Film Market Day 1

I'm tired so I'm just going to babble senselessly.

Started the day by registering at the Puck Building on Houston and Lafayette. Four years ago, when I was but a mere volunteer for the IFP, I didn't even know where the Puck was. For the next two years, I dreaded the place because of how I've come to associate it with bad memories of annoying filmmakers who think they're all that and a bag of chips. Well, now it's my turn to be an asshole, and god I'm lovin' it.

------

The great thing about Markets and fests is the goody bag. If it's a good year, expect all sorts of trinkets and nifty giveaways from corporate sponsors wooing you for your business in case you become the next mover and shaker of the indie world. In the past, I've received cool water bottles, trial gym memberships at the Chelsea Piers, a coupon for $70 worth of cosmetics at Bergdorf Goodman, dozens of film magazines and the ubiquitous tins of mints.

If it's a bad year, be ready to throw out an assortment of advertisements printed on postcards, colored paper, and whatever else you can print on. Throw them out as soon as you can. That's at least two pounds less to carry around in your goody bag.

The best thing about this year's goody bag is the best thing about every year's goody bag: the HBO documentaries notebook and those funky pens. This is the only time I miss my staff badge. I used to be able to take these home by the dozens.

------

Two words that strike fear in my heart and leave my tongue frozen - PITCH SESSIONS.

Jan Rofekamp of Films Transit International had three things to say about this awful, awful practice.

Your pitch must answer the following questions:

1. Why?
2. Why now?
3. Why you?

Why me? I don't know. Why me?

-------

I dozed off for most part of the Documentary Filmmakers Orientation Session. After it was over, I woke up and asked my producer/boyfriend to hunt down Jan and his partner Diane and invite them to our screening.

Steve came back with not so good news. They didn't seem like they were interested. They just brushed him off with the not too convincing "We watch everything."

A bit of good news. Diane did show a spark of interest. "Cemeteries?" she said, "Are you going to show dead bodies? If so, I can't watch that." Steve gave a smart answer. "No, no dead bodies. Just some bones." Aaaarrggghh!!!

------

Postcard mayhem today. Filmmakers were exchanging postcards like crazy.

I was very selective. If it looked like someone nice, someone who wouldn't bite my head off if he or she didn't like my work-in-progress, I immediately reached into my pocket and handed them a postcard invite to my screening.

------

Must have skill for the indie filmmaker: MAIL MERGE. It took me friggin' 45 minutes to figure out how to do this! Learning Final Cut Pro is by far easier.

------

Thanks to the Market, I've now three more to add to my growing list of celebs seen in NYC. Seen at the premiere of "Wonderland" (a very, very life-affirming, uplifting, inspirational film that will leave you playing nursery rhymes in your head as you exit the theater - NOT!): Eric Bogosian, Franky G and Tim Blake Nelson.

Names don't ring a bell? Do me a favor and check them out at IMDB.com. Please do this so I'll feel that the money I spent on this Market is worth it after all.

------

I'm tired. My eyes are half-closed. Long day of networking (a.k.a. let me kiss your butt in exchange for a few thousand dollars to finish my film) tomorrow.

Comments

[steph]

glad they loved the postcard, sweets.
if you make it big, you're going to have to add me to your oscar roster of thank-you's. and i can claim i knew-you-back-then. ain't it grand?