John Oliver: The Lottery (HBO)

Think Outside the Frame # 3

Build that list!

While you, the filmmaker, are busy working on all the things that must be done to develop and produce a film, don’t neglect building your email list. We prefer using Mail Chimp – it’s easy to use and allows you to create different lists rather than mush your contacts all together. Mail Chimp also allows you to the place a widget on your website so visitors can add themselves to a list and has a free APP so you can enter contacts on the fly from any mobile device. Mail Chimp also allows the recipient to easily unsubscribe.

Create separate lists for different uses. We’ve divided our lists into a “general contacts”  (my audience base), investors (for special reports) and press contacts.

Search the web for bloggers that have something in common with your film.  For example, MEGABALL$ has a lottery theme to it so we busy ourselves scouring blogs and websites about the lotto/lottery. When you found a good page find a contact email if available, and add them to our list. Perhaps send them an email introducing your film and offering to exchange links on your website.

Every time you see a report or review about a film on TV, in a magazine or newspaper (print or online), the author usually posts their email address. Copy it. Use Twitter? Many Twitter users post their email or web site. Add it to your list.

Check out the many film distribution companies online or on IMDB Pro, and add their email to a list.

Use your lists wisely – posting too often or sending vague emails will turn off the recipient and they’ll unsubscribe. Don’t forget to have in your email your film’s web site, Twitter address, Facebook page, Pinterest…etc.

When your film starts to move you’ll be prepared to promote it.

Think Outisde the Frame #2

So what do you do next? You have your killer script and log line. You've done research and created a business plan / project overview, and you've worked with an entertainment lawyer to set up your investor offering (probably a Private Placement Memorandum) and the production entity (probably an LLC). You have your budget, shooting schedule, revenue projections. Perhaps you have a teaser and a web site. You've practiced your pitch, the short one and the long one. Maybe you have artwork, such as a poster or one sheet....and you have an investor one sheet, and a PowerPoint presentation  You're ready to meet with investors, but how do you prep for the actual meeting?

 

Here's what we do.

We have everyone of our documents converted into PDF's with embedded links and, when needed, we print paper copies. We invested in a Velo binding machine to make the packages professional.

We have embraced the world of Google - it's free, why not? We have a Google Drive that contains all the documents  - both the original and the PDF version. Some prefer DropBox, which is also fine. Or, if you're a real techy, you can have all the docs loaded into your web site with hidden links. This allows all of my team access to the documents from anywhere, and it allows me to access them on the fly, on my cell phone or tablet. I can email them from anywhere when a request comes in, rather than need to wait to I get back home - a big bonus if/when you travel. There's a new APP called Google Slide which reads/edits/saves PowerPoint files and lets you display the slide show right from your portable device. And, if needed, we can access the files and them printed/bound locally when we're out of town. And all of this is very "Green."

We're ready! No matter where we are, or when an opportunity arise, we can share the details with whomever.

www.MegaBallsMovie.com

Think Outside the Frame

Filmmakers should embrace the use of Pinterest while developing their film, adding yet another level to the film’s internet footprint.

You can create boards for ideals of locations, casting, themes, specialized props, etc. This creates a visual guide to how you see your film. We recently needed to replace our production designer. Our designer had left the business for a while to go back to college and study entertainment law. We had met several designers but one, Roger Ambrose, interested us because he had a long list of credits ranging from commercials, TV, film and theater….plus he had several Emmy awards. He read and liked our script, but he said what really sold him were the photos we had of ideal locations.

Another thing filmmakers need to do in advance of filming is to find online groups, blogs and associations that share a common interest featured in your film. In the case of MEGABALL$, the lotto/lottery is a big them…so every so often we search for blogs, Facebook pages, even news releases regarding the lottery, then post are reach out to the site owner introducing our film. The research led us to seven-time lottery winner Richard Lustig. Richard not only has a web site with frequent visitors, he also conducts seminars all over the country about how to improve your chances of winning.

Richard began emailing us and eventually we saw an opportunity, and we decided to have Richard appear as himself in a cameo in the film. Richard has been promoting our film through his appearances and has had his PR firm do some releases about the film. When the film is completed, part of our distribution plan is to coordinate screenings with Richard’s lectures.

Think outside the frame! Follow us on Pinterest.

 

www.MegaBallsMovie.com

It's important to use every opportunity to build your film's audience.

Many of you know I have an 'odd' little job, where I give tours about the HBO show, "The Sopranos." People from all over the world fill a bus every week to visit 50 locations used in filming, including the Bada Bing.

They are not allowed to take photos inside, and I saw an opportunity. I have photos taken sometime ago of the inside with the permission of the owner. At the end of each tour I welcome the clients to give me their email so I may send them the photos. The email with the photos thanks them for taking the tour and asks them to check out the web site for our film, MegaBall$. Then I add those names into a Mail Chimp list to use later on to continue promoting the film. The trick is to remind them they took the tour, and not over-send emails that may cause them to opt out.

So, what I'm doing is building a worldwide following with an interest in the Mob-genre who have met me in a memorable situation and are likely to follow our progess, and see the film when complete.

Always think of your film and how to promote it.

www.MegaBallsMovie.com
MegaBall$
Geeks, the lotto & the Mob
Tag line: You never know when you're number's up.
Now seeking private equity.
#Mballs

Newsday gets MEGABALL$

Well, it came out early – so here’s some big news.

Newsday, a major NY newspaper and ranked 11^th in the country, has done a profile on Oroloro partner, Joe Cirillo…with lots of talk about MEGABALL$. The print article will be out on Saturday but the feature has been released online at

http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/retirement/retired-cop-82-still-on-a-beat-he-loves-show-biz-1.9097100

The story writer and paper editor are really intrigued about the film and asked if they can visit the set when we film. Dah, yes!

This should raise our internet presence many-fold, and show investors that this film has real potential. Newsday has a circulation of over 400,000 not counting online viewership. Tell your friends! www.MegaBallsMovie.com Follow our progress on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media.

 

#MBalls

#Newsday

#lotto

Building that audience

The pay-off of posting our film progress on Facebook....Twitter....Pinterest....LinkedIn...Slated...Max it....and other web sites, plus having the right title, is paying off. Tonight at a network event on film finance with about 50 people, 5 knew of MegaBall$. That's 10%....pretty good start.