Five Major Immediate Marketing Considerations for Indy Producers that Can Make This a Great Year

September, October, and November are generally great months for promoting an independent film.  Here are five major marketing considerations for indy producers to address immediately that can help make this a great year:

Social Media

Do your postings help to expand your audience?  Do they develop anticipation for screenings and DVD / download sales, rather than simply informing of developments that are important to you?


Traditional Broadcast and Web Media

Are you doing regularly scheduled outreaches to traditional entertainment media, as well as media outlets who cover the theme of your film, giving them information that will inform their audiences, and dramatically expand your audience?


Mobile Pages

Is your site mobile friendly?  Your most important website pages must be displayed for viewing on smartphones.  Mobile pages are essential in reaching, building, and informing your audience.


Distribution / AFM 2012

Has your film been submitted for consideration to every possible distributor?  

Are you planning on attending AFM 2012 this year?  In my opinion, every indy producer should attend AFM at least once.  At very minimum, get a one day pass and see what it's like inside, not just downstairs in the lobbies.  I can help you arrive with appointments set.

Or, if you are self-distributing, is your plan in writing, and are your desired results measurable?


Paid Advertising

Do you have an active paid advertising plan in place? Major studios still allocate millions for paid advertising for one simple reason: it gets their unfiltered message out directly to their films' desired demographics -- the audience.


There's no formula for creating a hit film, if there were, everyone would use it, and I'd be living up in the hills of Laguna Beach, CA.  But there are standard professional practices for contacting potential distributors so that you don't register as "unsolicited submission" on their radar.  And there are certainly many ways to help improve the probability that your film will be a hit.

Every film requires its own special, custom marketing plan.  A careful consideration of each of these five elements will give you a better idea of where your marketing is strong, and where you might need some assistance.  You have an opportunity right now to affect the results you will be enjoying at the end of this year, but it's up to you to take the necessary steps to make it happen.  

Over the last eleven years I've helped producers market around thirty films, so if you'd like some ideas on how I can help you make this a great year, contact me and we can talk about what we can accomplish by working together through this year and beyond.

Best of luck to you for the remainder of this year and your future!

Steve Thompson

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

Thompson Communications
Cinema News Wire

The Next Really Big Thing, That’s Already Here 

This week you need to pick up a copy of the current issue of Time magazine: The Wireless Issue, and read 10 Ways Your Phone is Changing the World. 

Here’s a quick preview: Smart phones are changing the political landscape, how non-profits promote themselves and accept donations, how we spend, how law enforcement is speeding up investigations, how emotionally involved smart phone users are with their devices, how some people want cell coverage in remote areas (and others don’t), how photographers are using smart phones to produce better photos, how smart phones are beginning to be used in education, and how they are also improving the health systems in some countries. 

The issue will inspire you on how wireless technology can be used in your business. 

The use of mobile devices has exploded faster than anyone could have imagined. You probably have a smart phone, so conduct this simple test: Take a look at your website with your phone, and what do you see? A miniature version of your site, or a mobile version custom tailored to the exponentially expanding world of mobile phone users? 

You can check out my Thompson Communications entertainment marketing services site on your desktop computer,  then check it out on your mobile phone, and you’ll see what I mean. 

Maybe you hired someone to create and manage your website, but the good news with mobile sites is that your present site can be used as a basis to quickly and efficiently create a mobile version, and once the mobile version is created, it is configured so that you or anyone else you choose can easily and quickly change and update it. 

So here’s my offer: If you want to begin presenting your website information directly to mobile phone users in a format that they expect, and you don’t want to waste a lot of time and money in the process, just get back to me. I’ll use your Home Page, and four other pages that you select,* as the basis for a new mobile site that will be up and running in just a few days. 

Once your mobile site is up and running, I’ll show you how to edit it yourself, and you’ll never need to work with me again. The cost of my program is $450, less than $100 per new mobile page. 

(*We can use more pages if you’d like.) 

There are a few more details that you’ll need to know, so if you are interested, get in touch with me and I’ll answer all of your questions.

Steve Thompson
Thompson Communications

How Does the Film Industry Actually Make Money?

Wednesday June 27, 2012

The New York Times today published a great article on the film business: How Does the Film Industry Actually Make Money?

As a summary, this is one of the best articles I've ever read about the reality of generating a return on investment in the film industry.

Professionally created and managed marketing is absolutely essential.  One excerpt from the article reads: " (Men in Black 3's) production costs were close to $250 million; worldwide marketing most likely added at least that much . . . "

Independent producers' marketing expenditures rarely match their production expenditures, yet they want their films to produce profits in scale with major studio releases.  For independent producers in a hurry to promote their films, but don't have funds equal to their production expenditures for promotion, we offer a Fast Track marketing program.  Of course we also offer competitive traditional film marketing programs aimed at both building audiences, and attracting distributors.

The article's writer Adam Davidson asks "Why is anyone in the film industry?"  Well any of us who have been fortunate enough to attend a cast and crew preview, or premiere, understand that there is no thrill that's anything like seeing your work on the big screen.

The reality is producing a film isn't any easier for the major studios as it is for an independent producer, so I congratulate anyone who has overcome all of the problems and completed a film.


If you're looking for an opinion on how to professionally promote your independent film, contact me and we can bounce some ideas around.


Steve Thompson / Thompson Communications
s t e v e @ c i n e m a n e w s w i r e . c o m

Cinema News Wire.com
Thompson Communications 

Stacey Parks and How to Market Your Film for Under $45 Million

When I decided to learn more about film distribution, I turned to Stacey Parks' Film Specific site.  Her books covered a great deal of ground, and I was able to read and absorb them in a very short time.

If you have decided to learn film distribution, her site is still a great place to start.

Here is an except from a recent promo e-mail from Stacey:

" . . . a marketing campaign for your film takes a whole lotta time. Take The Hunger Games for instance - Lionsgate spent an entire year stoking the fires, building up the buzz, and carefully and strategically planning for the launch of the film this weekend. They also had a budget of $45 million and a staff of 25 dedicated just to marketing this movie!  Money aside, you can't expect to achieve big number results without a staff...a team of dedicated individuals....and lots and lots of time.

Moral to the story: If you're planning to do your own release of your film, start stoking and planning a year in advance. Don't get lazy and cheap - hire a point person like a PMD (Producer Of Marketing & Distribution) or a marketing team. And take it seriously lest you be left out in the cold with a release that falls flat. (I see this happen with more clients than I care to mention! And all because there was no advance planning...)"

Let me add one more important detail.  Assuming that you have approached potential distributors, and some have shown interest in your film, who do you want negotiating on your behalf?  It is highly likely that you will be involving your attorney before you actually agree to any form of distribution deal.

That's why I set up my services the way I have:

Publicity builds awareness, and raises the financial value of your film.

I promote your film directly to selected distributors, but turn the inquiries over to you so you and your lawyer can decide how to proceed.

So if you don't have $45 million and a staff of twenty-five to promote your film, don't worry, neither do I.  But I can save you a great deal of time and money for now, and who knows where we'll be in the future?

Every producer's situation is different.  Maybe my methods suit you, maybe they don't.  But when they do, everybody wins.  You make progress in a very short length of time, at a relatively low cost, with no downstream percentages to pay.

Check out my Producer Marketing Services, and my new Fast Track Marketing Program and if you have any questions, you know where I am!

-- Steve Thompson / Thompson Communications

ThomComm.net
CinemaNewsWire.com

How Cinema News Wire Can Help You

Cinema News Wire is an information resource for film distributors, journalists, tv and radio show producers, and independent film producers.

Our Selected News provides links to stories of interest to independent film producers.

Our Featured Films are of interest to film industry professionals and journalists interested in learning about our clients' completed projects, and also their projects in development.

When I do a press release distribution for a client, I refer the journalists to my client's page where they can download the press release and other relevant information.  Here's a sample of Richard Yeagley's The Tradesmen: Making an Art of Work, which included clips of Dirty Jobs' Mike Rowe.

Baltimore journalists used that page to obtain introductory information on the film before they prepared their coverage of his premiere and subsequent screenings.  You can see how Michael Sragow covered the film as a result of our publicity outreach.

Many times journalists like Michael who visit our pages to learn about a specific client, will browse the site and then inquire about other films on the site.

Our Noteworthy section displays films that may be of interest to media outlets and distributors.

Here are four samples of Noteworthy section pages that I prepared for these four producers:  Frank Huguenard, Sebastian Doggart, Victor Goss, and Gavin Rapp.

The Noteworthy section is passive marketing.  Google and other search engines routinely index our sites, so those pages will be returned to people using those search engines searching for the terms and phrases included in those pages.

We also provide active publicity and marketing services to independent producers and production companies who would benefit from professional outreach to media outlets and potential distributors.

I encourage you to submit your project for editorial consideration for our Noteworthy section.

Please feel free to contact me for more information about our sites and services through the Cinema News Wire Contact page.

Steve Thompson
Thompson Communications

Charles A. Thompson, Phil Lansdale, Cliff Robertson

Charles A. Thompson

Things didn’t go quite right somehow, during a routine childhood procedure I developed bleeding or something and almost didn’t make it.

  When I awoke, the first thing I saw was my father’s face.  He stayed with me, made sure I came through.  Then he taught me a great deal about how to get things done. 

  To this day, my guiding force is “What would Dad want me to do?”

Don Carr and Phil Lansdale

Phil Lansdale hired a ninteen year old living in Laguna Beach who decided to make something of himself.  Phil’s door was always open, and he tought me everything I needed to know about the advertising agency business.

  Once I made a mistake that cost 4day Tire Stores around $10,000.  He and partner Don Carr were as understanding and forgiving as anyone might be in those circumstances.  Phil said “Well don't worry Steve, there are things I did when I was sixty-nine that I wouldn’t do today at seventy.”

Academy Award Winner Cliff Robertson

On the day I met Cliff Robertson he asked me “Where were you born Steve?”  He put me at ease immediately.  I had to take him back to his hotel in Philadelphia, he and I got into a Cadillac STS rented by the producer.  I said “You’ll have to bear with me Cliff, I drive a Mustang.”  He said “So do I Steve.”

  Over the next nine years Cliff’s door was always open to me, and I learned everything I needed to know about the movie business from Cliff. 

  Cliff Robertson was a genuine gentleman.  He was the most grateful person I have ever known.

  There was nothing quite like checking my business voicemail and hearing “Hello Steve, this is Cliff . . . “

  I learned as much through observation of Cliff as I did through asking him questions.

  Three years ago we met up at East Hampton Airport for an interview with a Swiss journalist, where he proudly showed us his Beech Baron.  After the journalist took some photos, and I helped him return the plane to the hangar, he complimented my flight crew skills (which of course I had only learned that day!)

  We drove to the town of East Hampton for lunch, and we followed him in his ’68 Mustang with “Beverly Hills Ford” framing the license plate.

  I will miss Cliff, as will many, many others.

But Charles A. Thompson, Phil Lansdale, and Cliff Robertson haven’t gone completely.  They leave behind the gifts they graciously and generously gave.  Those parts of themselves that they gave freely, which have become a part of me and everyone else they touched.

The world is a better place because of these men.

Steve Thompson

September 11, 2011

 

Who is this guy?

I'm Steve Thompson, and I love movies.  

I remember my Dad taking my brother and I to see The Alamo back in the early 60s.  

I remember seeing Bonnie and Clyde at the Crest Theater in Philadelphia in the late 60s.  Then Steve McQueen in Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair, and many others.

 
Back in 2000, after twenty years in the advertising agency business, 

I decided to move out of manufacturing marketing and into promoting movies, 

and I'm grateful that the industry has welcomed me.

I've been fortunate enough to promote over thirty films and work with 

Academy Award Winner Cliff Robertson for ten years.

In late 2010, I got to attend a screening of Bullitt in Hollywood with the cast,

and Steve McQueen's family.  To me, that was a once in a lifetime opportunity, 

which I was extremely fortunate to be able to experience and enjoy.

Now, no one can tell me what's impossible.  I have no magic powers.  I decided upon what I wanted to accomplish with my life, and I did what I thought was necessary to attain my goals.  And one day at a time I made it happen.

There are no guarantees in the movie business, and there is no one right or wrong way to do things.  I have a set of opinions based upon my experience, but I also know that everyone has their own path to follow.

I know what has worked for me, and that's what I offer to my clients.

I encourage you to contact me if you would like to join me in this journey in one way or another.

steve@thomcomm.net

856-942-4434

 

August 31, 2011