It's a difficult time right now. I don't have to tell you that, you are going through it, as am I. Everyone around the world is suffering, some worse than others due to the situation they were in even before this COVID-19 virus started to change everything that most of us took for granted on a daily basis – family, the environment, work, our mental health, spirituality, our finances and the arts.
The physiological human response when a pandemic of this capacity strikes, or any situation really that a human (or an animal) feels is out of their control, or when a threat is suddenly present, is to go into 'fight or flight mode'. In response to acute stress, the body's sympathetic nervous system is activated due to the sudden release of hormones, boosting alertness and heart rate and sending extra blood to the muscles, prepping the body to respond and to survive. I don't know about you, but as a writer and a film director, I find human behaviour fascinating and the human condition to be so complex and full of possibilities.
Read MoreThat's right – I am doing something different this year, self distributing my production company's indie feature film, In Corpore. It's not my decision alone, my partner and co-director is jumping on this rollercoaster ride with me and we plan to market our self funded, no stars attached, micro feature in all four countries we shot it in – Germany, Malta, Australia and America. Not only that, as part of our self distribution plan we are looking to use four wall distribution where possible, and even tour smaller states in America should the interest be there.
You are probably wondering why. You are probably screaming it at the screen. Please stop yelling, it will be ok.
Well, with all those distributors, aggregators, online platforms and sales agents who seem supportive and constantly hungry for fresh content it's a fair call to ask why we would go at it alone. For us, the first reason is that we have lost faith in handing our hard work and money to someone who does not have the film’s or our own best interests as the main priority.
Read MoreA few weeks before I left for Rome for a festival screening of my film, my new company had been extremely busy putting together two applications for a local grant. It's been a hectic end of the year, lots of changes such as a move to a new office, while also personally moving home. My business partner Ivan has this saying, which popped up through all the recent chaos: "Value your time more than money.”
I recalled this statement as I wandered around Rome Termini trying to work out where to buy a bus ticket from, while the sweat started to build on my skin due to my layers of clothing. I checked my watch one more time. The plan I had was to arrive at the venue for the screening early to make the most of my day there and meet the organisers with plenty of time to spare. Doors opened at 12pm and it was close to 1.30pm when I was finally on that bus. My film was not screening until 4pm so I still had time but I wanted to be there from the start of the day.
Read MoreIt has been just over four months since I started practicing a morning routine. Prior to this period in May, despite not having the Facebook App installed on my phone, I was still one of those addicted people who would check all socials before bed and first thing in the morning. So what, it's not hurting anyone, right? Wrong. It was hurting me, big time.
Even though checking morning and night was on the surface not harming me, when I really delved deeper and thought about what the affects could be I realised that this addiction was messing with my brain, affecting my anxiety levels, stopping my natural thoughts from rolling, and eroding my basic capacity to focus and concentrate. In all it was taking me out of my natural state of existing and telling me that I need a distraction from the moment. And let's not forget the time I will never get back, as it takes a while until you realise “damn, how long have I been scrolling and why? There is nothing worthwhile on here!'
Then you stop. For a while.
Read MoreIn 2019, when filmmaking has long since been revolutionised by digital technology, when movies shot on smartphones open at Sundance, when there are festivals dedicated to vertical filmmaking, and when so many people are making features that the ‘mystique’ of it has long since dissipated, the one area that still seems to hide behind a shroud of secrecy is distribution.
We’ve all heard the adage getting your film made is only half the battle; the real work begins when trying to sell it. Many filmmakers don’t understand the best practices when it comes to distribution, and choose to explore that path only when forced to, and I am prepared to admit that I am one such filmmaker.
Is working with sales agents, producer’s representatives, distributors the most viable method to release a micro-budget feature film? Or is self-distribution the best approach? One year later, after releasing our first micro-budget feature, myself and my partner Sarah Jayne are asking ourselves that very question.
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