"Cinema is in a bad way." What this means for indie filmmakers and expounding on my philosophy of going where you're wanted. Plus: I'm speaking at Gotham Week Oct 2nd in NYC. Join us!
This week's free post analyzes headlines that claim traditional theatricals are done, discusses the implications for indie filmmakers and digs into my philosophy of going where you're wanted.
The headline for this post is a little misleading and I worry that the takeaway will be for those skimming the article that cinema is dead and we should all just pack up and go home so here’s the short version:
TL/DR: Indie filmmakers must continue to innovate and look at going where they are wanted in order to have a successful roll out of their films.
But before we get into it, I’m speaking on a panel at Gotham Film Week in NYC on October 2nd and would love for you to come!
I’m part of a panel called Innovative Exhibitions: Community-Driven Screenings, Pop-Ups, and Microcinema — with Minorities in Film. I’m very excited to participate in this event and honored to be part of this panel as it’s very much in line with the core work I’m doing at the moment.
If you’d like to attend, the link is here and if you’ll be there please come say hello! More info about Gotham Week is below.
Now, let’s get into this week’s free post.
Is Cinema Really Dead? These headlines would make you think so.
As you all saw from my post last week, my film DARUMA is coming out this fall on streaming and in select cinemas across the country. I’ve been seeing a spate of headlines recently that have the constant refrain that “cinema is dead” and that the traditional theater-going experience is ruined and that the “day and date releasing strategy is dead".
Yikes.
Needless to day, headlines like this are kind of…. distressing for an indie filmmaker like me because, well, we’ve invested quite a bit (of time and money) into getting DARUMA out into the world and I spent the better part of my summer putting my fall theatrical release together for a day and date.
Some recent headlines about the state of cinema include the following:
As an indie filmmaker, every dollar spent on our film is a dollar we aren’t sure we’re going to recoup and behind that thought is the idea that we might not get to make another movie if it does poorly and we know other indie filmmakers are thinking the same thing.
And when you look at streamers like Apple who just pulled the Clooney/Pitt vehicle, WOLFS, from theaters and is sending it straight to streaming, you have to ask yourself, am I doing something wrong by putting my film in cinemas for a considerable cost that might never ever ever be recouped?
When you read headlines like this, yeah… it gets you worried and gets you thinking.
But then you have contradictory articles like this:
Soooooo… what the heck are we as Indie Filmmakers supposed to do?
First of all, no one has a crystal ball and releasing a movie does NOT conform to one-size-fits-all strategy. It’s impossible to predict whether or not your efforts will be successful until you begin your actual execution so to say one way or another is dead or not isn’t really true or helpful. The one thing you MUST do is be able to pivot if needed and have a contingency plan.
But I think we all know now it’s not enough to just put your film out into the world anymore and expect that by the mere virtue of screening in cinemas that you’re going to sell out tickets and fill the house, especially as an indie filmmaker. Or that by putting it online you can expect people to want to watch it. You have to promote it.
You’ve got to stand out and make some noise and you must do the calculus on what you CAN do and lean into that and lean into where you think your audience will be.
Mathing the Math for Your Release Strategy
For some films, like mine, a hybrid approach will be taken with their releasing strategy, especially if you want to be considered for any awards, as most require that your film screen for a week in cinemas. So you really have to look at doing BOTH a theatrical and a streaming release for your film if you can.
Is it going to be hard?
Heck yes, it is. (I can attest to that.)
Do you HAVE to?
No. You don’t.
Some filmmakers might do the calculus on their release strategy and decide that an online only release is the solution for them. They may not have the time or resources to commit to a theatrical. And that’s okay. But you must lean into that and build your entire roll out around your online release strategy. And promote the hell out of it once you commit to it.
Some filmmakers might do the calculus and decide that a nine-month, one night screening per venue is the solution for them. And that’s okay too. Not every filmmaker is going to have access to the same tools, resources and connections so it's vital that you work with what you have and chart the best course forward for your film in a way you can sustain.
And again: promote the hell out of it once you commit to it.
This now leads into my philosophy of going where you’re wanted.
Tip of the Year: Go Where You Are Wanted and This Includes Your Film
How many of you have ever chased a romantic partner that wasn’t as into you as you were them? It sucks, doesn’t it? You’ll put yourself through unnecessary heartbreak and pain until one day you sit up and realize that no amount of pining or crying is going to make them change their mind about you.
And honestly, why WOULD you want to be with someone like that?
You want to be with some who is EXCITED about you and what you uniquely bring to the table. The same can be said with your film as well. I staunchly believe that there’s an audience and a successful path for every film and creative endeavor but that you must challenge yourself to find it.
As you plan your film’s roll out, you have to think of a million little things that go into your calculus including the reality of how long you can keep promoting your current project while you pursue other projects, care for your family, and of course, pay the bills somehow.
We know we’re not going to have the appeal of everyone (though I’d love that!) but our film was made for a very specific niche audience that has overlap with other demographics and I am endeavoring to serve that audience with my release strategy.
I have a very specific calculus in my head as I put this roll out together with a very specific audience in mind so all of my efforts are geared to that. If there’s one thing I have learned it’s that every film’s path is different and your job as a filmmaker is to find that path.
I hope this helps you!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that every film’s path is different and your job as a filmmaker is to find that path.
Talk to me: what’s your strategy for your film’s roll out? What are you doing or not doing or wish you’d done differently?
DM me here and if you’d like to talk to me about your own film’s strategy, shoot me a message!