Who Is This Guy?

Hi, I'm Steve Thompson.  I'm the one sending you e-mails on behalf of my Honorary Cliff Robertson Documentary project, and my clients, mostly people connected with independent films in one way or another.

I've been through a lot in my life, but in the last few years the changes have been dramatic.  I provided care for my mother, who suffered with dementia.  We moved out to a farm property owned by my brother, where my mother spent her final year.

I helped my brother restore and manage the property, which consists of four rental units.

My daughter stayed in my NJ home while I was away, now my daughter is on her own, and on December 10, 2013 my daughter made me a grandfather!

That's my daughter Katie, and my granddaugher, Ava Grace giving her that loving smile.

I guess when you receive those e-mails, you don't think much about who sends them, and I wouldn't expect you too.

I just thought that you might want to have a general idea of who's sending them.

I routinely post notes on the press releases I distribute on my Thompson Communications Facebook page.  I made a few posts on that page using my own name, so if you're interested, you can just click on my name, go to my personal Facebook page, and send me a friend request.

-- Steve Thompson

You know Robert Redford, but have you heard of Guile Branco?

This morning I watched Robert Redford on Morning Joe talking about All is Lost.

When you do media work for someone like Robert Redford, you have your pick of media outlets, and you can even negotiate some terms of the appearance.

But for actors like my friend and client Guile Branco, we still need to be creative and proactive about finding media outlets who will cover him.

Although Guile has been in this country for many years, he is originally from Brazil, and one of his most recent projects was directed by a Brazilian director. In the project Guile also appeared with a well known Brazilian comedian, Tom Cavalcante.

The Brazilian Film Festival took place earlier this year in Los Angeles, so I tracked back who covered the festival, and pitched them on Guile's most recent story.

So far two journalists responded, the editor of The Immigrant Magazine, who published this story this week:

Click Image to Link to Article

The second journalist is the editor-in-chief of the Brazilian Digital Television Channel, who has promised to cover both Guile and comedian Tom Cavalcante as soon as we have a screening date.

This media exposure will help my client and friend Guile tremendously, giving him a competitive advantage in one of the most competitive industries.

From the start, I knew we'd have the highest probability for coverage with media outlets who cover Brazilian news here in the US.  That was clearly evident.  Having the idea isn't my point.  Every industry has people with ideas, but how many people actually get the job done?

Experience, Professional Service, Proactive Philosophy, at Competitive Rates!

If you want to work with somebody who can get the job done, get in touch with me now!


Steve Thompson

Thompson Communications

www.thomcomm.net

Proactive Marketing, an Extension of Inbound Marketing

You're at your desk, you have a project to promote, you have a budget, but the big question is what to do next?

That's always been the big question, and it always will be.

One possibility is implementing a concept has grown over the last few years: Inbound Marketing.

The premise of inbound marketing is that you can use aspects of social media to post content that will be of interest to your target market.  Your target market will then be drawn to your content, where you can then convert them to customers, and hopefully service them to the point where they become fanatic customers who will refer even more customers to you.

Low cost marketing that can be done without the customary effort, rejection, and waste of traditional marketing, I can't blame you if that sounds good, because it sounds pretty damned good to me too!

Here's a link to a page that explains the growth and application of inbound marketing, and the corresponding decline of outbound marketing.

http://mashable.com/2011/10/30/inbound-outbound-marketing/

With Inbound Marketing:

Communication is interactive and two-way.  Check, that's here to stay.

Customers come to you: Via Search Engines, referrals, social media.  Yep, can't argue with that one either.

Marketers provide value.  Well, I certainly hope so, because I don't remember the last time I bought something even though I didn't think it would provide me with any value.

Marketer seeks to entertain and/or educate.  Actually, I would put that before providing value, because entertaining and/or educating potential customers is essential in building any business relationship.

With Outbound Marketing:

Communication is one-way.  So remind me, which search engines have become two way?

Customers are sought out: Via print, TV radio, banner advertising, cold calls.  Well, when you put it that way, it does sound like doing things the harder, more expensive way, which also risks experiencing some rejection, and some waste.  But I watch cable news, Breaking Bad on AMC, and from what I hear, people are still watching the Super Bowl. And not everyone watches every show, so they are not broadcast billboards seen by everybody who drives by at random, they are shows that are professionally created to appeal to a very specific, defined audience demographic.  OK, so yes, maybe it's been a while since I've been in school, but we used to call that a target market or a market segment.

Marketer provides little to no added value.  Say what? Who does that? All of the clients that I have worked with spent a great deal of time and money developing a market message that will strengthen their competitive advantages, and help people in their target markets decide on their own to purchase their products.

Marketer rarely seeks to entertain or educate.  Well, except for all of the related sponsored and community events that align with their customers' interests, all of the information the marketer prepares explaining how their products improve the lives of their customers, and all of the information those companies provide to prospective customers designed to strengthen their interest if the product is well suited to their needs, and discouraging to those prospects who are not well suited to the product.

Proactive Marketing

So it turns out that, I have been an Inbound Marketer for years, and I didn't even know it!

I have always worked hard to find the least expensive methods to reach my clients' target markets. I developed and delivered a message that included my clients' value proposition, enabling the viewer to make up their own mind on whether or not they wanted to take a further action. I've invited the viewer to contact the company for additional information (sounds two-way to me) and that additional information is designed to help the prospect make an informed decision, resulting in the prospect becoming a satisfied customer.

Yes, no doubt about it, Social Media is important, and it can be used to help marketers attain their goals.  There are metrics and methodologies available that can quantify, to a certain degree, the effectiveness of the budget / efforts applied.  I have no doubt that the proponants of Inbound Marketing are well intentioned.  There certainly are more ways to establish a dialog between a marketer and their target market than ever before, and some do work very well for marketers.  Even AMC, who I mentioned earlier, has an advanced online marketing effort for Breaking Bad.

But in my opinion, those who put out a message through any media outlet, then wait for people to come to them, will always be way behind those who proactively go out and contact the people who comprise their target markets.

Is their waste? Yes of course.  Ask any sales person if they sell every prospect, well how about 50% of their prospects, 25% of their prospects, no.  The very best sales people generally manage to sell 10 to 15% of their prospects.  Most hard working sales people sell between 2 and 5% of their prospects.  

And what about proactively pitching media outlets with a story?  Does it take time to match a story to media outlets that have a probability of publishing or broadcasting it?  Yes.  Is there a high degree of rejection when pitching wide reaching media outlets?  Well, oh yeah, and that's never pleasant.

But as I frequently say about a number of different subjects: it was that way when I arrived, and it will be that way after I'm gone.

I understand that my ideas are not going to be accepted by everyone who reads this post.  It's way too easy to read about current trends, then just accept them as fact, without question.  Most people do just that, and they do achieve mediocre results.  And advising clients to do the same thing that everyone else is doing does keeps a lot of people in breakfast cereal.

But you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing.  You can use your own mind, question the authorities, think things through on your own, and make your own decisions.

What I am saying is that if you are someone who is thinking about marketing a project, and what the people who want to be your advisors are saying to you just doesn't quite seem to work for you, then consider this:

Let's think about your project, who it appeals to, and why.  Then let's go ahead and set up Social Media accounts, and fill them with posts and photos on your project that are designed to resonate with your target market.  

But then let's see what major, wide reaching media outlets are out there that reach your target market.  Let's create a message that will appeal to the editors and producers who decide what those media outlets publish and broadcast.  Then let's get in touch with those editors and producers, and yep, let's face the rejection from most of them who will not publish our message.  But then let's work hard with those who do decide to work with us, let's get your message out to those media outlets' readers, viewers, and subscribers.

Then we'll use Social Media to link to your major media outlets' coverage, while everyone else is still out there doing the same thing: waiting for things to happen.

Before I finish, I want to make one more request.  Just take a minute to think about what you just read, then ask yourself: Is there’s anything that doesn’t ring true to you?

Would you like to learn more about proactively marketing your project in the real world with common sense marketing activities?  Just contact me.

As always, thanks for your consideration!

Steve Thompson

Thompson Communications

856-942-4434

Do You Have A Great Idea for a Movie?

Everyone who one way or another has managed to do some work in the movie industry knows the story . . . there's always someone who has an absolute "can't miss" idea for a movie or tv series.

With me, sometimes those people are surprised when I won't work with them.  It's not that I want to turn down work, if you want to hire me, get in touch with me!

It's just that although everyone's story is different, there really is usually a customary starting point, then a more or less typical path of ascent.  It isn't easy, and there are no guarantees, if there were, we'd all be a-list movie stars -- well I know I would be anyway.

Don't believe me?  I know, people have hired me to advise them, and they didn't believe me, so why should you?

Today, I'm not telling the story, Jill Soloway is. 

Jill Soloway

I don't know Jill personally, but Jill Soloway is a writer/director. She won the US Dramatic Directing Award for her first feature, AFTERNOON DELIGHT, at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Her short film, UNA HORA POR FAVORA, premiered at Sundance 2012. Jill is a three-time Emmy nominee for her work writing and producing SIX FEET UNDER. She was also the showrunner for HBO's HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA and Showtime's UNITED STATES OF TARA. She authored TINY LADIES IN SHINY PANTS, a humorous post-feminist manifesto/memoir. She lives with her husband and two sons in Silver Lake. Follow Jill on Twitter: @Jillwaysolo Afternoon Delight's Facebook Page: AfternoonDelightFilm Afternoon Delight's website: AfternoonDelightFilm.com Jill's personal site is: JillSoloway.com

Jill's comments will be published in three segments, as I'm writing, two have been published, one will appear soon.

Click here to read Part 1
Click here to read Part 2

Jill probably says a lot of things you don't want to hear, like "Stop smoking pot. I’m serious. Just stop it. I know it’s the best feeling in the world and if you’re self-medicating so you don’t kill yourself, then fine, keep smoking because I certainly don’t want your blood on my hands. But it’s the biggest motivation killer in the world and if you’re a guy it gives you man-breasts and it doesn’t make you a better writer, it only makes you think you’re a better writer." And "No one, including me, gives a shit about your ideas. I get e-mails and phone calls from people who think that coming up with an idea is the ticket out of their tedious life as a hairdresser in Iowa City. WRONG. No one buys ideas from people who aren’t in the business. If they do I’ve never heard of it. There are two kinds of producers out here, non-writing producers and writing producers. Non-writing producers get paid for their experience. Writing producers get paid for their voice. If you can’t write, you need experience, so get out here and start at the craft service table like the rest of us. This entertainment business is an industry, not a lottery. We all had to work. When you think you can jump in without doing the work, it’s an insult. Would you like me to come to your beauty salon and ask if I can do just one person’s hairdo because I had a great idea for a style?"

OK, I guess that's enough for one day, now here's what you want to hear . . . yep, if you work hard and smart enough, you are fortunate enough to be in contact with people who have done what you want to do, then maybe you can accomplish what you set out to accomplish.  And if you get in touch with me, tell me what you have, if I can, I'll help you speed up the process.  But if you are working to make water flow upstream, it's going to take you a bit longer than your competitors.


Steve Thompson
856-942-4434
s t e v e @ t h o m c o m m . n e t

“I have a completed film and I would like to know what I need before I attend a film market?”

I received the following e-mail from the entertainment law firm of Blake and Wang, PA on Thursday July 25.  

The featured question is one asked by virtually all first time filmmakers.  In this note, entertainment attorney Brandon Blake points out that many filmmakers give little thought to the production legal foundation and promotional materials for their films while their films are in production and post.

Yet for a film to be seriously considered by a distributor, the production legal work must be completed, and the initial distributor contact must include a promo one-sheet.

Attorney Blake notes: "The fact is that without an excellent website and poster, distributors will pass on the project without even reviewing it. The initial sell of a feature film comes from the poster and one-sheet, with the website and trailer being the tools to get the buyer interested enough to invest 90 minutes in the film."

Most of my clients create their own websites, trailers, and posters, but I create the one-sheet because it is meant to motivate distributors, not the audience.

I work with independent producers by helping shape a media message to build their film's audience, then by creating and implementing a plan for selecting potential distributors, and making the initial contact.  

My clients then discuss the distributor inquiries with their attorneys, and are then able to make the most informed decisions on how to proceed with each distributor response.

***********

From: quarterly@blakewang.com
Subject: [News] July 24, 2013 Entertainment Lawyer Q&A
Date: July 25, 2013 1:37:12 AM EDT
To:     steve@thomcomm.net

Welcome to this week's Entertainment Lawyer Q & A, published by The Film & Television Law Quarterly and the entertainment law firm of BLAKE & WANG P.A. Each week an entertainment lawyer will respond to reader questions and publish the best discussions.

Have a question for an entertainment lawyer?

Post it on our website and get the answers you need.

Question and Answer for this week:

Question:

Dear Sir, I have a completed feature film and I would like to know what I need before I attend a film market? 

Answer by Brandon Blake, Entertainment Attorney:

Having worked with feature filmmakers for more than 13 years, I know that perhaps the busiest time is during post-production as a producer begins to think about the successful distribution of the project.

Typically the producer and director will be focused on getting the picture editing just right while the audio is second, the legal contracts are somewhere in the back of the producer's mind, and the promotional materials end up only lightly considered. So I want to bring up a range of things that filmmakers should consider as they are completing the film, which touch on both legal issues and also film sales issues.

Most producers have a general idea about the need for contracts, copyrights and trademarks. I will not cover this ground too much in this article, although anyone interested in additional articles about film contracts as well as the film distribution agreement can visit my firm's website at http://www.optimalegal.com/.

Entertainment legal should be handled during the production, since it is much easier to get actors and writers to sign off on agreements before they start work. At some point everyone that participates in the production will need to sign a contract, if the project is going to get a commercial release. That is because distributors require E&O insurance (errors and omissions insurance), and before the insurance company will agree to cover a film the insurer will require that all production legal has been completed.

When it comes to film sales, I routinely attend film markets around the world, including the Cannes Film Festival, AFM, Sundance, Hong Kong FILMART and this October I will also attend the Busan International Film Festival (formerly Pusan), the largest film market in Asia. When I represent finished feature films, I am often surprised how many experienced producers spend a tremendous amount of time editing the images, without as much attention to either audio or marketing and promotions. The good news is that every film can get attention from buyers if the following materials are put together before the markets.

In my experience, more films get passes because of deficient audio than almost any other technical problem. Sound editing, sound design and audio mastering are all critical to successfully distributing a film. Moreover, often the sound elements are what cause needless additional distribution expenses if it is left to the distributor to fix.

The promotional materials are also key. Trailers are important, although many distributors will want to create their own, but the website, stills and yes, the poster are all crucial. The fact is that without an excellent website and poster, distributors will pass on the project without even reviewing it. The initial sell of a feature film comes from the poster and one-sheet, with the website and trailer being the tools to get the buyer interested enough to invest 90 minutes in the film.

With the right promotional materials and of course the proper legal paperwork and documentation for the chain-of-title, every film can get noticed by buyers. I have been representing feature films for over 13 years with the law firm of BLAKE & WANG P.A. (www.blakewang.com). Feel free to contact us for a quote.

- By Brandon Blake, Entertainment Attorney

About the Editor:

Brandon A. Blake is an entertainment lawyer and producer who works with Academy Award winning actors, directors and filmmakers. A complete biography is available online.

About the Entertainment Lawyer Q&A:
The Entertainment Lawyer Q &A does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor is the information treated as confidential. Responses to selected questions will be made public and shared with our subscribers. All entertainment law information is informational in nature and is not intended to be acted on without entertainment lawyer counsel.

************

I have no professional relationship with Blake and Wang, and I do not want to imply any endorsement by them.  I simply believe that Brandon Blake's note is a very well written, easy to understand explanation of the essential considerations of all independent producers with completed films who are planning to enter the marketplace.

Attorneys for the producers I have worked with like working with me because I help them focus on what they do best: advise their clients on how to best proceed with their films. Producer clients like working with me because I help them save time and money in the marketing process.

If you have a film in post or completed, and you are ready to enter the marketplace, please contact me.  Tell me what you have and where you want to go, and lets make it happen!

Steve Thompson

Thompson Communications

856-942-4434

s t e v e @ c i n e m a n e w s w i r e . c o m

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Film Marketing: Getting it Right the First Time

Tuesday July 16, 2013

Hello from Steve Thompson / Thompson Communications:

Every film benefits through good marketing and promotion.  In my opinion, producing and directing films requires a completely different set of skills and talents from those necessary to effectively promote a film.

I've promoted over thirty films: docs, narratives, even Spider-Man 3 for Academy Award Winner Cliff Robertson, who I also worked with for ten years.  I've promoted regional openings, festival, promotional, and premiere screenings, provided publicity, marketing to distributors, and outreach to other industry executives for completion funding and possible co-productions.

No one has all of the answers for every film, and what works for one film may not work for the next.

But when you work with me, I draw on the experiences of promoting all of those films, on subjects ranging from UFOs to reggae music to a political revolution in Russia.  So there's an excellent probability that we'll get it right the first time, saving you time and money in the long run, and helping to take you to the next level in the least amount of time, at the lowest possible cost.

I want to speak with you about promoting your film.  If you get back to me and give me a general idea of your expectations, I'll answer any questions you may have, and I'll quickly provide you with enough information so that you can decide whether or not you'd like to work with me.

Thanks for your consideration!

Best Regards,

  Steve Thompson

Thompson Communications

856-942-4434

s t e v e @ c i n e m a n e w s w i r e . c o m

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Cliff Robertson Honorary Documentary Update

Thursday May 23, 2013

Hello from Steve Thompson / Thompson Communications:

As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, I want to thank everyone who has extended help to us: our donors, the media outlets who have covered our effort so far, and to everyone else who has helped spread the word about our project.

Our IndieGoGo campaign to cover the development expenses ends next Friday, May 31st, so I have installed a Donation button on my Thompson Communications page describing our project, because I will not be giving up after next Friday.

Mary Jones was the first to cover us, by graciously allowing me to appear on her show and talk about Cliff and our project.  Two media outlets that reach the La Jolla, CA area, where Cliff grew up, will be covering our project, but I don't know when those stories will be published.  Tommy Lightfoot Garret has covered our project on his Highlight Hollywood site, as has General Aviation News.

I have written to a number of people who had contact with Cliff, including John Travolta, Harrison Ford, and Michael Caine, asking for quotes on our project, and asking them if they would at least consider offering a few comments about Cliff on camera, in our project.  If any of them even provide me with a quote on our project, that will help us tremendously.

There are expenses in developing a film like this pertaining to consideration of the legal entity that will actually be producing the project, obtaining the rights to include clips of the films we have in mind, then developing a basic script outline that will enable us to formulate a detailed production budget and schedule.

I will not ask my attorney, or our director Brian Gillogly, to provide these services for free.  I too have financial responsibilities, so neither am I in a position to spend a great deal of time on the project without compensation.

Those who know me personally know that I have one guiding force in my life.  I manage our family's business, and I only do things that I know my father would have approved of with our family assets.  I apply the very same principle to our project: Everything I do I believe Cliff would have approved.

My original idea was to raise the development and production funds through crowdsourcing, like our IndieGoGo campaign.  Schedule screenings individually by region through TUGG, then possibly find a distributor to handle DVD sales.

In my opinion, the Development stage is absolutely necessary, so if the IndieGoGo campaign doesn't pan out for us, then I will find another way to fund the Development and eventual production.

For today, I would request that you still continue to help us by spreading the word on our IndieGoGo campaign, and consider making a donation.

I am receptive to comments from everyone.  One comment I have received is that it is possible that asking donors to fund the Development looks like some sort of scam.  I suppose that's possible, but it would be a pretty damned small sized scam, created by someone who can easily be tracked down.

I can assure you that dishonoring Cliff is the absolute last thing on my mind, and I also assure you that I won't be absconding with the funds we raise.

In my mind, nothing about the project has changed:  Cliff Robertson was a terrific man, who helped a great deal of people.  His accomplishments as actor, pilot, and humanitarian are nothing short of astounding.  I will do everything I can to see to it that a documentary honoring him is made.

I believe Brian Gillogly is the one who can take our passion and put it up on the screen for us, and my attorney is the one who can guide us towards attaining our goals by avoiding unforeseen problems.

Thanks again for your help, please let me know if you have any questions.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Best Regards,

  Steve Thompson

Thompson Communications

856-942-4434

s t e v e @ c i n e m a n e w s w i r e . c o m

Cliff Robertson Honorary Documentary on Thomcomm.net

Honorary Cliff Robertson Documentary Planned

Over lunch in the Hamptons aviation journalist Robert Sirdey asked Cliff Robertson how he decided which roles to accept.  Without hesitation Cliff answered "I wouldn't do anything that my granddaughter couldn't see."

That's what I figure is the logline for our documentary project: "What Cliff's granddaughter should see."

Cliff Robertson was a talented actor, a skilled and accomplished aviator, and an astoundingly kind man.  He helped countless people.  He gave two time Academy Award Winner William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man, All the President's Men, and many, many more!) his start in the film business.

He stood up to studio chief David Begelman, sacrificing his career, rather than his integrity.

He deserves a tribute to his life and accomplishments, and that's what I intend to produce.

Director / producer Brian Gillogly (Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story, in which Cliff appeared) has agreed to direct the film, and my own attorney Jackie Borock has agreed to provide counsel to us throughout the project.

Developing the project will take a substantial amount of time on our parts, so I have initiated an IndieGoGo campaign to raise $9500 to cover the development costs.

 

Development activities include: Determination of the best Legal Entity for the project.  Creating a basic initial script outline.  Decisions regarding which films to include, who to contact from each film, who to contact in aviation, and who to contact regarding Cliff's humanitarian work, and of course the development of a more detailed, accurate production budget.

Once the Development funds are raised, I would estimate that it will take us between four to six weeks to develop the actual production plans.

Maybe you knew Cliff too, maybe you admired his performances on stage and screen, maybe you experienced his enthusiasm for aviation, or appreciated his humanitarian work. 

Now you have the opportunity to help us produce a documentary that will honor him, creating a lasting record of his achievements.

Please help us make it happen.


Update May 9th, 2013

Special thanks to our donors for helping us make this project happen.  Still a long way to go, but I believe in all of us who knew Cliff personally or through his work.

Thanks to Mary Jones for having me on her radio show, and thanks to Tommy Lightfoot Garrett for featuring our project on his Highlight Hollywood site.

Update May 16, 2013

As our project progresses, we have some initial considerations regarding who we would like to appear in our film:

John Travolta -- Received Living Legends of Aviation's "Cliff Robertson Ambassador of Aviation" award from Cliff

Harrison Ford former Young Eagles Chairman, Cliff Robertson founding Chairman

Michael Caine told Cliff of his Academy Award win in Philippines while filming Too Late the Hero

William Goldman -- Cliff gave him his start in the film business.

Sam Raimi -- Spider-Man director

James Franco -- Spider-Man co-star

Rosemary Harris -- Spider-Man co-star

Tobey Maguire -- Spider-Man co-star

We are open to suggestions, and are specifically looking for people who shared aviation experiences with Cliff.

Steve Thompson

s t e v e @ c i n e m a n e w s w i r e

The Less Predictable Side of Crowdfunding


I was as amazed as everyone else when tv producer Rob Thomas recently not only raised his $2 million goal on Kickstarter, but as of today has raised nearly $4 million.

But within days of him dramatically exceeding his goals, some interesting points are beginning to be considered by various writers.

One of the most interesting in my opinion is Jason Schmid's Crowdfunding studio films: Amazing or insane?

I hadn't considered the lack of oversight (no creative interference, woo hoo!) by traditional investors, but what I think is worth considering is that the large number of the IndieGoGo investors are settling for nothing more than the perks described in the campaign.

Companies like eBay and iomega have faced class action lawsuits for several reasons, and although Rob Thomas and his crew are certainly well intentioned, this Veronica Mars / Kickstarter situation seems to me to beg for a class action lawsuit, particularly since there is no provision for share of profits.  (I would be glad to publish a piece by an entertainment attorney on this subject.)

But then of course that assumes that there will be profits, and anyone who follows Hollywood news knows that even blockbusters never actually earn any profits, at least according to studio accountings.

Anyway, I'll continue to follow the Veronica Mars story, and keep you informed.  Yes, of course I do provide publicity and marketing services to my clients, but I also bring them relevant news that I believe is worth their consideration, even if it may not be what they want to hear at that particular time.

Would you like to work with someone who can save you time and money, someone who can provide you with professional public relations services, and keep you informed with information that will help you improve your own productivity?  If so, give me a call, I'd like to work with you too!

As Always, Thanks for Your Consideration!


Steve Thompson


s t e v e @ c i n e m a n e w s w i r e . com

Thompson Communications

856-942-4434
Skype: stephen.thompson580

Coming Soon! New Ghostbusters Documentary

March, 2013 -- There's a new Ghostbusters documentary on the way: Cleanin' Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters.  The documentary tells us the full story from where it all started through to the future of the Ghostbusters franchise.
  
Produced by UK based Bueno Productions which is run by Anthony and Claire Bueno.  Bueno Productions is a media production company with bases in London, the Midlands and South Devon, they provide a range of services to a broad area of the UK.

 
The film will include appearances by Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Annie Potts, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Jason Reitman, William Atherton, director Ivan Reitman, Ray Parker Jr., and many, many more.

Bueno Productions also co-produced the award winning documentary Beware The Moon: Remembering An American Werewolf In London for Universal Studios.

I'll be keeping you up to date on this one!

Join Tony Bueno's Cleanin' Up The Town: Rembering Ghostbusters Facebook Group

Professionally Promote Your Independent Film

From JFK, to Reggae, to Arnold

Although I feel that having the experience of promoting over thirty films is valuable, each film is actually a highly unique experience.

One person I've enjoyed working with is Jim Marrs, author of Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy one of two books that Oliver Stone used as a basis for JFK.  Jim is a great guy, who thoroughly researches his work.  Jim is controversial, but I think everyone with an open mind should at least be aware of his opinions, and how he arrived at them.

Coincidently for ten years I worked with Academy Award Winner Cliff Robertson, who frequently charmed audiences with his stories, one of which was how President Kennedy himself picked Cliff to portray him in PT 109.

In 2005, Charlotte Lawrence approached me to promote Made in Jamaica, a film on reggae music.  Back then web marketing was fairly new, but in a matter of weeks Charlotte and I managed to generate world wide coverage for her film.  To my amazement, the film was even covered on a Hebrew Reggae site.  Who knew there was a Hebrew Reggae site, maybe even more than one?  It was Charlotte and her father Pascal Herold who first asked me to approach potential distributors on their behalf.  Charlotte and Pascal gave me a screen credit in that film.

In 2008, I helped friend and client Guile Branco promote his body building documentary Why We Train, which included an appearance by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  It was fun coordinating with the Governor's office on promoting Guile's festival appearances.  Although Guile had Arnold's permission for him to appear in his film, we were not able to get Arnold to appear at festival screenings or even comment on the film.  I tried, but he was just too busy running the State of California at the time.

Now if you have an independent film that needs publicity, or you are seeking a distributor or co-production partner, it's time that you get in touch with me!

Contact me and I’ll be glad to send you a sheet listing all of the films I’ve promoted, and how I helped each director, producer, and client.

  

As Always, Thanks for Your Consideration!


Steve Thompson


s t e v e @ c i n e m a n e w s w i r e . com

Thompson Communications

856-942-4434
Skype: stephen.thompson580

‘Veronica Mars’ Kickstarter Reaches $2 Million 


Friday March 15, 2013 -- No doubt by now you know that tv producer Rob Thomas made history this week by raising over $2 million in only one day on Kickstarter for a Veronica Mars feature film.

Naturally Thomas had some advantages: primarily a huge tv show audience with a hunger for more, the star of the show promoting the effort, and the cooperation of Warner Brothers who offered legal and distribution assistance.

Nevertheless, it does prove that it can be done.  Couple that with robust acquisitions at Sundance this year, and the re-emergance of Picturehouse, and you have a very optimistic landscape for indie films.

There will always be risk in the film business, but this year indie producers have a few extra advantages in their pockets that they didn't have in the last few years.

Keeping an open mind, and using all available assets has never been more important than it is today.

When you are ready to work with someone with an open mind, who will help you develop your own competitive advantages, please get in touch with me.  

Let's make it happen!

Steve Thompson


s t e v e @ c i n e m a n e w s w i r e . com

Thompson Communications

856-942-4434
Skype: stephen.thompson580