AFM

Alright, it's two weeks since returning from the American Film Market and I can speak with a more clear and focused head here... Honestly it was a BIG waste. First off this was my first AFM and I was shopping my feature, "The Skeleptica Effect" to the Foreign Market in order to get the film seen by the masses outside of the U.S.,. Anyhow this is what basically went down and my feelings of what should have happened.

Since we have a financial crisis going on and with all of the smaller specialty distribution companies closing up shop there weren't many films being sold as in the previous years. Of course I'd pick the one Tough year to go. And with that said, the various hotel floors (where these distributors residing) where empty and the thought would be that "they" would be more acceping to take meetings from filmmakers rather than dealing directly with Sales Agents. But I found that the same old game was being played with companies not reviewing unsolicted projects (even finished films) and where others companies you had to send emails to set up a meeting and wait for a response (I recieved responses on my departure day)...

Here's my crazy insight on things... Since the market seemed "quiet" why not change up the strategy and even the playing field by opening the doors to everyone taking meetings and kind of see what sticks. Sometimes things are way to structured making it tougher for talent to get found (we must grind harder of course) PLUS as crazy as this sounds because I probably shouldn't be saying this, but the Distributors could have cut out most of the "middlemen" and negotiate a much LOWER asking price for films (if dealing directly with the filmmakers) with the upsell to filmmakers being EXPOSURE plus it's building a relationship with the distributor(s) for the future as thier careers grow.... How does that sound?

Anyhow, I put no pressure on actually selling my film but focus on networking and making the next contact and I met other filmmakers who shared their experiences being there. I had two meetings, both on my day of departure. The first was purely being at the right place, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with an online aggregator whom only offer online and VOD deals for the overseas market. Of course the exposure level would be just what I need. ANd the second was the one meeting I REALLY wanted with another aggregator but their company deals with Domestic distribution. And I made that meeting with 30 minutes to spare before I had to fly out from L.A. back home.

SO those were my thoughts, although I've learned much more of what not to do and what to do better next time around. Plus I've realized that I need to focuse on my marketing strategy. It is this that will open the doors and move the masses.

So onward and upward... I'll be back