Is the Indy Filmmaker a Businessperson or an Artist...or both?

Now reading "Thinking Outside the Box Office" by Jon Reiss. Probably one of the best of the current thinking for Indy filmmakers. One huge point...Today's Indy Filmmaker must be 50% Businessperson / Marketing Exec to even have a chance. Gone are the days when you can say "I'm a filmmaker...I leave the business side to others".

Unfortunately, that's mostly what I see in Sacramento.... People who enjoy the art of filmmaking, but then in the next breath say they want a distribution deal. What a disconnect! They don't do any business homework, yet expect they can get a "business deal". That's when I have to shake my head and not take them seriously... at least as a businessperson.

I love the art of filmmaking. But I know if I make a movie that is basically an "art" project, I am only realistically hoping for accolades based on it's artistic merits. I don't pretend for an instant it has commercial potential. If it does, it's because lightning struck...not because it was planned that way. A requirement for lightning striking is not a good element to be used in a business plan.

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Comment by Frank Casanova on February 5, 2010 at 11:46am: Mike... Great comments... I loved it. You have more of a handle on this than most. I too have done a number of films just to feed my soul. That's the pure joy of filmmaking.
But that's also why the word "starving" seems to go with the word "artist"... LOL.

Comment by Frank Casanova on February 5, 2010 at 9:59am: Mike... I thought you were just joking with your comment. Yes, there are some people who don't know diddly and are still successful. That's called just dumb luck and it can happen in any endeavor. My point is, Dumb Luck should not be a "requirement" on a filmmaker's business plan... Because, I hope you'll agree, it almost NEVER happens. So if one is going to play any game... They should learn the rules of that game. Otherwise you will forever be taken advantage of.
BTW... A Film Market and a Film Festival are vastly different things. Few festivals are worth the time if you're looking to meet acquisition executives. They're only good for ego stroking.
Marty... Your right... The distribution people only think of one thing: Can this movie make me money? Forget about if it's any good or has a great message. Can it make me any money? Otherwise they'll say it's an art project and good luck with that... You're on your own (not that that's always a bad thing ).
Also...Hope springs eternal with your comment... "If you're smart enough and passionate enough... you'll likely figure it out!"

Comment by Martin Anaya on February 5, 2010 at 3:47am: Hey Mike,
the sad part right now is that even if you have all your insurance right, the right type of film and the right buyers (and yes we do get aquisition reps at our festival) you still gotta get a distributor interested.

There's a glut of product. You simply have to stand out. Bottom line, you gotta make them money. If the reality is no-one would pay to rent your movie, your stuck. And don't get me started on how piracy is raping the little guy right now...

Good news is: if you're smart enough and passionate enough, you'll likely figure it all out!

Comment by Frank Casanova on February 2, 2010 at 11:44pm: And I just got an email today from a Sacramento filmmaker begging for money using a pay-per-click scheme to "impress" a major distributor. I really don't want to pop their balloon, but that is just silly. That's thinking only locally, not globally the way a "major" distributor does. The film distribution world does not begin and end in a place called Sacramento (to coin a phrase). I really like this person and admire their passion, but the effort is so misplaced, it's sad. Take some of that passion and LEARN the business of distribution if you want to be able to play their game...otherwise, you're bound to loose. Just ask all those that have gone before you.