These past few weeks have been a testament to the power when we collectively come together in support of what is right. As we continue to protest, write letters, donate and educate ourselves in order to counter the systematic racism within our communities, consuming and supporting media made by Black creators is more important than ever. It is just one of many ways to work towards anti-racism.
Here is a list of some Team Smarthouse picks to start with …
Read MoreThe rush to start an online fest is understandable -- but have you considered...
1. Will your audience watch? We assume yes, but will they?! They are already watching media and are overloaded with choices. Can you compete with the latest true-crime doc mini-series? Is your audience technically capable of using a new website, or do they watch everything through apps?
Here’s a look at the posters, social campaigns, and other film marketing bits that caught our eye this year!
Read MoreIf all goes according to plan, your new flick will world premiere sometime between Toronto (September) and Tribeca (April). When it does, you’ll need to be ready to give a good interview. We know you’ll want to put your best foot forward when being interviewed and the following six tips will help you do it.
Read MoreThere are three essential elements to every successful film release campaign: a trailer, a logline, and a poster. These are the items that any potential viewer will have at their disposal prior to making a decision about what to watch.
Read MoreIt will be especially difficult if you don’t have any big names attached, so how can you rise above the noise and get the attention your film deserves from the media? These seven practical tips will help put you on the path to success.
Read MoreCongratulations! You just received your first film festival acceptance email! Now what?
If you’re a new filmmaker experiencing the film festival circuit for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions about what happens next. This article is for you.
Read MoreWriting the perfect logline is a meticulous pursuit. Equal parts creative inspiration and fastidious editing, the logline, along with the title, poster and trailer, is one of the four key marketing elements of your film. Your logline is both sizzle and steak, so you better make sure it whets the appetite of your intended audience.
Read MoreAs a filmmaker and an entrepreneur, I’ve made a lot of pitches. I’ve pitched start-up ideas, apps, screenplays, and myself to a variety of decision-makers. I’ve also taught workshops on how to make an effective pitch. But, it wasn’t until I rewatched the Season Eight finale of HBO’s Game of Thrones that I noticed what turns out to be a near-perfect example of a pitch that makes people literally sit up and take notice.
Read MoreWe’ve already covered why you might want to hire a professional publicist. But what else you need, especially if you are going it alone? How many high res images should you have at the ready? And do you really need that EPK/electronic press kit?!
I asked some members of the media who get pitched ALL THE TIME what they are looking for, and what makes them actually open an email.
Read MorePlanning your film, no matter how thrifty you can be with sets and equipment, is a daunting enterprise. Including a little extra for a publicist before you even begin shooting can seem like a luxury. So why is it worth it? Well, why make a film if no one sees it? A publicist is your best advocate for outreach, press coverage, and generally putting a good face on your project.
Read MoreBecause social media is an ever-changing landscape, it can be hard to know where to spend your time, effort, and budget in order to get the word out about your project. Earlier this year, I participated in an “Ask Me Anything” marketing forum and answered questions about social media and digital marketing.
Here are some highlights that small biz owners may find useful:
Read MoreThe Seattle International Comedy Competition (and its sister event, The San Francisco Comedy Competition) is one of my favorite projects to work on. It’s a great showcase for emerging talents, delivers an evening of raucous entertainment to audiences, and is presented by one of the undersung OGs of comedy: Jon Fox.
That’s why it’s so great when we’re able to successfully convey all this to the media and get some awesome coverage. Here’s a round up of this year’s highlights:
Read MoreMovie posters are works of art. When done right, they can be iconic, collectible, and set the tone for your entire marketing campaign — but their first purpose is to be effective tools for getting people to watch your movie. Here’s what to consider when creating your one-sheet.
Read MoreAt this point you probably feel like you’ve heard it ALL when it comes to advice on how to build your brand’s social media audience, but since we do things a little differently at Team Smarthouse, I wanted to share four quick tips that cut through all the “growth-hacking” jargon and “guru wisdom” out there.
Read MoreSmarthouse co-founder and principal, Brad Wilke, presented our hybrid film marketing, audience engagement and personal branding workshop, Bridging the Indie Gap, to a full house of filmmakers and industry members at the 2016 Vancouver International Film Festival.
Check out this video of the full 60-minute workshop we've developed to help indie filmmakers leap across what Brad has coined “The Indie Gap” – the divide between filmmaking as a hobby and filmmaking as a sustainable career.
Read MoreYou’ve made a documentary and now you’re looking to find your audience. Maybe you’re hoping to partner with an organization that could help you connect with viewers. But where to start?
Luckily, a webinar featuring Caitlin Boyle from Film Sprout and Keith Ochwat from Filmmaker.MBA explained how your film’s message can propel your direct distribution campaign and build a revenue stream.
Read MoreIf you’re serious about making a splash, you need to be serious about your marketing campaign. But, that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on your ads in order to make it work. You do, however, need to be smart about your platforms and your audience targeting.
The following case study will help illustrate, in practical terms, how an independent filmmaker might approach this data-intensive process.
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