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Film Marketing Ideas

If you are an independent filmmaker, you likely already know something about the personal fulfillment and reward one of these projects can supply for you. You also may be familiar, however, with some of the difficulties of “getting the word out” concerning indie films. Since most smaller budgeted filmmakers don't have big-time distribution companies, they must figure out how to effectively market and sell their film. There are plenty of ideas which may be helpful in this aspect. Understanding a few of these basics will help you market your film in a manner which best suits your own tastes.

  1. Genre

    • When trying to come up with a marketing campaign for your movie, forget trying to push a particular genre. Genres feature sub-genres of film types which all appeal to specific ages or groups of people.

      Try marketing that appeals to certain demographics. Think of it this way: women are usually the target audience for films with a dramatic theme, but women also like comedies and even action films, while men aren’t interested solely in sports and things that blow up.

      Throw out planning for a genre classification. Pick something general that will apply to a large group. This gives you the option to push your marketing from a variety of different angles as well, which allows for a fresh approach while also drawing new audiences to your work.

    Premiere

    • Instead of releasing your film in theaters, think video on demand, pay per view, and Internet downloads. This appeals to the masses: people who can’t get babysitters for an event, those who may not be able to leave the home because of medical reasons, as well as those wary of the extra expenses of going out.

      It’s much more inexpensive and comfortable to enjoy a movie on the couch with your own snacks. This also allows your audience to enjoy a movie with their friends in a setting that’s most comfortable for them while giving you more control over the total cost.

      Feel free to get creative...it doesn't have to feel like family movie night. Roll out a red carpet for your films' stars, decorate the house/viewing area for presentation, and supply drinks and snacks for your guests.

    Internet

    • The Internet is a great way to reach a variety of audiences. Research shows that people of all ages are now using the Internet for a multitude of purposes. There are even a variety of sites to which you can quickly and easily upload your film to, in addition to or instead of theaters.

      Sites like GreenCine, Jaman, CreateSpace, and even iTunes gives you the opportunity to put your work out to the international public. This also allows for your movies to be played on mobile devices, thus adding even more potential viewers.

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