Archives: Learning

Filmmaker and author of the seminal indie film bible THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX OFFICE, Jon Reiss, yesterday finished up his five part series of guest posts on his blog from Julie Eckersley about the success of the indie documentary THE SECRET, which has earned over $300million worldwide since its release in 2006.

The series is well worth taking the time to read and serves to back up, instill and reinforce all the lessons that Jon is constantly trying to drive into us through his TOTBO courses and book.

1. Start strong.
2. Tap into people’s passion.
3. Understand the power of your title.
4. Plan your marketing campaign from Day 1.
5. Align yourself with the key influencers in the area.
6. Alternative release and some very good news.
7. Shoot a promo first.
8. Cultivate your audience.
9. GIVE, GIVE, GIVE.
10. Define your brand.

Julie Eckersley, jonreiss.com/blog

Recently re-reading Robert Rodriguez‘s REBEL WITHOUT A CREW, the story of the making of EL MARIACHI and a filmmaking career, I came across this quote:

Low-budget movies put a wall in front of you and only creativity will allow you to figure out how to get around that wall. The less money and/or resources you have, the more you are forced to be creative.

And what is a movie anyway? A completely creative endeavour. Anything you can do to get away from the things that aren’t important, the better chance you have of being truly creative.

Robert Rodriguez, Rebel Without A Crew

Love him or hate him, we could all learn a little about creativity from Rodriguez.

Creativity isn’t about the money, the resources or the box office draw; it’s about telling the stories you want to tell in any way you can tell them, even if it’s not what you originally envisioned for them.

Exercise your creative muscles and get your project made, however you can. Finding your own way around that wall will harness the true power of your own creativity. And who knows, it may just unlock the doors to the studios.

Or cheque, for us Englanders.

This post from Seth Godin1 sums up very neatly some of the ideas and concepts about ourselves and our potential I’m working on at the moment.

A check in your wallet does you very little good. It represents opportunity, sure, but not action.  Most of us are carrying around a check, an opportunity to make an impact, to do the work we’re capapble of, to ship the art that would make a difference.

Seth Godin, sethsblog.com

1. one of the few people on earth always worth listening to [↩]

My most productive time of day is very early in the morning. I’m used to being up at 6.30am to take K to the station for her commute to London and I know I work best in those 2-3 hours immediately I get up.

I have another burst of focus around the 5-6pm mark, where I tend to push myself into completing things before calling it a night.

Finding these productivity peaks not only helps you be more productive, but is much less likely to allow you to become distracted by other things. Just remember to close down Twitter and Facebook while you’re trying to make the most of your peaks.

When is your productivity peak?

My increasingly awesome Twitter-buddy Tyler Weaver posted this great article on his website today. I don’t know why, but I love peeking into other people’s work spaces, although Tyler’s minimalism puts my crazy-chaotic office/corner desk bombsite to shame.

I remember an old adage I used to try to placate my parents with at home:

A creative mess is better than a tidy idleness.
Anon

I clearly just need to learn how Tyler manages “creative tidyness”.

For a superstition, the muse certainly needs structure. You’ve got to tell it where and when to show up, or else it’ll become an excuse for you not to do your work.
Tyler Weaver, tylerweaver.com

Ben Craig, a Scottish director who made his short film MODERN TIMES for a budget of tea and sandwiches, has been taking some heat on his Vimeo page for the definition of “no budget” given the very nice Sony EX3 he shot it on and the studio space he used for a flick that’s now gathering some major buzz from Hollywood agents and execs1.

The truth is that Craig shot the entire film using equipment and a studio borrowed from a photographer when it was free at the weekends. He then set about doing all the visual effects himself, learning the software as he went.

The bitterness of the commenters is hard to fathom2. If we as filmmakers want to make the projects we’re passionate about, we need first to focus on building a contacts book of creative collaborators – a network of mutually beneficial relationships.

By asking first “What can I do for them,” before “What can they do for me,” we can not only start relationships on a positive footing, but also potentially open doors to exciting opportunities that will never come the way of those filmmakers who spend their time bemoaning the fact that they don’t have the resources that people like Ben Craig or Gareth Edwards3 had.

Sometimes selflessness and generosity is the best way of being selfish and getting what you want. I guess that’s what they call Karma.

1. as per yesterday’s Hollywood Reporter blog piece here [↩]
2. although sadly all too common [↩]
3. the director of the similarly home-made (effects-wise) MONSTERS [↩]

Last summer I did a stint making short videos for THE PRODUCTION OFFICE LIVE. The show is presented and produced by my friend, author, filmmaker and blogger, Chris Jones. Its mix of interviews with genuinely valuable insight and lively studio chatter, saw it quickly become a favourite among indie filmmakers across the world1.

Chris and his producing partners have recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for the second season of the show to give them enough capital to run the show professionally. Take a look at their IndieGoGo page to find out more (and back them if you can).

The campaign itself has one key element that too many filmmakers2 miss: “perks” or “rewards” that backers genuinely want3 at minimal cost to the production.

Too often crowdfunders come up with lists of brilliant bonuses, but if you’re giving away a $40 T-shirt to people who back you to the tune of $50 it doesn’t take a genius to tell you’re not going to raise the amount you need to make your show. Some would argue even a $10 T-shirt on a $50 pledge is too much of a chunk to give away.

What Chris & Co have done is to come up with a crowdfunding model whereby they offer great value to contributors at little cost to themselves. That is the ultimate lesson in crowdfunding best practice not only because it gives the show the best fundraising model, but also because as a backer you know you’re money is going to help your favourite show get made, not to produce the rewards you’ll receive for putting your hard-earned in.

Well done to Chris, Judy, David and Gemma for creating a great campaign for a great show. I can’t wait for the new season4.

1. literally, with viewers in the US, Germany and Australia among other places [↩]
2. and crowdfunders of other art forms [↩]
3. such as a credit on the show, a visit to the studio, a VIP pass to the always-awesome wrap party [↩]
4. which will also, incidentally, be featuring the return of the LOWDOWN from yours truly [↩]

The story goes that wherever he performed, Elvis insisted that his dressing room was placed 1000 yards from the stage.  As he walked those 1000 steps to get to his arena, he would slowly focus his mind and get into the head space he needed to perform to his best abilities.

Do you have your own 1000 steps? A routine or system that helps you get your head into gear?

For me, it’s making a hot drink1 and walking up the stairs to my home office. As soon as I close the office door and place the hot drink on the mat on my desk, my brain is in work mode and I’m focused on my To Do list for the day or the week.

Routines and systems are brilliant productivity aids, especially for freelancers working from home. They keep you focused on the task(s) in hand and keeping you from becoming distracted.

If you want to do more, achieve more and make the most of your day, find your own 1000 steps to performing your best.

1. green tea at the moment as I’m desperately trying to cut down on my caffeine intake [↩]

A friend of mine Tweeted this yesterday afternoon, managing to precisely pinpoint the best way of getting what you want from 2011:

“Ink your goals rather than just thinking them”

Tamsyn O’Connor1

Rather than making resolutions that we won’t stick to, it’s much better at this time of year to set yourself goals and targets for the 12-24 months ahead and review your old ones.

The best way to ensure that you finish up 2011 and head into 2012 the way you want to is to take ten minutes today to sit and write down exactly what you want to get done this year.

You can scribble it on a piece of paper and stick it to the fridge; pop it on a post-it on the side of your computer screen; even make it public by posting it on your blog or Facebook profile.

Whatever way you do, the simple fact of having your goals and dreams for the year written down in a concrete form will force you to focus on what you want to achieve, keeping you eye on the proverbial prize.

The more we focus on what we want–rather than what we don’t want–the more success and happiness will come our way.

1. script writer, associate producer and Love Like Hers‘ spectacular 1st AD [↩]

New Year: that traditional time when we’re all encouraged to make resolutions that tend to last until the furry green stuff has finally caused us to throw the left-over turkey from the fridge.

New Year is all about fresh starts, do-overs and re-trys and each year begins with the hope and expectation of great things to come. All too often, however, that feeling of hope and expectation is coupled with a sense of disappointment that we didn’t achieve all that we hoped we would at the dawn of the outgoing year.

Instead of focusing on what we don’t want and haven’t got, why not choose to focus on what we do want, but also what we already have?

In his book “I Can Make You Rich” hypnotist and self-help guru Paul McKenna suggests a version of the following exercise:

Take a moment to stop and think what you would do if you had all the money you needed. You can imagine heaps of cash piled on your kitchen table, you can imagine many, many zeroes showing in black on your bank statement, or you can just imagine having a card in your wallet or purse that will never be declined no matter what you’re trying to buy with it.

Now think about the things in your life that are important to you. If you had that unlimited source of funds, what would you change? Would you change:

• Your house?
• Your car?
• You husband/wife/partner?
• Your friends?
• Your job?
• Your hobbies and interests?
• Your family?

Any of these things to which the answer is ‘No’ is an area of your life where you’re already rich.

While we’d all love to be snowed under with all the money would could handle, a Rich Life is defined by more than just monetary gains.

Yes, money lets you do things you wouldn’t ordinarily be able to do1, but the happiness that it brings comes not from the money itself, rather from the feeling  of richness and empowerment it gives you.

Wealth is about enjoying what you have in your life that brings you happiness and fulfilment. Whether that’s writing, filmmaking, doing your job well or spending time with your kids, make yourself this one resolution this New Year:

I will strive to achieve happiness in all that I do.

1. be that sailing around the world, flying first class or simply not stopping to check your bank account before buying a DVD [↩]