This past weekend I attended the Los Angeles Filmmaker Forum. Film Independent hosted it at the very cool Directors Guild of America building. For a fee, working/aspiring filmmakers get to sit in on seminars and panels that feature a variety of industry types sharing their own unique case studies related to the indie film world. The forum serves as a resource of information, inspiration, and cautionary tales. Is it worth it for a struggling filmmaker to shell out a couple hundred bucks to attend? Every penny.
![LA FIlmmaker Forum](http://www.fest21.com/files/images/forum.jpg)
Panels and Seminars and Case Studies, Oh My!
I’ve decided to list a sampling of the notes I took throughout the weekend. Needless to say, I was an information-absorbing sponge.
Valuable tidbits (read: paraphrased/extrapolated from my chicken scratch notes) from keynote speaker Joe Drake – COO/President of Lionsgate:
- “It’s not only innate talent that helps achieve success, it’s intense practice to master your craft.”
- “Learn from the ‘nos’ that you get.”
- “It’s not okay in this business to simply have a dream. You have to have a plan.”
- “Does your project fit within the context of what the market tells you it wants?”
- “Words you want to hear: Hysterical. Heartbreaking. I couldn’t stop talking about it.”
![500 Days of Summer](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_geaYLaNDaUw/S0Fi0GMskSI/AAAAAAAABXo/A_P4aia0El4/s640/500%20days%20of%20summer.jpg)
I couldn't stop talking about it...
Other stuff I gleaned from various panelists:
- When evaluating state tax incentives, be true to your project. Shoot the right movie in the right place.
- A tax rebate is better than a tax credit. Especially when it comes to paying back your investors.
- You have to have so much passion to power through the rejection. Accept that rejection is part of the process.
- The producer’s job is helping the investor/distributor see the film’s potential.
- Casting is insurance – distributors like “above the title” names.
![Taylor](http://www.nerdbloggers.com/storage/Kitsch.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1251209405349)
Name above the title? DONE!
- The windows (theatrical, home video, video-on-demand, etc.) are collapsing. The new financial model will be ubiquitous distribution. Instant cinematic gratification.
- Don’t forget the importance of behind-the-scenes materials (especially publicity stills!) and social networking. Generate buzz as early as possible.
- Don’t give away the worldwide airline rights! (Weird advice but, hey, maybe my Admiral’s Club membership will give me some clout in this arena?)
- If you’re not succeeding financially from your film, you’re not going to be able to sustain your career.
- When deciding on a distributor, make a choice that serves your investors, but one that will also get the film out there to be seen.
- “No” means “Yes, just not yet.”
- Friendraising is just as important as fundraising. The friends you make along the way are the future ambassadors for your film.
![That's What Friend Are For](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PXq6mycpGvQ/R0ClJ1rkqxI/AAAAAAAAAiE/5e4gmeo7eBw/s400/dionne.jpg)
Thanks, Future Ambassadors!
That last point (from Wendy Cohen at Participant Media) is one I thoroughly agree with. So thanks for staying engaged, reader-friends-ambassadors! You are important to me.
And another valuable take-away from the forum is that I got to shake the hand of screenwriter John August! (A link to his blog can be found screen-right.) I gave him twenty-seconds of my best gushing.
![John August](http://cecilvortex.com/C_CV_John_August.jpg)
I'm you're biggest fan! (But not in a "Misery" kind of way. I promise.)
There’s more to reflect on post-forum, but I’m a little too tired to delve into further detail. And, oh yeah, did I mention I am no longer in escrow? Ah, fickle home buyers…you didn’t deserve my condo anyway.
NEXT UP: Apparently, “drama” is a dirty word. More tales from the Filmmaker Forum.
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