Issue 2 · 5/31/12
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AFM Series parts 6 -8 – by Graycon Sonata Indy Showcase Reviews Coming Soon
Indy Reviews By Graycon Sonata As I do this and also give critiques I will be helping all the viewers I hope with knowing what is commercial Machinima. As we move into the age of the rise of new medium for storytelling and make it more accessible to a broad audience my critiques are meant to encourage. I am however brutally honest and as a filmmaker I hope you are able to appreciate that it is coming from the heart to help not discourage you. All my reviews will be Graded on a A-F System. I will further go into the positives and negatives. That said lets Begin.
Great Bug War by Darth Angelus - BPositives – When looking at the film initially you find that it has a nice transition with the live action and into the Machinima. The acting though cheesy to the hilt still allows the audience to understand the setup. I like the software used to create the characters. Its also nice to see the live action and avis interact. It leave it hopeful that as we improve software we will have a blend that will be more useful. The music is nice use of it. Negatives - The story itself is a bit too childlike unless that is what is being gone for. The acting in both avi and real life is very flat. Avi actors already have limitations in what they are capable of and to allow your talent to fall short of portraying emotion makes the story seem even more immature. It actually the flat acting takes away from the story itself. Music itself is canned in tone.
Stay The Course By Keith Eiler - C+ Positives – It was nicely edited for the trailer that it is and makes you want to maybe see more about it. The characters are funny and they entertain you. And its nice to see some humor in it. The Trailer was fun to see. Some nice plot points. Negatives – The story itself has only so many places it can go from what we see. Its a bit canned in the style as it went for the obvious punches. Cuts are not so great at some points are very choppy for the actual film itself. The sound effects aren't exactly great. The acting is campy.
Across Town by Animatechnica - A Positives – That trailer was very well edited and put together. It would make me want to see the movie and once again a nice blend of some real life footage and Machinima. The film itself has a very urban feel to it. The acting is interesting as it really supports the story. The lighting is also quite good to put emphasis on feel. Very nice storytelling. Negatives – The music would probably be my one sticking point with this trailer. I know it is an urban feel to the film is what you are trying to go for but the music could have used a more techno type beat to it. The length of the car scene does feel sometimes draggy.
Cont’ Indy Reviews Nemesis - by Animatechnica – A Positives – Very nicely shot. I like the fact there is attn. to detail on the mood and all. Very nice sword play in the fighting sequences. I generally feel the movie has a good old school feeling to it and should some of the animations be improved can be very interesting in the storyline. Negative – Spelling and Grammar error. The battle passes seemed repetitive even though it is a joust even in jousting there is variety of strike and position. When the guy dies in the film and sorry if I am spoiling this for others but one of the people die I think it would have been nice to see a blood spill effect on him as you saw on the horse for a moment. Rule of the week: Make sure you music and acting really supports your message.
AFM SERIES – Part 6 Lets Market That By: Graycon Sonata You have a movie in your head or one that is done. Great start. Have you an idea of how to market it? A lot of people ask that question but also do you know who you want to see it? What the statistics of their spending habits? How do I get the film out there what is my marketing plan?
Lets start with the question of who do you want to see it and also worldwide spending habits. Each Machinima and film has an intended audience. Pinpointing that target audience will help you to be able to market it to your demographic and also be able to refine which distributors you wish to approach with the project. To assist with this it is best to narrow it by age, gender, and describe your ideal viewer. The reason this is so crucial is that you want both a primary and secondary appeal and also so you know what methods you can use to reach that audience. An example of this is the following: My primary target audience is 25-45 Comedy Enthusiasts equal male/female appeal. My secondary target audience is 18-24 female musical fans. Then how am I to market to that? There you would think Facebook or Twitter may work to promote. They are a tool but not the tool. In order to know where to target the who you need to also think of your demographic as well on world wide appeal. How do they view movies? What is the popular formats? Is there new technologies embraced by your demographic or are they creatures of habit? Do you think North Americans and Eastern Europeans see films in the same way? Figuring out how your demographic watches is just as important as who you are marketing to. Marketing campaigns are also very clear targeted missiles. Once you know your target audience you then create based on your
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demographic. That said there is also genre also to consider of film as to how to market it. This brings up questions of how each film genre is broken down. This too is also further divided into each territory's way of receiving the information. Here are some popular ways to market. Papers and Television : These are traditional platforms. They are effective as we notice new films as they come out by their trailers who are also custom designed for the demographic they wish to attract and by adverts of the posters and brief descriptions on paper. Also as far as all genres we can see the film and judge by it our desire to see it or not. Radio : It is a traditional medium as well and also as long in tradition as newspapers. With radio it is all about sound bites and helping us get a visual of what is the film about. It is quite effective in most genres as well as it allows us to imagine what this movie is like. Social Media : This tends to work more for certain demographic groups as not all people are into social media sites. Banner ads and even trailers on the net are becoming popular. This kind of campaign though is very tailored as of this time. It works well with Franchise films and specialty genres. A good example of where this would work is the Twilight Series of films and Harry Potter. Also other things like horror genres work in this medium in the way that Blair Witch Project appealed via the net. When creating the campaign also to appeal to a distributor keep in mind of who distributes what as well as who you approach.
AFM SERIES – Part 7 Distribution The Love/Hate Story By: Graycon Sonata Distributors and Sales Agents is quite different from a Packaging Agent. In earlier blogs we talked about those. This is all about our love/hate relationships with distributors. First to define their position. Here is the Wiki definitions. A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing (DVD, Video-On-Demand, Download, Television programs through broadcast syndication etc.) A Sales Agent does contractual arrangement under which an agent acquires the right to negotiate sale of a principal's goods or services, usually in exchange for a commission or fee computed as a percentage of sales generated. With both distributors and sales agents there are two ways also by going to them for either pre-sales which monies can be worked into the financial plan (which will be discussed in the final installment of this blog series) and then sales of the finished film. Both have advantages and disadvantages. I will talk about those in a bit. There are different requirements for approaching both and unlike a packaging agent they have more that they need of us the filmmaker. I will break it up into two separate categories finished film and unfinished. Let's start with the unfinished. With unfinished you would like to come to a distributor with a business plan, script, one sheet, any letters of intent that you have prepared to show and budget. It is crucial to have a one sheet and business plan as distributors and sales agents wish to know all the details of the film. They will also ask questions at your meeting so be prepared with full knowledge of your story and plan. This all applies to Machinima as well. Cause even if you are using unknown
Cont - AFM SERIES – Part 7 Distribution The Love/Hate Story talent they need to see you have thought of details. Finished. There are more requirements for finished known as deliverables. Deliverables are the word used for all the materials in the making of the movies like footage for example. So think you will need screeners, one sheet, cast lists, clearances, epks (behind the scenes footage ie the making of) all footage, starter poster and pics, they want also the film with tracks separated so they can edit. Also if you have any blooper reels, interviews with people and extensions on scenes. Also business plan as well as partial marketing plan as well. Once again be prepared to answer questions on the film and to leave a screener and one sheet as minimum. As to pre-sales vs once the film is in the can there are advantages to each as I mentioned above. I will briefly go into it with two examples on each. For more information feel free to contact me. Pre-Sales Advantages – Monies to be used towards the films budget, makes the investor more comfortable the film is going to be seen. Disadvantages – May be selling a territory short, once the window is gone there is no way to resell it. Post Sale Advantages – More monies for finished film in all territories, greater change to screen and get distributors interested. Disadvantages – Film may not be picked up,and may not get the kind of run you are expecting. As this blog closes and I can answer your queries about it I may also encourage that the AFM is a great way to pitch your films and meet the distributors and sales agents that can make your movie
(Cont) AFM SERIES – Part 7 Distribution The Love/Hate Story By: Graycon Sonata see a huger lifespan as well as a longer online life as well. Final thoughts on this also is to talk about windows. What are the windows a film can go into. I can go through a full chapter on all the intricacies of it but I will leave that to how much do you want to know about distributors, sales agents and exhibitors? When you think of windows here is what is meant in the industry. And keep in mind there are more and less coming out everyday. Some sights that may help you know about some of this is IMDB, the numbers. com, Once again if you want places to see about these I can point them out.
Windows to date with definitions: (keep in mind there are others as well but I am giving only a glossery) • • • • • • •
Theatrical – Movie theatres Non Theatrical – Planes, Trains etc Television – Mainstream tv Specialty Tv – the movie networks, hbo On Demand – VOD Dvd – this encompasses blurays and all dvd mediums Internet – different websites like youtube, vimeo and other networks • Mobile Aps – iphones etc.
AFM SERIES – Part 8 So How Do I Finance It? By: Graycon Sonata
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As I wind down the final installment of the AFM series I am hoping it has been informative for my fellow filmmakers so as promised I saved the best for last. I may if you want do a future how to series on business plans, budgets, scripting, story-boarding etc but that will only be if there is a want by you and for that I will need you to tell me more of you want to know.
I will refer at this point also that there is a new method called Family offices for funding but that is still a cutting edge unknown format and one to be talked about at another time. This name is deceiving and I only refer to it here as it is the easiest way.
But this is about the money. Is there one surefire way to get the money for the film that you need? In short that answer is no. You may have to combine different sources and ways. Last article I spoke of the Presale. This is one form of getting the money for the film you want to make. That said with the presale also comes other truths. Presales are hard to get and don't necessarily cover your budget. The domestic presale is rarely about and even with foreign it depends on the subject matter and certain clauses that can tie your film up but not necessarily bring forth the money. That said presales are a way to finance projects and if it does happen may cover at times almost 50% of your budget.
Another way to finance is self financing/relative/friend financing. What this means is using all available sources of funds to fund your film/machinima. This means everything from credit cards, LOCs, Helocs, loans from people in your inner circle who believe in your project. Now there is minimum paperwork involved with all of this and sometimes no paperwork but this too comes with its drawbacks and benefits. Benefits – You have the money for your film. Drawbacks – The cost if there is no ROI, What roles those people want to play in the production process, working relationships with the money people and how the money is spent etc.
You could do a single investor method as well. Single investors come in two forms active and passive. Passive investors are individuals who have money to invest they do so without a expectation of involvement with the production and to only be kept informed of how their money is being managed. Active investors take exactly that, a more active role in the process. With single investors much like the rest we are talking about there is paperwork that needs to be done by legal representatives and also rules followed by groups such as SEC, FSCO and world wide equivalents. Rule one being you cannot directly solicit for money. So once again there are things I can answer for you or a legal representative can answer with regards to that but I can also provide more detail upon request. Benefits – Partnership with one person with profit division and all terms worked out between the two parties legally. Drawbacks – Partner relationships, profit shares and losses and personal relations with that investor. Also who is liable for what if things go sideways is also a huge concern as well. A variable on this is a single active co-producer. This is two individual producers coming together to do projects. It may be a we'll work on mine then I will on yours. There is the same benefits and drawbacks to this as well as others to consider. One such to think about and ponder as we go through more of these ways to finance is that whose project goes first? Who is the money person and what say do you have on each other's projects. The main one however is that are the projects as well of equal likeability on both sides that will create
(Cont) AFM SERIES – Part 8 So How Do I Finance It? no conflict. Nothing is harder to work on then a project you don't believe in or like. Another method is getting a studio or large entity to finance your project. That said there are many complex things to consider in this method. The first and foremost is getting the studio or entity to even look at your projects and getting past the gatekeepers. This is one for a future article as well to discuss but the best technique I have found to date is the AFM. There are a lot of studios there and mini majors and large companies who have finance capabilities. Now lets look at the benefit vs drawback. Benefit – You are with a known entity. Chances are greater to get distribution if you don't have it already or they don't have it inhouse, You have people with skill and experience as well as equipment right at your fingertips. Room to negotiate agreements, roles etc. Drawback – You are not the one in control of your project or final word. You may be part of the process but often times the studios prefer their own people to work on the projects and tend to have more control on final say. They may also refer the project higher up and also if there is a change in regimes your project may fall into the wayside. Then there is the Negative Pickup Deal. This one though means that once you are filming or show them some footage to show what the story is about or your technique they finance the rest of the project. Btw also another form of that is finished films that if you have one in the can showing them a body of your work but that is another way about it. Also good to use one film to finance another. Benefits – If they like your work there may also be P & A funding as well and distribution deal.
(Cont) AFM SERIES – Part 8 So How Do I Finance It? By: Graycon Sonata Drawback – You have to have the initial monies to put together the footage. By the way for all of these I am just giving you the basics. If you would like more information with regards to finance and what a financier would like to see you simply im me and I would be happy to talk to you about it. This brings me to the final way for this blog. There are others but if I spilled them all then there would be no need to ask. The Equity investor. With them it is the trickiest process of them all. First of all you need to register with the securities and deal with a ton of paperwork. A lot of legalities involved in this process. With great payoffs in some cases and also may go through it all and develop long term relations with that entity. Here are some terms you will need to be familiar with to deal with this method. "SECURITY" defined. Under Section 2(a)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, "unless the context otherwise requires," the term "security" includes any note, stock, treasury stock, security future, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profitsharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any security, certificate of deposit, or group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument
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commonly known as a "security", or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing. An "offering" is usually comprised of several documents including a private placement memorandum (PPM), a proposed limited partnership agreement (or operating agreement for an LLC, or bylaws for a corporation), and an investor questionnaire used to determine if the investor is qualified to invest. A PPM contains the type of information usually found in a business plan, and a whole lot more. It is used to disclose the essential facts that a reasonable investor would want to know before making an investment. The offeror may be liable if there are any misrepresentations in the PPM, or any omissions of material facts. In the independent film business, PPMs are usually: a Rule 504 offering to raise up to $1,000,000, or a Rule 505 offering which allows the filmmaker to raise up to $5,000,000, or a Rule 506 offering which doesn't have a monetary cap on the amount of funds to be raised. A 506 offering also offers the advantage of preempting state laws under the provisions of the National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996 ("NSMIA"). So that is just some terms you will need to understand. Now for our benefits and drawbacks Benefit – it is a corporation and all terms are clearly spelled out. Potential long term investment. Drawback – Tons of legal paperwork, larger amounts of payouts and also same as also as in any other investment ones as listed above.
Coming Soon