Last week I went to the Compass Arts Film Lecture Series (http://compassacademy.org/lecture_series.htm)
and Spout seems as good a place as any to discuss my reactions. (Also, if any of you happened to attend, give
me a shout!)
The series reinforced my belief that in order for anyone to
reach success (not withstanding luck) a person must be ready and plan for their
success. Rik Swatzwelder illustrated how
true this was in his lecture that talked about film festivals.
He asked, “Lets say you not only get a short film accepted
but someone looking for a full length project to fund comes up to you and says,
‘hey great short, what else you got?’ you’d better have something to tell
him/her or it is a waste of an opportunity—if you can have a screen play ready,
that’s even better.”
How many people actually look at the whole progression of
things and plan that far out in advance?
I’d gather not too many, or it wouldn’t need to be said. This is a realization that shocks me, because
I have this skill imbedded at the core of me.
I’m always planning for the what-ifs.
That’s why I pack 7 pair of underwear for a three day trip. You never know when you might fall into a
lake and need to change into dry clothes.
The point is, before we venture out and begin to sell the
world on the art we create, we need to know why we’re creating it—and keep our
ultimate goals in mind.
Bill McKendry, discussed marketing a film, and essentially
how the Hollywood model is greatly flawed, illustrating that getting your art
out there isn’t always rocket science, it’s about being smart, thinking and
planning ahead—tying everything together—and keeping your end goal in
mind. It isn’t about hitting people over
the head with your art and hoping they love it rather than sue you for the gash
in their forehead.
The one thing that was exciting to me is Bill brought up
myspace and youtube…and suggested that something along those lines might be
just the answer that Hollywood
needs. I think we can all agree, though
still Beta—it already exists—and its name is Spout.