How to make the transition from the editing room to the marketplace.

Picture this! By some miracle to end all miracles, born of equal parts luck and blind determination, you’ve managed to rise above the never-ending barrage of questions from “concerned” friends and family who’ve always thought your talk about making movies was reckless. You’ve put together a cast and crew, refined your script, found some financing and in the process, you’ve even figured out how to ignore all your significant other’s not-so-subtle hints that a career selling life insurance really wouldn’t be that bad. To be honest, looking back, even you aren’t really sure how you pulled it off. Yet, despite all of the concerns and self doubt, you’ve somehow managed to make the impossible possible. You’ve made your first feature film! And, by definition, you’re finally a real filmmaker.

So, as your significant other drinks celebratory champagne with your family, friends and whatever members of your cast and crew are still speaking to you at the wrap party, you and I both know there is one nagging thought still rattling around in the back of your mind. It’s the same thought shared by every independent feature filmmaker. You’re asking yourself, how am I going to distribute this thing?

As a feature filmmaker, your distribution strategy will fall into one of two categories. Either your movie will be picked up, marketed and sold through various outlets by one of those distribution companies you read about in the trades, or you will sell it yourself. This is the major difference between traditional distribution and self-distribution. Regardless of which path you take, there are certain fundamental steps you must complete to ensure the film makes a smooth transition from the edit suite to the marketplace.

Preparing to Find a Distributor

When finding a distributor, many filmmakers partner with sales representatives, agents, lawyers or consultants to help get their movies seen and, hopefully, sold. It is during this time that the representative will often furnish the filmmaker with an extensive checklist of deliverables that include (with some variation): the movie master, talent agreements, high resolution digital photos for use in promotion, a credit lock, talent bios and press kits, a copyright registration form, chain of title and just about every other legal clearance the distributor can think of to minimize liability. One area where first-time filmmakers often stumble is in properly securing the rights to each and every bit of music included in their flick.

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 SaskFilm in partnership with Film Market Access is pleased to support the involvement of Saskatchewan emerging producers and filmmakers in the Toronto Internship Program from September 8-15th 2010 in Toronto, Ontario.  

FMA’s Toronto program helps emerging filmmakers and film students maximize opportunities available during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) through the following:  

1. Introduction to the festival in the form of intern (or junior delegate)

2. An internship with well-respected companies such as William Morris, Yari Film Group, IM Global and Moving Pictures; where they can prove themselves and launch their careers. 

 For complete details on this announcement please contact: charlene@saskfilm.com  or Tel: 306-798-3317

Dates:  September 8-15, 2010.   Participants must arrive on September 8 prior to 3:00pm local time.

Location:  Toronto, Ontario 

To apply: Applicants must submit the following by August 18, 2010 to charlene@saskfilm.com: 

1. A completed application form.

2. A current resume.

3. Electronic file of Passport size headshot (TIFF requires photo for accreditation badge).

 Registration fee: SaskFilm will cover registration fee and flight.

 For additional information contact:

Charlene Hilkewich

Initiatives and Policy Manager

SaskFilm

Tel: 306-798-3317

Email: charlene@saskfilm.com

The Toronto Film Festival announced an eclectic slate of Canadian films on Tuesday August 10. The list composed of 32 features, 40 shorts.

Festival co-directors Cameron Bailey and Piers Handling announced films at Royal York hotel

It took me some time to review the list, once I was done I decided it needed to be shorten. Here are my picks of the most notable directors and Canadian talents to look out for while you’re making your selections of films to see this year… 

Xavier Dolan’s sophomore comedy “Les amours imaginaires” (Heartbeats). – I saw this film in Cannes and I must say I’m happy that they waited for TIFF before they released it theatrical. I hope festival attendees will enjoy it as much as I did. (for synopsis of film see my earlier blog from Cannes Day 7-8)

Denis Villeneuve’s “Incendies”- is one many Canadian films this year that will have its world première outside of TIFF. It’s scheduled to screen at the Venice festival. Based on the acclaimed play by Wajdi Mouawad – twins Simon and Jeanne embark on a journey to the Middle East that shines a disturbing light on their mother’s past and culminates in a shocking revelation

Last year's Genie winner Denis Villeneuve returns with "Incendies"

Jonathan Sobol’s father-and-sons comedy “A Beginner’s Guide to Endings” staring Harvey Keitel – where has Harvey been hiding out? We miss you Keitel!

Ed Gass-Donnelly’s “Small Town Murder Songs” Ed is one of those directors that has a keen sense to the details in his film. Regardless  how small that detail may be to the story. The film stars Jill Hennessy.

Most notable Quebec director Louis Belanger’s “Route 132,” will play the festival after its world première at the Montreal World Film Festival – The film is about two old friends and small-time crooks embark on a crime spree, but take an unexpected detour that could lead them down the road to redemption.

And finally festival returnee Ingrid Veninger – “Modra” In this authentic portrait of teenaged self-discovery, recently-dumped seventeen-year-old Lina and free spirit Leco travel to visit Lina’s extended family in the quirky town of Modra, Slovakia.

The true honour this year goes to Canadian director Bruce McDonald’s film “Trigger” which will be the inaugural film at TIFF’s Bell Lightbox. Trigger stars Molly Parker and the late, great Tracy Wright who passed away earlier this year.

Toronto's own Bruce McDonald - Trigger

 On the documentary slate there are two to look out for: Sturla Gunnarsson’s “Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie,” about the Canadian environmentalist and a new print of the late Allan King’sdocu classic “A Married Couple” will screen in Canadian Open Vault as a tribute.

And finally we come to what is considered the backbone of Canadian film industry – the SHORTS.

There are several topics, styles and length…far too many for me to trim down but they all sound wonderful. My suggestion is to visit the TIFF web site http://bit.ly/9ec9ry  to get the full list. But don’t be surprise if you see the name of a famous director’s son – that would be Brandon Cronenberg – I wonder if he’s got a bit of his father style?  I guess we just have to get a ticket and find out.

Please remember comments are welcome.