thenationofartists.com

By Elliot V. Kotek
(Oct. 18, 2010)

Busy day today.

This morning, I’m holding a workshop (it’s being webstreamed at trulymovingpictures.com) on funding, making and marketing your film using social media. The point of my presentation is that your next indie project needn’t be far away, and that you don’t need to wait for permission or funding to get your project off the ground.

Key to my words will be the following sentiments:
It used to be the case that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. But nowadays, because of the power and reach of social media, a case can be made that it’s not what you know, it’s who you’re connected to.

Traditional films have been made and then marketed. But, in today’s world, very few independent filmmakers can afford to wait to start marketing, to start networking, to start building their audiences through the many, many means available. Tune in to the webstream, or grab it from the archive, it’ll run about 45 minutes.

Following the workshop is a panel, populated by some truly interesting filmmakers and producers whose work runs the gamut from local (“Paradise Recovered”) to Sundance selected (“Bilal’s Stand”) to new media-inspired (“140”) and Hollywood-honed (Trevor Albert — responsible for “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” and “Because of Winn-Dixie” — and James Keach).

At Heartland, the brunches, panels and workshops are as well attended as the films, filled with presenting filmmakers as well as locals looking for knowledge. The environment is rich with answers and advice. Just as important will be the beverage later tonight at the local Irish bar, where feature and short filmmakers alike mix drinks and ideas, a cocktail that might just mix itself into a new movie.