How did you realize that film industry was your passion?
I’ve always dreamed of being a storyteller. Since I was a little girl, I would be writing stories and reading them out loud to my classmates. It wasn’t until high school that I realized my favorite way to tell stories is visually. I then took my first film class in college, learning to shoot on a 16mm camera. It was the most intense shoot I’ve ever done, to this day. It was also the shoot that made me realize I loved what I was doing. Even in the chaos, I was happiest behind the camera, working with a crew to create a story.
What are some of the most crucial aspects for a film while being considered for distribution?
A great story is a no-brainer. But even with a great story, having recognizable talent, and beautiful visuals are what will make you marketable and therefore interesting to distributors. I would always recommend pushing to get at least one known actor to be passionate about your film and help drive it.
What makes a great film?
This is such a difficult question. For me personally, a great film is uncompromisingly itself. You can feel the Director’s vision behind it, their voice and passion in every shot. They’re not afraid to make it their own. You can feel how thought-out each frame is, not a single detail out of place. There are certain films whose stories aren’t necessarily what I usually enjoy, but the Director’s signature is so prevalent that I must watch it. It starts to feel less like you’re watching a film and more like you’re a part of the Director’s story. It’s magic.
What is one mistake that filmmakers make when looking for distribution?
One mistake would be not thinking about distribution since pre-production. They’ll think about it once they’ve wrapped and edited. At that point it becomes a mad scramble to get key materials together that should’ve been planned for before the shoot. Distributors who accept your film want to hear that not only do you have film footage, but you have tons of extras. You have behind-the-scenes interviews, stills, brandable film merchandise – whatever will help THEM distribute your film. Make it a priority to think like a distributor and ask why your film is worth noticing. Then get those elements ready.
Is there a genre that gets more attention for distribution?
Definitely. Depending on where your film is being distributed, usually Westerns and Horror get tons of notice and “easy” distribution. Don’t ask why Westerns… they’re not always my cup of tea.
How do you think distribution will evolve now that Netflix is changing the way we consume content?
It’s always a race to stand out and get noticed. With digital platforms it’s even harder to get your indie film noticed because it’s just such a saturated market. I think physical will never completely die out (just like when we thought books would disappear), but they will greatly decrease. In a way it’s also a positive thing. Getting physical distribution is harder and more expensive – now with digital you do have a bigger talent pool to fight through, but your chances of catching a distributor’s eye grows as well.