Now make a movie about making a movie and having it on a festival and watching it there alone, a movie about loneliness. There's something kind of woody-allenesque to it.
@YoungTheFish6 жыл бұрын
Oh yeah, I remember sending my film to our local film festival... Montreal World Film Fest to be exact. They failed to secure the funds, the cinema that held half the events dropped out 3 days before the festivals. Majority of the screenings are canceled, including student films sections I was in. Students from as far as Russia and Israel flew here for nothing. It wasn't until some of us created a Facebook group, send out open letters, go onto radio stations talking about the incident, that the film fest finally scheduled a screening for all student films in a small cinema. I make an afford to attend every single day. Sadly, the majority of the time, I was the only one in the theatre, marveling at the crafts of the international talent.
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
Wow... that's insane. Festivals can be a tough thing to run....
@YoungTheFish6 жыл бұрын
Well... The head of the festival refuses to publicize the budget so the government pulls the plug on funding. Not the first time this happened either. Message of the story: Go with Fantasia. At least Tarantino loves it.
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
I wouldn't put it past some fests to be straight up scams. Some fests are just dreams that are little too big and out of reach for the organizers. It's hard to tell one from the other. But putting on a festival is a big, daunting, and frankly thankless task. When you go to a good one - let them know how good a job they're doing!
@marimarherrerias29784 жыл бұрын
For my very first festival screening at some LA film festival, we were like 6 people, including me, my friend, and 3 nice people we met the night before. Tough way to learn that if you don't promote your film nobody will do it for you, expect for the friend who came with you :P
@aran24573 жыл бұрын
If anyone is interested of being part of a project where me and a friend of mine are the head of, tell me. We search for crew ;).
@lcdmonitor19816 жыл бұрын
great way to come back from lunch a new Filmmaker iq episode
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
We planned it just for you
@lcdmonitor19816 жыл бұрын
Filmmaker IQ I’m honored, by the way ever tried one of the 48 hr film project festivals? Been a team member of a few of those in the past and thoroughly enjoyed the experience and seemed like a great way to dabble in the festival experience even as a hobby
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
Yes I've been involved with about 5 or so teams over the years. I'm not a terribly big fan of those things - they're fun in a way but also extraordinarily limiting.
@RobinMikalsenVFX6 жыл бұрын
I'm sad to hear that no one showed up for your screening, I would have loved to just sit with and watch. Thanks for sharing John
@BlairPurvis5 жыл бұрын
I’ve been binge watching your entire channel. Loving every episode. Thank you for making these. You’re an absolute gem!
@oliviadance11742 жыл бұрын
I love how you put it, that a film festival is a celebration that makes us most human! I used to view it as a competition, but the word “festival” literally means “a period of celebration”. That sits so much better with me!
@herb_rolls4 жыл бұрын
I'm putting together my first short film right now and that ending bit made me tear up. I am so excited to enter post-production on my passion project and these videos are so helpful to me as I only have a BFA and never got to go to film school. I currently work in film production, funny enough, but due to COVID my colleagues aren't as free to answer every question I have. Thank you!
@andysmith50126 жыл бұрын
Very good info. I wish I had this info a long time ago. I submitted my first film to the New York International Film and Video Festival and it was excepted. It cost $300 to enter at that time and I thought that was it. Then they started calling wanted to market the film, for $6000, ouch. I thought it was a scam and didn't have the money anyway and let it go. It was enough for me, at that time, to just have it accepted. I wish I had sent it to local festivals instead because NY was 1000 miles away. Still, the film did very well besides the NYIF&VF. It was picked up by Free Speech TV and actually earned money from that. FSTV aired it for over a year. It took off and it seemed like it was screened everywhere. Even had an Acadamy Award filmmaker call me several times wanting to do a project together. Then Public access TV picked it up and was playing it for months all across the country. I sold thousands of DVD copies and did many interviews around the world. It was illegally uploaded to KZfaq and has been viewed tens of thousands of times there. Not bad for a first film. That was 2003. The little film I made was Arsenal of Hypocrisy. Kinda dated now.
@TheGeorgeD135 жыл бұрын
Yep. Locals are the way to go. And besides, the big festivals have scouts going to the smaller ones. Or at least they call people they know who've been to particular small festivals. I found out that this was a thing by being one of the people a friend of mine who worked at Sundance called me up one day after I went to a festival. He asked me about what shorts that stood out to me. I named two that I thought were spectacular (the rest, if I recall right, weren't all that great if you ask me). Apparently one of those films' director got good reviews from other people who saw the film at other local festivals and got the invite to the big leagues. Pretty cool.
@stepawayful3 жыл бұрын
You and your channel are just fantastic. I spent 12 years in casting and one of my favorite projects was casting a short film by a USC film student. He wanted some recognizable talent, and boy did I (and his family's connections) deliver. Anthony Edwards, Marg Helgenberger, Ned Beatty, Conchata Ferrell - and they ALL worked for FREE! My point - aim high with casting because names make festival organizers sit up and take notice (of course, the film has to be good in its own right to begin with). It also helped that the project was shot in LA...
@burgers86 жыл бұрын
I love your last piece of advice. I've never been to a film festival before (other than at my college), but I have been to a one-act theatre festival before, and I can attest that everyone is there just to have fun and enjoy the craft that they all love.
@ah-ray6 жыл бұрын
The like to dislike ratio... Wait a minute! You can't devide by zero! This video is phenomenal :)
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
Just wait, the brigade will come along soon enough.
@RCAvhstape6 жыл бұрын
Posting a comment like this is basically begging trolls to downvote it. It's not even a superstitious jinx, it's an actual jinx.
@ah-ray6 жыл бұрын
haha yes, now 462 to 1 (that guy that disliked haha) :)
@duartesilva79075 жыл бұрын
@@ah-ray they were drunk.
@themoreyouknowfools49742 жыл бұрын
This is really helpful. I like how supportive you are about taking a chance at the top film festivals.
@jonedgar19815 жыл бұрын
I can't believe this s*** is free. What an age we live in! Thanks, Filmmaker IQ! Thanks, sponsors!
@eastjesusco6 жыл бұрын
As always, a greatly informative piece done in a very engaging style. Also enjoyed hearing the Wilhelm scream in your opening! Always look forward to seeing (and learning from) your new videos when I get a notification. Thank you!
@dylanrogersfilm5 жыл бұрын
Grear advice. I know that volunteering does help and having formed a professional relationship with the festival founder whom I did graphic design for, I have a lifeline for festival related advice and filmmaking advice.
@skeletonfilms36506 жыл бұрын
When he said festivals don’t market for you I totally agreed. I forgot to tell people about the film festival and only 15 strangers showed up but that was still pretty decent. The film before me had 50 people show up.
@Burhapahar3 жыл бұрын
Your voice of experience is highly appreciated, brother Hess. All the best to fellow filmmakers. See you at Cannes
@SiHorrocks6 жыл бұрын
Great episode!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge about film festivals. Btw. eventhough we are a shortfilmfestival (for films shot on smartphones:) we fly in our winner filmmakers and give them free accommodation. Plus we watch all the submitted films with joy :) Anyway... keep up the great work! We love your channel.
@moviesovermatterproductions6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for being so honest about the Film Fest experience. Great tip to volunteer - that's brilliant! Another awesome video!! -Cheers
@XprPrentice5 жыл бұрын
I was very happy that the first short film I appeared in five fests, including our hometown one of Chicago, where it premiered. (I have no idea how big that fest is - it's not on your prestige list - but it would seem pretty good.) I see your convos with others about posting shorts online. I'm happy that this first film is around, so I can show it. But my second appearance in a short, which also played five or six fests, is no longer online because it was bought for distribution in Europe - which is cool and all, but most of us don't get residuals or anything from it, and now we can't show our work. More troubling is a grad student film I worked on. I was told that they planned to send to festivals - which means IMDB credit, the only "payment" really at work. But the director quit school, then the "composer" (of ambient sounds not music) wouldn't give the rights to wider-than-class distribution. So it's not even online. I was very proud of the work, and I'd like to share it. Do you have any solution to this conundrum? (The producer did send me the final cut, so I can use parts in my reel, but I'd love for people to be able to see the whole piece.) And, thanks again, for a most informative lecture, Prof. Hess!
@Jesterswords6 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for this excellent video and helpful, inspiring advice!
@Jokomanopo4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for opening up about a personal experience and inspiring me to make film
@SymonSaysTV6 жыл бұрын
I second the motion. Exact same point of view by experience here. Thanks for the video John.
@ravindrajahagirdar27014 жыл бұрын
Truly truthful and honest. Very very helpful tips. Genuine. Thanks.
@kenzazineelabidine47652 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video. It's what I needed exactly to hear, much love and appreciation to you dear friend!
@NancyRuthMusic3 жыл бұрын
Thanks, I enjoyed this! I am in the process of submitting my first short documentary and it's a whole new world!
@mychalsimmons41776 жыл бұрын
Your videos are Always, Always informative..... you save us so much money and embarrassment. Thank you Jon
@MrUberKewl6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the very detailed information, the last half of this video was the best talking about championing your film. marketing it to the right film fests and more importantly just relaxing! Lots to learn, thanks once again!
@bliiblaablue3 жыл бұрын
These might be one of the best advices for starting filmmakers, me included!
@cinemakehinde98816 жыл бұрын
Learned alot from this video! Thank you!
@MartinSage Жыл бұрын
I graduated from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena. Every year Seniors enter the Short Film Contest. I won 2nd Woopie
@NatesFilmTutorials6 жыл бұрын
This is great! I will remember this when I submit my films
@LostUtopiaFilms6 жыл бұрын
I’ve been rejected by every film festival I’ve submitted to so far in my life (granted its only been about 6), but you hit on some things in this that I haven’t thought about. I’m really hoping to go to some of these events in 2018! How important do you think it is to have a website and/or Facebook page for your film? I understand it for features, but for shorts it seems a little short lived to me (I try to create multiple shorts a year).
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
It's pretty much necessarily to have a website. Just get one from one of those prebuilt places like Wix or Squarespace. You could also just get a website for your production company and host all the shorts on that same site.
@dylanrogersfilm5 жыл бұрын
I heard directly from the founder of Artemis Women in Action film festival in LA, whom I screened my firsr short with and was also doing their graphic design for at the time. Social Media pages: FB, twitter, Instagram YES! Having your own website, not as important. But you could do a simple website and use it as a template for other films or make one production company site for all your films.
@aran24573 жыл бұрын
If anyone is interested of being part of a project where me and a friend of mine are the head of, tell me. We search for crew ;).
@avikesarwani54754 жыл бұрын
I live in a small city in India film festivals are very rare in my city. Secondly i make non-English films or Hindi films so how can i can get my film screened in film festivals. You are doing a very good job for film-makers like me who have limited resource so thankyou for that .
@joaquinhernandez69404 жыл бұрын
I know exactly what you mean. I live in Illinois and I have been to my first film festival (The Bensenville Short Film Festival) taking place in a small movie theater.
@brandonjames28836 жыл бұрын
Loved this video, very informational.
@peacecheckproductions97083 жыл бұрын
thank you for all of this info
@_youness_sabri4 жыл бұрын
I fkn love you man !! :D you are so great ! i really learn from you and you give a great motivation. thank you sooooo much !!!
@VainCape6 жыл бұрын
Sorry I have to admit, that I recently discovered this channel and have been using it to fall asleep for my afternoon nap. I don't what it is about your videos but they're perfect for putting me in a slumber. Thanks, I suppose.
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
As long as you leave the ads running - we're cool with that.
@OutandAboutwithTrev5 жыл бұрын
I use the music score from Twilight to send me into slumber!
@levmyshkin83665 жыл бұрын
A Mere Pigeon Sometimes I type something that shows what a self absorbed asshole I am.
@FeedMeMedia4 жыл бұрын
Great insight. Thanks John! Keep up the great work.
@filmsbydiek73165 жыл бұрын
Truth bombs! :-) Thanks for making this bro!
@mychalsimmons41776 жыл бұрын
AWESOME ADVICE JON
@ClashBerry6 жыл бұрын
Great as always John!
@nameeralashqar2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this video, you are awesome
@hernandezurbina6 жыл бұрын
great video, John! Thanks for posting!
@petermartinfilmsofficial21256 жыл бұрын
I have had great feedback on my short What About My Happiness which is a drama, 6 minutes in length on my channel. I done everything he said and more, still no luck with festivals! It does seem like wishing upon a star. I think sharing my projects online with the hope of building an audience is my only option at the moment. You can't help but feel jaded with the ambiguity of how to get in to a festival, even the free ones!
@eddyjuillerat8356 жыл бұрын
Precious video mister Hess, thanks!
@dickinsonpoker4 жыл бұрын
Thanks you so much. This video is gold.
@TheBrokenNtorn6 жыл бұрын
Film maker IQ! Hope you're doing well john
@pamelamahajan60403 жыл бұрын
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
@HackMyControlSystem6 жыл бұрын
Great post. More (smaller) festivals should offer feedback if they require a submission fee.
@TheGabe4736 жыл бұрын
Keep on rocking John!!!!
@RossKierGuys6 жыл бұрын
Good work John! Very handy video
@bredmond8126 жыл бұрын
16:00 We can all learn from James Nguyen who made Birdemic. You know. You've seen it. Yeah, that one.
@AsheeshKapur4 жыл бұрын
Good one . Well put.
@ramdevdirector66533 жыл бұрын
U deserve a million plus subscribers 👍 soon u will 👍
@FrameCrafts4 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for this information
@jameshaldanemarketing Жыл бұрын
Thanks Mate
@redumbrella42186 жыл бұрын
Great Job! Thank you!
@carls.26496 жыл бұрын
What a wonderful anecdote! As they say, it's funny now, huh?
@TheTwick6 жыл бұрын
Is there any advantage (or the opposite) to uploading your short to the internet (KZfaq or anything) prior to submitting to a festival? Would view counts help sell your film?
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
+TheTwick I don't think festival screeners take that into consideration.
@Paul26 жыл бұрын
Actually, a lot of film festivals don't want the film to be screened online prior to their film festival. Some don't, but to be safe, it's best to keep it under wraps if you want a film festival to screen your film.
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
+Polan that's generally the case with features but with shorts film festivals tend to be more relaxed about that
@domagojvrsaljko61615 жыл бұрын
What about uploading trailers only? You know, ''to build the hype'' and all that jazz?
@samaraisnt4 жыл бұрын
@@domagojvrsaljko6161 Good idea!!
@adogbone6 жыл бұрын
Happy New Years
@opticalpower5 жыл бұрын
GREAT JOB my friend ! YOUR KZfaq CHANNEL IS GREAT !!! JUST KEEP GOING !! kader ,from Optical Power youtube channel ... Filmmaker,KZfaqr... and Performer at the CIRQUE DU SOLEIL in Las VEGAS
@neoray106 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info man , u thought that the film festival thingy was rocket science , you breaked it down for me
@ChaseBolnick4 жыл бұрын
Great information!
@timespace.productions75136 жыл бұрын
Congrats on yer babies!
@dandiaz199346 жыл бұрын
@Filmmaker IQ - I absolutely love your stuff. I've learned so much. I have a request: can you include more women filmmakers in your videos or talk more about women's involvement in the filmmaking process? I know that the industry didn't give as many opportunities to women behind the camera for a long time, but I would really like to see how that has changed over the years. Thank you!
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
+Dan-The-Man this is one of those subjects that demands a little more research than most mainstream articles would allow. The truth is women have filled a lot of employment behind the lens in fields like editing, producing, costumes... Just not _directing_ at least since the studio era (lots more women directors in the silent era). But it's very complicated and almost situational thing. You can't just say the industry is just one way or that there's a code written down somewhere. The whole issue with modern Blockbusters not being directed by women had less to do with the gender then it does with what projects women directors tend to direct. As for our videos, we talk about the subjects we talk about regardless of what genders are involved. Yes, it has been mainly men, but that's not going to stop a Mary Pickford, Lucille Ball or Kathleen Kennedy from doing what they gotta do. I know women think the industry is hard on them. It is. It is also hard on men too, not in the exact same way but it's hard for anyone who isn't already famous. In that we're all in the same boat.
@ImaginaryShadows16 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for the advice, I submit my short film to 24 film festivals already. Around the Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, New York and one in Los Angeles. I hope I have better film festival experience than yours. I will market the hell out of my short film in the film festivals
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
Break a leg!
@mudaralnasar31825 жыл бұрын
How did it go?
@rayfordem4 жыл бұрын
this was very helpful
@Rezaroth6 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for the amount of information you put in this episode. Many things you talked about I have no idea about before. I have a question please, why long films are called features?
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
In the old days, a trip to the movies would involve a short films, cartoons and newsreels. The Feature - was the big long movie you were _really_ there to see. Similar to comedy clubs who have a "Feature Comic" or "Feature Headline"
@Rezaroth6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for clearing that out. Great :D
@WhirlOmar3 жыл бұрын
I wish someone would talk about getting your film technically ready for film festival projections.
@FilmmakerIQ3 жыл бұрын
Every festival has their own requirements, just follow their instructions
@TimothySchultz5 жыл бұрын
Sound advice!! :)
@johannes9146 жыл бұрын
You got yourself a new Patreon... Why did I wait son long ? ...
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
+johannes914 thank you!
@johannes9146 жыл бұрын
You are welcome. You survived a rabbit attack, you deserve it ;)...
@marcoantoniofranco46665 жыл бұрын
Thank you
@ramdevdirector66533 жыл бұрын
U diserve million plus subscribers
@calcetinmetalero6 жыл бұрын
Gracias!
@simongentry6 жыл бұрын
ty so much!
@laijonfilmsentertainment6524 жыл бұрын
It depends on the types and popularity of Film Festival you attain I hope.
@skeletonfilms36504 жыл бұрын
the only film fest I have had a film screened in was on its first year and was a huge mess
@cousinadventureepisodes13104 жыл бұрын
I like it
@bredmond8126 жыл бұрын
3:48 Nuts. That means i can't get my shorts screened at a film festival. Then again, I guess my shorts would get screened at a film festival. See what I did there? Double Whammy!
@NEMIHEMERA6 жыл бұрын
Excelent!!!
@ebnetube93714 жыл бұрын
10Q bro,interesting
@ritwikmalpani25342 жыл бұрын
What is a film festival
@saintmacintoshreviews94416 жыл бұрын
Does anyone know any film festivals that are happening from October 2018 to December 2018? Also, which festivals have little or no limits on content?
@RedEyedHolloway6 жыл бұрын
Fantastic and down-to-Earth advice. Would you have a video or resource available for where fully CG Animated Shorts and Feature-length Films are screened at Festivals, and where to start doing my research for how to market those and other tips? Or, are the same principles of live-action Films the same, except the medium is just CG? Thanks for any help!
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
Well I think fully animated feature films is pretty rare. Lots of time and money needed to create a full feature of animation. But there are plenty of CG shorts out there. I think because the supply of animated short films is much smaller that you could probably get into quite a few more festivals with a decent product then if it was just a live short. When you do your research on sites like without a box or film freeway just use the words animated for animation in your search.
@RedEyedHolloway6 жыл бұрын
Wow, that was an incredibly quick response! Thank you so much for even taking the time to view it, nevertheless answer! And yeah, I definitely know that adding up the time it takes to get to "feature length" (40 mins+) with Render Time can really start to add up to the many thousands in a Render Farm - not to mention the money it would take for Sound Design, Voice Actors, Music, etc. Seems like the same principles for entering into Festivals for screening Live Action films applies to Animated ones as well, it's just the medium is CG. That's interesting to know that Animated films may have an easier time getting in though, and with proper marketing, may get decent levels of exposure...I'll definitely keep that in mind. Thanks again for the tips! You are awesome! :)
@zainalizaman4 жыл бұрын
2:03 Hmmmm live action
@danthedisappointment6 жыл бұрын
15:19 does anyone knows the movie?
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
Honestly I couldn't even find it...
@itsparth7634 Жыл бұрын
Hi folks, if you have any job or intern requirement for editing, screenwriting or cinematography please consider me. I am a self taught person, learnt through books and youtube.I will be more than happy to work for your film. I can work for free remotely. I am a filmmaking enthusiast with no connections and pursuing engineering . I really like films ,it's making process and learning filmmaking. I am thinking of a career switch and would love to work on real world work. Thanks in advance
@IIPARSAII6 жыл бұрын
Do you allow your videos to be translated into other languages and available to other people?
@FilmmakerIQ6 жыл бұрын
We allow community submitted closed captions. But please don't reupload our videos without our permission.
@IIPARSAII6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the answer, ok
@guillermoochoa36043 жыл бұрын
Hi! Please, can you provide a Short Films Fests ranking by visitors or help by addressing me where to find it? Thanks!
@FilmmakerIQ3 жыл бұрын
Doesn't exist
@ifazhowl53812 жыл бұрын
Hey ik you didn’t cover this, but I am planning on making a dcp for my short and I heard if you don’t use 1:85:1 or 2:35 it will end up pillarboxing. My camera only shoots 3:2 and was just wondering what you may suggest. Should I change aspect ratio in post or just keep it in its original ratio. Some festivals don’t even accept 3:2 from what I’ve seen. Would love the advice and thank you.
@FilmmakerIQ2 жыл бұрын
You need to deliver the specs that are asked of you. So if it must be 1:85 or 2:39 then that's what you have to deliver. Create your pillar boxes in post but deliver the aspect ratio you are asked to.
@eshum14 жыл бұрын
Should you have a private screening beforehand with cast and crew? If so, they probably won't come to the film festival which would leave you with an empty theater, right?
@FilmmakerIQ4 жыл бұрын
Up to you. Cast and crew often go to the festival screenings multiple times... Remember that a festival isn't really about watching movies, it's all the stuff surrounding the movie and often times cast and crew want to be part of that.
@eshum14 жыл бұрын
@@FilmmakerIQ do you usually have a private screening for your cast and crew or do you forego that and instead invite them to a festival if you get selected? I know they want to see it... just trying to choose how to show it to them without making it available to share. To be on the safe side.
@isaacbarlow82476 жыл бұрын
What if you are submitting a script to a festival which I am doing this year.
@jovannycanizares23422 жыл бұрын
Hello, Is there any film festivals that focus on Adult animation/ Adult Comedy? Such as South Park or Adult Swim animation?
@FilmmakerIQ2 жыл бұрын
There used to be. Check out filmfreeway and do a search there
@ginotarabotto2 жыл бұрын
Hi, how important is the shorts movie poster when submitting?
@FilmmakerIQ2 жыл бұрын
Zero importance when submitting. It might be useful if you get selected to screen but it won't make or break your screening.
@zakariaabed35933 жыл бұрын
Thanks this was really helpful ! So is it normal to participate in film festivals when my film is already posted on social media platforms ?
@FilmmakerIQ3 жыл бұрын
It depends on the festival and what tier m their rules are.
@zakariaabed35933 жыл бұрын
@@FilmmakerIQ Thanks
@darrellreesejr Жыл бұрын
So is 12-15 mins a good length?
@FilmmakerIQ Жыл бұрын
kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ocCWhdh-y9CUhJc.html
@WangMotions4 жыл бұрын
Quick question, if your film gets an official selection, does that make it an “award-winning film”
@FilmmakerIQ4 жыл бұрын
No, the film festivals have individual awards. But then again, no one regulates what you call your film so your dog groomer can give your film an award and it would qualify as award-winning... :D
@WangMotions4 жыл бұрын
Filmmaker IQ thanks, my film could’ve been promoted better if I could say it was a “award-winning film”