A solid press kit is essential for a filmmaker entering the festival circuit. Not every filmmaker can afford a publicist, nor is that the right choice for every film. Most filmmakers are ready for the excitement of attending their premiere, seeing their film for the first time with an audience, but are overwhelmed by the idea of drafting the documents that are critical to getting key people aware of their brilliant film. Sometimes writing a synopsis of your own work can be more daunting than writing the screenplay was. In the world of do-it-yourself filmmaking, we're here to consult with you to help you do it yourself. Better yet, we're also here when you're simply tired of doing it all yourself and want to turn over the reigns to an experienced team who will give you a great design and the elements you need to start shipping off to festivals and press when you get that first acceptance in the mail.
Our team works with the filmmaker to create a press kit that reflects what makes the film and filmmakers unique. Clean design and professional quality are the hallmarks of our materials. We provide a range of services to meet the needs of films entering the festival circuit. A simple press kit with the essential elements required of most festivals and/or press can be designed and created, deliverable in a digital format on CD Rom. Printed versions can also be provided. We can work with images provided by the filmmaker or we can create artwork.
Beyond the standard press kit, we can also provide trailer editing, DVD sleeve, postcard, and poster design, website design, merchandise/swag design, and promo featurettes for DVD. One advantage to a one-stop shop is a unified, cohesive brand for your film. Even so, some filmmakers are not ready to create all of these elements at once. We provide any artwork created for your project as part of any standard package, so you can incorporate it into your own design should you choose to create any additional elements yourself down the road.
Each film and filmmaker has unique needs, strengths, and budget. It is our mission to provide our clients with a product that serves them best. Short vs feature, genre, target festivals, and subject matter all make a difference in determining what each project should reflect in its press kit. Our goal is to deliver a modular product that can be adapted as the project moves through its festival life (and hopefully) on to distribution.
The bottom line is, you believed in your film enough to dedicate a year or more of your life to it, make sure that when it starts finding its audience they are presented with the best possible representation of what you and your film have to offer. It's not a time to wing it, but many filmmakers are understandbly too tired or overwhelmed to give this last hurdle the same attention and care that they gave their production.
What are those elements?
Each of the following documents will incorporate the artwork and design concepts our team develops with the filmmaker's goals for their film in mind.
Standard Elements of a Press Kit often include:
Log Line
Brief Synopsis
Full Synopsis
Cast / Crew Credit List
Cast / Crew Bios
Production Notes
Testimonials / Press
Director's Statement
Production Stills
Press Release
Supplemental Materials:
Trailer
Behind the Scenes / Inside Look Featurette
DVD jacket
Postcards
Posters
Website – with updatable screening section and/or blog
Café Press Merchandise design
What we are not: publicists. We can, of course, make referrals. We've found that sometimes publicists will take on a film they might have not had time to handle for a lower rate if filmmakers already have a press kit and supplemental materials. We do not send out your press kit or attempt to get press for you. We create the materials that get your team ready for that important step in the life of your film.
How do I get started?
Here's what we need to know:
1) Short or feature?
2) Timeline for delivery?
3) Standard elements to be designed and created.
4) Supplemental Materials to be designed and created.
5) Do you have production stills in jpg format? Do you have ready artwork or would you like us to design that for you?
6) Any additional info about your film or your press kit needs you'd like us to be aware of.
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