Moviemaking Under Hollywood’s Radar

I often wax poetic on a weekend. Especially one that is as cold and wet as this winter in London. And moviemaking under Hollywood’s radar has always been the independent filmmakers challenge.

The pandemic has brought a whole new series of challenges and opportunities to the creative industries. It’s important to look past the downside of the current climate and be able to assess the opportunities. John F. Kennedy famously noted that in Chinese the word ‘crises’ is composed of two characters – one representing danger and the other opportunity.

What’s the danger?

The pitfalls and challenges of the global health crises is real enough. And we are all learning to deal with life under the ‘new normal’. Don’t ever think that I am underestimating the threat imposed by COVID and it’s associated variants.

This is a blog post about independent filmmaking.  And the title of this post is ‘Moviemaking Under Hollywood’s Radar’. So let’s get down to the brass tacks. Let’s look at the danger the current health crises presents.

The decay of cinema

The main challenge to independent filmmakers is how screenplays are currently vetted and chosen. Gone are the days when a screenwriter would pitch their ideas to a development executive hoping to land a deal. Now, it seems like the other way around. Development executives now seem to live under titles like ‘New Business Development’ or scarier yet, ‘Marketing Executive’.

The new landscape is this” A film company is no longer considered a film production company. Rather it’s a ‘multi-format visual content creation’ company. In other words, when a marketing execution is commissioned to launch a new product, screenwriters are asked to pitch ideas for a movie tht will enhance the brand market values of the product. Or scarier yet, the political ideology of the client.

This idea has been expertly communicated in this vide created by Daniel Simpson.

 

 

What are the opportunities?

Moviemaking under Hollywood’s radar has never been easy. But something has changed since the pandemic hit us in the winter of 2020. Everything seems to have changed. It’s the perfect time to make movies. Here’s why:

Firstly.
Everyone is looking for content.There is an explosion of demand for visual content. Everyone is looking for content. Everything from the main stream distributors down to the social media streamers. Which is good news for filmmakers ‘cos it means there is work and lots of it.

Secondly.
The Hollywood paradigm is dead. Which means new rules are being invented as we speak. You can help shape the future of filmmaking.

Thirdly.
New equipment offers technical possibilities unthinkable when I started Raindance in 1992. Instead of shooting on expensive film stock you can shoot and edit digitally. Digital effects generation can allow filmmakers to shoot at their home studio and make it appear that they are anywhere in the world. The possibilities are endless.

Fourthly.
Social media has changed everything. And you can manage your own social media and your own branding. And with your social media skills you can directly impact the marketing (and success) of your film.

In 1999, Raindance premiered The Blair Witch Project, still considered one of the greatest film marketing campaigns of all time.

Amuse yourself. Watch Forbes Magazine’s Top Ten Marketing Campaigns of all time and see what ideas these phenomenal campaigns can inspire you.

Fifthly.
Branding is everything.
Here is when an independent filmmaker can compete directly with Hollywood. Creating a marketable brand for yourself, as an individual, and for each of your films projects is the challenge. And if you create a bold and fresh brand and test market it at film festivals and on your social media.

Sixthly.
Genre is the king of filmmaking and one that rules Hollyhwood.

To operate under Hollywood’s radar you need to know how to maximise your film’s marketing message. And that means understanding the role of genre in storytelling. This might seem like the anathema to your creative muscle. However, to operate successfully you need to understand how to create genre.

Seventh.
Publicity

Taiwanese director Chung Mong-hong made the multiple-award winning feature A Sun in 2019. The film was acquired by Netflix and sunk into oblivion. Then Peter Debruge of Variety called it ‘one of the best films of the decade‘. The film has steadily climbed the viewing ranks at Netflix. But the near disaster of A Son outlines how distribution is under a PR stranglehold by Hollywood. Unless you have a names actor in your film, you re doomed to a festival run where few people will actually see your film.

Research

Weekend course: Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking
Evening course: Self Branding for filmmakers and Screenwriters

Did you know?

Raindance is the only major film festival with its own film school.
We offer everything from adult extension evening courses to full-time degree courses.