distributors.
What do you mean music rights?
Do not stick Beatles songs, or Astrid Gilberto singing
‘The Girl from Ipanema’, liberally throughout your movie
and then put the disclaimer ‘Guide Music Only’. Know
the music clearance process and don’t show a complete
ignorance of it.
NUMBER EIGHT
NUMBER NINE
Do not negotiate like a sleaseball
Once you have agreed a price and signed do not
then start demanding extras, like shipping, postage,
telephone call charges, pension contributions,
holiday pay and meeting fees. The more outlandish
your claims the more they will hate you.
Do not hold your film hostage
Do not agree, in principal, to a fee for your film but
insist you’ll only accept it if they agree to take your
next film. Equally avoid selling your first film to one
distributor, and then taking your second to a
competitor after the first company has invested a lot
of time and effort into launching your career.
NUMBER TEN
Elliot Grove founded Raindance and has produced
over 150 short films, and 5 feature films. He has
written eight scripts, one of which is currently in pre-
production.
Find out more about Elliot HERE.
THE AUTHOR
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE AFM 2014!
www.AmericanFilmMarket.com
#AFM2014