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Truly Free Film

Where We Go From Here: The Film Ecosystem Rebuild

For the first time ever in the history of the film biz, we NOW have the capacity to contemplate the design of a total systems rebuild of the film ecosystem. We can build it better for all stakeholders and take advantage of the tools now available us while making it function for today’s realities instead of the antiquated concepts of yesteryear.  Here is a step in that direction:

I have written out 126 further steps too.  They are all

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Let's Make Better Films

I Am Taking Credit Where Little Is Due

So what if it is not my Oscar?
So what if it is not my Oscar?

Bet you didn’t know I was responsible for this summer’s biggest box office hit. Yup. Guardians Of The Galaxy: I am responsible for that.

And if you were in Zurich for their film festival, you might have gotten some excellent advice on how to make award winning films.  It may have seemed like Nicholas Chartier was giving the speech, but I am taking credit there too (but only because he gave me some).

I had nothing to do with either, but

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My Films

Book Excerpt: How Nicole Holofcener Got Her Start

Did you miss the excerpt of my book “Hope For Film” that Women And Hollywood ran the other week? It’s not too late.

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Truly Free Film

Can’t We All Just Work Together?

In my book, Hope For Film, I write:

“Indie film is not about community or culture – it is more about business and success than ever before. This is where I let my gray hair (what’s left of it) show. The folks in this business generally forget that we are first and foremost a community. We could be

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Truly Free Film

Inside the Writers’ Room: Post #12: How to Change the World (And, Most Importantly, Why) – Part III

In the words of playwright Theresa Rebeck (from a talk she gave in 2010, reprinted in Women & Hollywood) : ‘It’s time to hear both sides, to hear all voices, to build a culture where stories are told by both men and women. That is the way the planet is going to survive, and it’s the way we are going to survive.’ So, how can we build that culture? Where do we start? I will list a few options to start with, and I’m inviting you to suggest more:

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Truly Free Film

How Not To Negotiate A Distribution Deal Part 3

Evolving out of a recent presentation and interviews with members oFilm Independent, leading distribution strategist Peter Broderick has written an important set of guidelines for anyone seeking to negotiate a distribution deal for their movie. Shorter versions of this post have also run on IndieWire and Film Independent, and we’re happy to run the complete post here in three parts on Hope For Film. Read PART THREE BELOW. PART ONE HERE. And PART TWO HERE.
 

6 CRITERIA FOR DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS

  1. Find distributors who are effective and honest. They should have track records that demonstrate this as well as raves from other filmmakers who have worked with them.

  1. Find distributors who are flexible and will help you to implement your customized distribution strategy rather than requiring you to fit into a one-size-fits-all approach to distribution

  1. Find distributors who are willing and able to be partners. Some companies are only interested in being masters.

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Truly Free Film

Open Calls vs. Closed Doors

Over the past years I directed two no(?)-micro(?)-low(?)-budget (what’s the latest on who qualifies?) features and a dozen short films and almost every time I held open community meetings seeking the public’s support.  I didn’t think this was anything special but the producers on Free in Deed asked me to describe the rationale for running ‘Open Call Info Sessions’ to the community on low-budget projects instead of traditional ‘closed-door auditions’.

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