Simple cinema in a digital world
How two small budget How two small budget New Zealand films New Zealand films captivated a world wide captivated a world wide audienceaudience
How two small budget How two small budget New Zealand films New Zealand films captivated a world wide captivated a world wide audienceaudience
"Cinema is a mongrel; a half-breed with "Cinema is a mongrel; a half-breed with
incompatible parents. incompatible parents.
It’s the unlucky child of the congress It’s the unlucky child of the congress
between art and commerce"between art and commerce"
Mike Riddell - Writer/Producer of The Insatiable Moon
"Cinema is a mongrel; a half-breed with "Cinema is a mongrel; a half-breed with
incompatible parents. incompatible parents.
It’s the unlucky child of the congress It’s the unlucky child of the congress
between art and commerce"between art and commerce"
Mike Riddell - Writer/Producer of The Insatiable Moon
What is simple cinema?
““A practical philosophy & workflow protocol to A practical philosophy & workflow protocol to
facilitate the production of evocative and facilitate the production of evocative and
stylish films in an ultra low budget arena. stylish films in an ultra low budget arena.
The Simple Cinema approach requires an open The Simple Cinema approach requires an open
mind and a courageous heart to achieve mind and a courageous heart to achieve
success.” success.”
Tom Burstyn - DOP, writer and
Producer of This Way of Life
““A practical philosophy & workflow protocol to A practical philosophy & workflow protocol to
facilitate the production of evocative and facilitate the production of evocative and
stylish films in an ultra low budget arena. stylish films in an ultra low budget arena.
The Simple Cinema approach requires an open The Simple Cinema approach requires an open
mind and a courageous heart to achieve mind and a courageous heart to achieve
success.” success.”
Tom Burstyn - DOP, writer and
Producer of This Way of Life
Why in New Zealand?
““The film industry [in New Zealand] is The film industry [in New Zealand] is
really diverse. There are lots of different really diverse. There are lots of different
areas of endeavor that filmmakers areas of endeavor that filmmakers
undertake, and films are made using undertake, and films are made using
different types of government forms of different types of government forms of
finance or independently with private finance or independently with private
finance or both…finance or both…
““The film industry [in New Zealand] is The film industry [in New Zealand] is
really diverse. There are lots of different really diverse. There are lots of different
areas of endeavor that filmmakers areas of endeavor that filmmakers
undertake, and films are made using undertake, and films are made using
different types of government forms of different types of government forms of
finance or independently with private finance or independently with private
finance or both…finance or both…
Why in New Zealand?
.."Some make for small .."Some make for small
neighbourhoods, some for NZ neighbourhoods, some for NZ
audiences, some for countries audiences, some for countries
around the world. It's very diverse around the world. It's very diverse
and has lots and lots of different and has lots and lots of different
layers to it..."layers to it..."
.."Some make for small .."Some make for small
neighbourhoods, some for NZ neighbourhoods, some for NZ
audiences, some for countries audiences, some for countries
around the world. It's very diverse around the world. It's very diverse
and has lots and lots of different and has lots and lots of different
layers to it..."layers to it..."
Why in New Zealand?
"The film industry isn’t a one-size fits "The film industry isn’t a one-size fits
all industry and we are not one size all industry and we are not one size
fits all people.”fits all people.”
Phillipa Campbell Film Producer
"The film industry isn’t a one-size fits "The film industry isn’t a one-size fits
all industry and we are not one size all industry and we are not one size
fits all people.”fits all people.”
Phillipa Campbell Film Producer
Simple cinema is...
StoryStory
Simplicity of technologySimplicity of technology
CrewCrew
Production ProcessProduction Process
StoryStory
Simplicity of technologySimplicity of technology
CrewCrew
Production ProcessProduction Process
What Simple cinema is not...
DogmeDogme
Micro-financing (Hollywood style)Micro-financing (Hollywood style)
DogmeDogme
Micro-financing (Hollywood style)Micro-financing (Hollywood style)
Traditional film production profit sharing
http://www.theinsatiablemoon.com/2011/06/the-gatekeepers/
Simple Cinema is...
Democratising film makingDemocratising film making
Utilising social media to marketUtilising social media to market
An alternative way of distributionAn alternative way of distribution
Democratising film makingDemocratising film making
Utilising social media to marketUtilising social media to market
An alternative way of distributionAn alternative way of distribution
This Way of life trailer
Link to Insatiable Moon Trailer
This Way of Life
• Successful with a range of Successful with a range of
audiences around the worldaudiences around the world
• Official selection in 13 festivalsOfficial selection in 13 festivals
• A range of awards at festivals all A range of awards at festivals all
around the worldaround the world
• Shortlisted for an Oscar nominationShortlisted for an Oscar nomination
• Successful with a range of Successful with a range of
audiences around the worldaudiences around the world
• Official selection in 13 festivalsOfficial selection in 13 festivals
• A range of awards at festivals all A range of awards at festivals all
around the worldaround the world
• Shortlisted for an Oscar nominationShortlisted for an Oscar nomination
The Insatiable Moon•Success in NZ and in the UK
•Empire magazine: “There’s a remarkable “There’s a remarkable sense of place and sense of place and emotional power, in a emotional power, in a moving, original movie moving, original movie that deserves to be seen. that deserves to be seen. Another reminder of the Another reminder of the quality of Kiwi quality of Kiwi filmmaking, ..Real and filmmaking, ..Real and rewarding.”rewarding.”
•Success in NZ and in the UK
•Empire magazine: “There’s a remarkable “There’s a remarkable sense of place and sense of place and emotional power, in a emotional power, in a moving, original movie moving, original movie that deserves to be seen. that deserves to be seen. Another reminder of the Another reminder of the quality of Kiwi quality of Kiwi filmmaking, ..Real and filmmaking, ..Real and rewarding.”rewarding.”
Production.. the Simple Way
This Way of Life• Tom Burstyn shot over
60 hours of digital footage on his HDV Sony compact camera
• A crew of two • Self- funded (under
$100,000)
This Way of Life• Tom Burstyn shot over
60 hours of digital footage on his HDV Sony compact camera
• A crew of two • Self- funded (under
$100,000)
Production.. the Simple Way
The Insatiable Moon• Lighting, electrical and
camera gear fitted into the back of a specially racked out Transit van
• Opted not to use dollies or cranes
• funded from private investment $350,000
The Insatiable Moon• Lighting, electrical and
camera gear fitted into the back of a specially racked out Transit van
• Opted not to use dollies or cranes
• funded from private investment $350,000
Marketing...the simple way
This Way of Life• Advertising spend $1500• Word of Mouth • Community Groups• Facebook• Blogs• Building a loyal audience
through PR
This Way of Life• Advertising spend $1500• Word of Mouth • Community Groups• Facebook• Blogs• Building a loyal audience
through PR
The Insatiable Moon• Advertising spend
$150,000• Production Blog • Community Groups• Facebook• Building a loyal audience
through PR• “Ambassadors”
The Insatiable Moon• Advertising spend
$150,000• Production Blog • Community Groups• Facebook• Building a loyal audience
through PR• “Ambassadors”
Marketing...the simple way
Distribution...the Simple Way
This Way of Life
• Sharing the profit with the subjects
• Set up a trust for homeless people
• Showing to a variety of audiences
- Maori TV, Air NZ long haul, local audiences,
global audiences
This Way of Life
• Sharing the profit with the subjects
• Set up a trust for homeless people
• Showing to a variety of audiences
- Maori TV, Air NZ long haul, local audiences,
global audiences
Distribution...the Simple Way
The Insatiable Moon
• Charity shows for Mental Health Agencies
• Showing to a variety of audiences
• Linking to Mental Health advocacy
• Linked to homeless agencies in UK
The Insatiable Moon
• Charity shows for Mental Health Agencies
• Showing to a variety of audiences
• Linking to Mental Health advocacy
• Linked to homeless agencies in UK
Simple cinema in action
The future……
Possibilities and problems
Multi platforms
Digital distribution
Files can be found at:
http://www.delicious.com/teachermap/frugalfilmmaking