Filmmaker's Dream Blog

There are many experts within the film industry that have to oversee a business plan in order to make sure the movie is successful. The right person to look towards in this case would be the film producer. The responsibilities of a film producer include:

• Producing a film within its budget
• Supervising the film project from concept to distribution
• Secure financing for a film project
• Hire cast/crew to make sure the film is delivered and put together to the best of its ability. 

The list goes on and on as far as what a film producer has to do to make sure the film happens. I decided to research and review two industry experts to see how they gained their success in the business department of film. The industry experts I have chosen are Kevin Geiger and Kathleen Kennedy.
Kevin Geiger is known for films such as, 'Reign of Fire', 'Species', 'Chicken Little', and 'Henry's Garden'. With his major focus being in digital arts, Kevin has also offered great details on having an indie film business plan. Kevin says, "Most indie filmmakers have a strong creative pitch, but not a strong business pitch when going to investors, and if those aren't linked, you've got a problem." According to Kevin, a few key factors investors are looking for an a business plan include:

• How are the investors going to make their money back?
• Prepare a cash flow projection
• Create a business plan presentation for investors
• Select development and advisory teams.

Check out his great informational videos below!
The next industry expert is Kathleen Kennedy, by far one of the most successful film producers of all time. She's produced films like 'Jurassic Park', 'ET', 'Adventures of Tin Tin' and many more. Kathleen attended San Diego State University and later worked as a camera operator, video editor, and floor director. Kathleen started as a production assistant in working with Steven Spielberg and worked her way up to becoming the second most successful film producers in the world. Kathleen Kennedy is now the co-chair person for Lucasfilm. ( Deadline, 2012)
Kathleen Kennedy says she became lucky after taking a job as a production assistant for Steven Spielberg's '1941' and later became a producer. Kathleen mentions how she looks for someone who is talented, nice, balanced, with various interests in the film industry when hiring new people. She also mentioned that for great advice you have to have a lot of tenacity, work hard, and strong values to make it in the film industry. (HollywoodTV, 2007)  Kathleen gives excellent advice in the video below for ways to make it in Hollywood.
 Deadline. (2012, June 01). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/lucasfilms-names-kathleen-kennedy-as-co-chair/

HollywoodTV. (2007). Kathleen kennedy how to make it in to hollywood [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlxCUyC9fmE

If you haven't watched the first Luv.Net, please watch it now! Me as well as the original cast and new actors are putting together the sequel for Luv.Net! The sequel to this story is highly intense and a complete thrill ride before you even sit down comfortably. All of the actors are extremely excited to jump back on board and put the film together. I can't wait to get started. I also need some help and support, as a strong contributor to the indie film community, I'm asking for a huge favor for any of you out there to please help support this film. You can do this by checking out my KickStarter Campaign for further details! More information about the film will be posted soon! Thank you so much for all of your support!
Show Your Support Here

After entering in the YourFilmFestival contest, which has been featured on Youtube for nearly 5-6 months. The film festival is being put together by Ridley Scott and Michael Fassbender to send ten amazing filmmakers to the Venice Film Festival. One lucky winner will get the chance to get their film remade into a Hollywood film for half of a million dollars, along with $25,000 in their pocket. Unfortunately, Luv.Net didn't make it into the top 50, but with over 15,000 submissions sent in the competition was very stiff. After checking out some fellow independent filmmakers' work, I came across a film called, ' Fish' which made it into the top 50 semi-finalists. The film is based on two cousins looking to survive off of each other in the streets of Trinidad. They steal and commit very small petty crimes to get by, but steal from the wrong person. The film is both intense and keeps your attention the entire time. Every part of the film feels real and although there aren't any buildings blowing up or special video effects being used, the story gives a real edge. The quality of the film is absolutely gorgeous and puts you into the environment of the story. It is apparent the amount of work and dedication put into this film and I believe it deserves to be apart of the top 10 finalists in the YourFilmFestival contest. The film was created by Shaun Escayg, located in the United States of America. It was really great to see someone from America could put together a film that has a foreign film type of edge to it. If you really enjoyed this film as much as I did, vote for it on the YourFilmFestival channel on Youtube! Be sure to check out the other 50 semi-finalists that entered into the contest as well. The films may spark a new inspiration for you to get out there and start shooting!

When it comes to self-distributing your films online many filmmakers turn to YouTube or Vimeo to post their films. Both video hosting sites are great to use, but have different attributes. We will cover the pros and cons of both websites to market and your distribute your films better.
YouTube
YouTube was created by 3 former employees from Paypal in 2005. YouTube has truly changed so much media by allowing for anyone to upload and broadcast any videos or themselves on the internet. Only a year later, Google purchased the website for $1.6 billion dollars. Later in 2008, YouTube signed an agreement contract with MGM, CBS, and Lionsgate, to build competition with the website Hulu which broadcasts TV shows online. Now that you know some history on YouTube let's review the pros and cons.

• Pros
• Formats to upload: .AV .MKV, .MOV, .MP4, DivX, .FLV, and .ogg and .ogv.
• Upload time: 15 minutes. ( the video is measured by the time not the space which is great, because you may be able to upload a better quality video, but shorter.
• 3D and HD videos are enabled. Users can upload 3D videos!
• Receives over 4 billion views per DAY! (Limer, 2012)
• More people use YouTube, so it is easier to direct people to your films on YouTube.
• Revenue! - You have the possibility of receiving money for your work.
• Cons
• Not an artsy exclusive website. YouTube is more of free range for ANY type of video to be broadcasted on the internet.
• Harder to stand out, amongst the viral videos.

Vimeo
Vimeo was created in November 2004 by Jake Lodwick. Interactive Corp purchased Vimeo in August 2006. The word 'Vimeo' comes from rearranging the word 'movie' but putting it in an order so the word 'me' is also used. Vimeo is strictly a community for indie filmmakers to share their work and films amongst each other. Now that you know some history on Vimeo, let's review the pros and cons.

• Pros
• Extra storage! Vimeo allows you to post a minimum of 500MB a week, but if you upgrade to Vimeo Plus for $60 a year, 5GB a week is the limit you can post. 
• Network.. When you use Vimeo you're amongst all other filmmakers and sharing your work, becoming inspired, and collaborating with others now becomes easier. (Staff TIME, 2010)
• Better Quality.. Vimeo strongly supports HD footage, which if you have the basic package, you're able to upload 1 HD video a week.
• Groups- Vimeo offers different groups and allows you to create your own groups, which helps inspiration and networking.
• Cons
• Less traffic.... Vimeo ranks as #116 on the Alexa ranking site, whereas YouTube ranks as #3.
• No Revenue...Google owns YouTube as well as Adsense so gaining revenue for YouTube videos became an option, but Vimeo has yet to receive that option.
• Less awareness.. Not as many regular viewers that aren't indie filmmakers have heard of Vimeo, so be sure to give them the correct link to your work.

It's a tough decision to choose between both video hosting sites, but it depends on your objective as a filmmaker. If you're looking to build and develop as a filmmaker, the go to website is Vimeo, but if you're looking to gain recognition and get your film seen by anyone, YouTube is the sure option. My recommendation  is to choose both!! Neither website owns exclusivity rights to your work, so you have the option to go with both sites to get the best of both worlds.
*FilmFestival Awareness*- YouTube will be holding a huge film fesitval called, 'YourFilmFestival' as part of the Venice Film festival in Italy. Of course, the film I produced, 'Luv.Net' was entered and the 50 semi-finalists will be announced on June 12 @ 4pm. The audience will get the chance to vote on the top 10 finalists which get to go to Italy all expenses paid!! Stay tuned for further details.

References:
Limer, E. (2012, January 23). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.geekosystem.com/youtube-4-billion-pageviews/
Staff, T. (2010, August 25). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2012721_2012728_2012746,00.html