Momentary fame is so simple with the internet nowadays, and sites like YouTube, where you can upload anything and someone will see it. You could call it quits at that, but there’s so much more of an audience to be had beyond the casual users of YouTube. It’s often hard to gauge the progress you’re making in the quest for good promotion and distribution. The good thing though, is that you’re the voice behind the promotion; you’re the head and the designer of the entire promotional adventure, so you’re in control of everything that gets shown and said about the film, since most likely, you’re the only one doing the legwork in this arena. You’re the one with the film, the plan, and the determination to get the thing out there into the world. And that's admirable. The most important thing about this part is to not back down. No matter how little progress you think you’re making, no matter how many times you’re denied entry to film festivals, there’s always another one out there, waiting for entries. In fact, it’s guaranteed that there are always going to be a whole lot more festivals out there, so when you fall down on your face and get denied a chance at a screening at one of them, you’ve still got your other entries waiting for admission to other festivals, and all you’ve done is given up a little bit of money for a festival that didn’t happen to be right for your film. Notice how that’s put, it didn’t happen to be right for your film. It’s not that your film was bad – though, in some cases, films can be plain bad – but film festivals often have specific genres or niches they are catering to, like a GLBT audience or a women’s festival or some such aim, and if you submitted a gangster film to a women’s festival, then you probably should have looked a bit closer at the guidelines for film submissions, but your film wasn’t bad in any way. It just didn’t fit the bill of the festival, that’s all. Time to stand back up, take another shot and hope it happens better the next time.
That’s the biggest thing; that and sticking with a project. Even if you decide you’re done with that particular work and you’re starting out on a new project, you still keep the energy going on your film's main site. Adjust it so it’s not just for the one film, but so it accommodates new entries to your film repertoire, and keep going from there. At least you’ll have the energy and the freshness of new blog posts, photos, videos, whatever it is that keeps your site going. And that’s something that’s hard for a lot of people to stick with. If you can generate some buzz about your project, keep the party focused and then channel that fan-base energy into a new project, then you’ve done something very admirable.
The challenge of self-promotion, and distribution for an essentially self-created filmmaking career are unparalleled by most other job opportunities and passions I've come across. However, I wouldn't give it up for nearly anything. With chances to make not only business and financial connections, but social connections and friendships as well, who wouldn't want to pursue this kind of career? All I takes is determination, a strong idea, and a vivid goal. After that, it's all up to you.
…Why are you still reading? Go do it already!
