SOME FISH FOOD FOR THOUGHT

You don't need to do this alone. That is the one mistake a lot of filmmakers make. They are afraid to ask for help. Your friends, family, co-workers, cast members, everyone you know will help you if you just ask. The same way you would ask them to help you move, or paint your house, they will help you put together your press materials, pass out promotional materials, etc. Just ASK!

No is as bad as it will get. So don't be afraid to go into the video store, radio station, newspaper. The worst thing then getting a NO is not even taking the chance. If you don't take that chance, you wont even know if you get a YES.

Use the Internet, or find a 10-year-old that can do it for you! This is the cheapest way to market your movie. Hit every film newsgroup and let them know about your film and ask for feedback. Of course the one downside to the Internet is make one mistake and it could be all over (see the rise and fall of Howard Dean as an example). That is how powerful of a tool the Internet is. On top of the mountain one-day, in the ravine the next.

Don't think Entertainment Weekly. Think Joe's Movie Monthly. You need an audience who really wants to see your movie. You don't need EW or Access Hollywood, you need the little guys and they need you. They need content more then anyone else. Find online Zines, movie reviewers, bloggers, and film fanatics (get that 10 year old back!) and send them your film. Hopefully, they will like your film, review it, and your off to a good start.

DON'T SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT. If you are making your film for sale, don't make me search your whole site for it. Make it clear on the front page in big bold colors. At the end of the day, your goal is to sell your film. If you just wanted to have people come to your website, well then you would not have had to make a film. Don't make it impossible. Make it too easy.

Go to the movie theater BEFORE you take one step in the marketing of your film. And DON'T go see an indie film. See a Hollywood blockbuster, or the #1 movie. Even better if both those are in your genre! Watch the trailers before hand, take notes of the commercials that play, notice the placement of posters in the theater. See what the audience reaction to them all are.

After the movie, go right home and work on a marketing plan and take in what you noticed on your field trip. Play with what made the audience and yourself go, "wow, i cant wait for that film to come out". No one is better to market films then Hollywood. Don't believe me? Check out the marketing campaign for "Dude, Where's My Car". No seriously.