Online Film Distribution, Production, and Marketing
by Eren Gulfidan
What we’ll discuss!
How to make engaging videos for your audience
How to promote your videos to your target audience
How to measure your influence on your audience
Examples from Film Annex videos, independent filmmakers, and my own work.
Basic Video Production
Are you making the video for a client or to promote your own work?
Working for yourself More creative control
Working for a client Teamwork and discussions
In both cases, you want the final product to speak to the audience and grab their interest. You want them to get hooked!
Be happy with what you create first! According to the client’s needs, you can always tweak it.
Who? Film Annex’s client
What? They create educational & entertaining digital apps for children.
Target audience? Parents (Especially mothers)
Interview with Susan Miller –
Cupcake Digital’s Co-founder
and Executive Producer abo
ut Cupcake Digital and its Phi
losophy
What do we see in this video?
It’s a medium-length video (about 5 minutes) – Traditional interview with white background. Our model for these videos was Apple videos and ads.
Susan Miller talks about her background and the philosophy behind Cupcake Digital.
Susan talks about the importance of entertainment and different teaching methods. We immediately understand that Cupcake is an educational and entertaining platform.
We impress the viewers by adding Susan’s bio in the video’s description: Miller is the Executive Producer and co-owner of the hit Emmy Award-winning animated television series, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and prime time television movies starring superstar Beyoncé Knowles, Extreme Home Makeover television star Ty Pennington, and World Champion figure skater Michelle Kwan. She is co-producer of the Miramax feature film, Ella Enchanted starring Anne Hathaway.
Interview with Brad Powers –
Cupcake Digital’s Co-Founde
r and Chairman about Cupcak
e Digital's New Games
What do we see in this video?
It’s a short video (less than 2 minutes)
Brad introduces two arcade style games and talks about the educational components of the game. He wants to stress that they care as much about education as they do on entertainment and engaging visuals Ed-tech
We interject the interview with photos and graphics from the games to create a stronger and more engaging video.
Brad finishes the update telling the audience where the game apps are available: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, etc.
The Creative Process @ Cupcake Digital by Creative Director, Christine Norrie
What do we see in this video?
It’s a very short video (a bit more than 1 minute)
We go behind the scenes with Cupcake Digital’s Creative Director, Christine Norrie and discover how the apps are conceived.
We use the time lapse video style to go through the visuals quickly.
Everyone is curious about how things get made whether these are movies or apps. So we spill some of Cupcake’s secrets.
To impress the audience, we talk about Christine’s background in the video description. Christine E Norrie is the Creative Director of Cupcake Digital, and for over 15 years, Christine has been the creative force behind comics, graphic novels, editorial illustration, films and books for major companies and independent publishers, including DC Comics, Scholastic Books, Abrams, and The Girl Scouts of America. Christine illustrated the internationally syndicated comic series that accompanied the first three films in Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids franchise for Disney Adventures. She also created a comic series for Disney’s Freaky Friday film and has done illustration work for Miramax.
Cupcake Digital – Kids at Play
What do we see in this video?
It’s a medium length video (about 5 minutes)
Two adorable kids who are being adorable and goofy
Kids who are actual Cupcake Digital app users
We show the kids playing, having a good time, and learning
The kids interview each other. This adds humor to the video as you don’t often get to see kids interviewing one another. They act like adults, and the outcome is sweet and humorous.
We end the video on a funny note due Lucas’ expression and gestures, but we also find out what his favorite app is.
Production notes
Camera: CANON 5D Mark II
Sound: Zoom H4N + 2 lavalier microphones
Editing software: Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premier Pro
The Outcome
Basic interview style in front of white background – Purely informative and educational
Behind the scenes video using time lapse method with voiceover
A lighter-toned and humorous video featuring kids being goofy while staying educational
With these different types of videos, we charm:
Prospective investors and competitors who want to find out more about Cupcake Digital
The consumer/buyer
How to promote your videos to your target audience
Ken Turner Jeff Chiba Stearns
Ken TurnerAnimator
Filmmaker
Artist
Suggested video – The Birth of Snowboy
Self-promotion!
Jeff Chiba Stearns
Animator
Artist
Documentary filmmaker
Suggested video – Yellow Sticky Notes
Self-promotion!
What we noticed!
Hard core promotion on social media platforms likeFacebook
Film Annex
Portfolio
Blogs
Art store
Links to crowd sourcing campaigns
BRANDING
Production notes
Client: Pastel Music, Korea
Assignment: Create a short promo video for singer/songwriter Hee Young’s upcoming album, 4 Luv.
Include release date, pastel music logo, and the musician’s website.
Equipment used: Canon 5D Mark II, Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects
Natural light keeps the costs down!
Hee Young – Official Music Video
Production notes
Client: Pastel Music, Korea
Assignment: Create a music video for singer/songwriter Hee Young’s song, “I’ll Buy Myself a Goodbye”
Collaboration with the musician for the story
Lots of editing and re-editing
Equipment used: Canon 5D Mark II, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects
Natural light keeps the costs down!
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