Jon Reiss & Marketing strategies in RevCon workshop
FTI spoke with renowned filmmaker Jon
Reiss about his bestselling Think Outside the
Box Office workshop, which runs in Perth as a part of RevCon. Reiss' workshop addresses methods of
hybrid marketing and distribution for independent filmmakers.
You stress the importance of engaging your audience as early as possible. How early do you suggest and how are you engaging them?
I suggest either from inception of the filmmaking process - when you are going into pre production - no later really if you are able to. The process starts with audience identification - specific identification. NOT 15-25 year old boys/men, but something more defined than this. Then research as to how these people receive information, eg what if any social networks, blogs, organizations? And then start connecting with them in these places. All films are different and all films have different audiences who all consume information in different ways.
Has distribution changed in the time between your promotion and release of Better Living Through Circuitry and Bomb It!?
Yes, there are much fewer lucrative overall deals for filmmakers. Not that these were the best for all films or filmmakers. In addition consumption patterns have shifted and the internet has opened up huge opportunities for distribution and marketing to filmmakers.
Could you describe your distribution and marketing strategy for Bomb It!?
In a nutshell I created a split rights hybrid strategy in which I did my own theatrical release, partnered with a DVD company and sold the dvd and other merch from my website and created a very intricate parsing out of all of my digital rights. Marketing has been across numerous media and strategies from traditional press to affiliate marketing to street teams and everything in between.
Would you suggest that filmmakers create transmedia content alongside any feature length films they produce?
I think it's the future for film personally. I think transmedia opens up so many creative doors for filmmakers - they should be jumping on it. The possibilities are endless - it's the wild west for us.
How creative do filmmakers need to be about marketing their own content?
Very!
Do you have any other tips for independent filmmakers?
Create your own unique distribution and marketing strategy for your specific film. Filmmakers need to consider their goals, their film, their audience, their resources and the variety of rights are available to them which I have reclassified as Live Event/Theatrical, Merchandise and Digital. I also strongly recommend (especially if you don't like doing this stuff) engaging what I have termed a Producer of Marketing and Distribution. All of this is what the workshop is all about.
Think Outside the Box Office Workshop
Perth Art Gallery Theatrette
Saturday 17 & 18 Sunday July 2010
Check out our website for more information about the workshop and how to get involved.
Image: Jon Reiss at Tribeca Film Festival
You stress the importance of engaging your audience as early as possible. How early do you suggest and how are you engaging them?
I suggest either from inception of the filmmaking process - when you are going into pre production - no later really if you are able to. The process starts with audience identification - specific identification. NOT 15-25 year old boys/men, but something more defined than this. Then research as to how these people receive information, eg what if any social networks, blogs, organizations? And then start connecting with them in these places. All films are different and all films have different audiences who all consume information in different ways.
Has distribution changed in the time between your promotion and release of Better Living Through Circuitry and Bomb It!?
Yes, there are much fewer lucrative overall deals for filmmakers. Not that these were the best for all films or filmmakers. In addition consumption patterns have shifted and the internet has opened up huge opportunities for distribution and marketing to filmmakers.
Could you describe your distribution and marketing strategy for Bomb It!?
In a nutshell I created a split rights hybrid strategy in which I did my own theatrical release, partnered with a DVD company and sold the dvd and other merch from my website and created a very intricate parsing out of all of my digital rights. Marketing has been across numerous media and strategies from traditional press to affiliate marketing to street teams and everything in between.
Would you suggest that filmmakers create transmedia content alongside any feature length films they produce?
I think it's the future for film personally. I think transmedia opens up so many creative doors for filmmakers - they should be jumping on it. The possibilities are endless - it's the wild west for us.
How creative do filmmakers need to be about marketing their own content?
Very!
Do you have any other tips for independent filmmakers?
Create your own unique distribution and marketing strategy for your specific film. Filmmakers need to consider their goals, their film, their audience, their resources and the variety of rights are available to them which I have reclassified as Live Event/Theatrical, Merchandise and Digital. I also strongly recommend (especially if you don't like doing this stuff) engaging what I have termed a Producer of Marketing and Distribution. All of this is what the workshop is all about.
Think Outside the Box Office Workshop
Perth Art Gallery Theatrette
Saturday 17 & 18 Sunday July 2010
Check out our website for more information about the workshop and how to get involved.
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