So I had the great pleasure, thanks to the cast and crew of Night is Day fundraising, to head out to the American Film Market in LA between the 2nd and 9th of November. The film market was held in the St. Lowes Hotel in Santa Monica. Not a bad place to be in November when the usual weather in Scotland is described as "wet".
Over the 8 days I met with over 13 distributors who were interested in my film, "Night is Day"and I showed them the 10 minute sizzle reel, which features completed scenes from the movie, hopefully giving them an idea of what the story is about, and why they should buy it and distribute it throughout the world.
It's an absolutely crazy place, but a wonderful place also. Everybody is friendly, optimistic and very happy to be there. It's a country that promotes films and embraces it. Even though 50% of the attendees are there to sell their films, there's no sense of competition or rivalry, everybody was genuinely happy to help one another.
While some of my meetings lasted 5 minutes, there were some that lasted an hour. The main feedback was that the film was the most original content they have ever seen from the UK, while others were very impressed with our visual effects. Sizzle reels were handed over and a lot of people told me to send them the final film once it was complete and they'd take things from there.
Meanwhile another distributor, who is also a filmmaker who has set up their own world sales for productions, contacted me two days AFTER the market and told me they were very impressed with my work and I was to send them the completed film ASAP to evaluate world wide sales.
All and all, a successful trip I'd say. I got to meet people I never would get the chance to in a normal situation - including a 60 minute talk with Lauren Schuler Donner, producer of the X-Men films (and much more!) and a random distributor who approached me in the lobby, handed me her card and told me she had to sell films in Brazil, Germany and Russia! So we'll see how that goes.
The three things I learned at the film market were -
- Always make film. No matter what it takes, if you have the courage to do it, learn as much as you can and make it.
- For the American market to be interested and make an offer STRAIGHT away (or as close to it) you need a well known actor or person (or as they described them, an "entity") attached to your film. I'll be calling David Tennant's agent asap.
- Get to know EVERYBODY.
I feel completely rejuvenated. I have distributors interested in my film, there's a possibility of attending key film festivals next year and the ball is rolling nicely along.
Our once production manager (and captain of transport, props master and all around great guy) has been promoted to producer to help me get the film from the 90% complete stage it's currently at, to the 100% completed stage by the end of the year. We've got two brand new visual effects animators to finish the effects and the sound team are cracking on with the ADR mix and foley design.
There has been one sad moment during it all, but as you learn in this industry, things happen, learn from them, and carry on the best you can. And that's what I'm going to do.
Fingers crossed the film will be out for everybody to see early next year and I can start pre-production on film number 2! All I need (well, one of many things) is an experienced producer with financing skills so I can get the ball rolling...
Wish me luck, but so far, so good.
Thank you to EVERYBODY who has supported me and this mad cap career decision so far!
