NO FILM FESTIVAL FOR ME

Do we have better options for getting our independent films noticed other than film festivals? I don't think I will be entering my film into any film festivals with my current film Free Spirits - Saving America's Wild Horses. There are so many platforms out for independent filmmakers to have their film screened and get noticed. Many independent filmmakers are not even considering the film festival route for many reasons. I for one consider it to be too expensive with no guarantee of your film ever getting picked up. I don't want to pay the fees of anywhere from $45.00 to $75.00. 95% of the time your film gets turned down and you are out of a lot of money. Every year there are very few films that get picked up by major film studios.


Don't get me wrong I am not saying that film festivals are bad or not really worth it, it is just in most cases your film in unlikely to get picked up. You may win some type of reward such as best picture, best documentary all for what? bragging rights to say my film won, look at my trophy. Okay great I can show off my little trophy NOW WHAT? did Lion's Gates, Sony Pictures or any other main stream movie studio pick your film up. Lets say you entered your film into 35 film festivals at 75.00 a piece you would have paid $3,750 


For my film Free Spirits - Saving America's Wild Horses film, I took a different route. I am spending all of my time an effort getting my film out there by working with the company Tugg. Tugg is a crowd funding corporation that helps independent filmmakers get their film into the theaters. There are no fees up front to pay. All you have to do is sign up with Tugg and agree to their contract agreement and provide your film, Mainly they would like your film to be in a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) go here for more information on DCP format. After you are all set up with Tugg and your film is in their line up people can go to the Tugg web site and request your film in major theaters. Tugg will take care of setting everything up with the theaters. All you have to do is direct people to your Tugg event to buy tickets. Tugg sets a number of tickets to be sold for the event to happen this number is between 70 to 90 tickets. With everyone connected to some kind of social media this can be very easy to pull off.
You can check out a video about DCP files at this blog. go down to WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DCP FILES

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