1st Edition

Behind the Scenes of Indie Film Marketing A FilmSnobbery Field Guide

By Nicholas LaRue Copyright 2024
238 Pages 42 B/W Illustrations
by Focal Press

238 Pages 42 B/W Illustrations
by Focal Press

238 Pages 42 B/W Illustrations
by Focal Press

This book provides current and incoming filmmakers with a comprehensive overview of how to create business and marketing plans to prepare their movies for distribution. Nicholas LaRue combines experienced insights into aesthetics and creativity with logical data-driven conclusions to provide an analysis of independent film promotion. The book first presents a view of sales and marketing in the... Read more

Preface

      About the Author

      Introduction

      How To Use This Book

1. Basic Concepts of Marketing

1.1  The Difference Between Marketing and Advertising

1.2  Why Your Film is Failing to Find an Audience

1.3  Why Should You Have a Business Plan?

1.4  Marketing Plan and Strategy vs Business Plan

2. Putting A Plan Together

2.1  The Sections of a Business Plan

2.2  Elements of a Marketing Strategy

2.3  Things I Didn’t Learn In Film School

3. Implementing Your Marketing Strategy

3.1  Traditional Marketing Methods

3.2  Digital Marketing

3.3  Social Media

3.4  Email Marketing

3.5  Setting Yourself Up for Success

4. Power to the Pixel

4.1  Embrace Digital Tools

4.2  Your Website

4.3  Google and SEO

4.4  HubSpot and Other CRM Tools

4.5  Pixels Everywhere!

5. Identifying Your Audience

5.1  Your Film Might Not Be For Everyone, But It Might Be Right For Someone

5.2  How to Cut Through the Noise

5.3  Finding and Owning Your Niche

6. The Sales Process

6.1  The Psychology of Sales

6.2  The Customer Journey

6.3  The Five Point Process

6.4  The Importance of WHY

6.5  Why Most Sales Opportunities Fail

7. You Are the Product

7.1  You Can Sell Your Film Once, But Yourself Multiple Times

8. SWAG and Branding

8.1  Staying on Brand

8.2  The Kevin Smith Approach

8.3  Old Marketing Methods that Still Work

8.4  Be Your Own Sweatshop

9. Podcast Your Way to Success

9.1  Reach New Audiences by Booking Yourself on Podcasts

10. Public Relations

10.1 A Brief Introduction to PR (Public Relations)

10.2 Engaging With A PR Consultant or Publicist

11. Film Festivals

11.1 Taking Advantage of the Festival Circuit

11.2 The Importance of Networking

11.3 The Red Carpet and Beyond

12. Film Critics

12.1 What’s A Film Critic’s Job Really?

12.2 Working With Film Critics

12.3 Understanding The Film Critic Ecosystem

13. That’s A Wrap

13.1 What Have We Learned?

14. Contributors

14.1 Filmmakers

14.2 Industry Professionals

Appendix

A - Glossary of Common Business Terms

B - Glossary of Common Film Terms

 

Index

Biography

Nicholas LaRue is an author, screenwriter, film critic, and Founder of FilmSnobbery.com, a website dedicated to being a voice for the indie film community. Nic has worked in the Hollywood studio system as the Head of Post-Production for Raleigh Studios, served as the Director of Marketing for Miglionico Design, and is currently the CEO of LaRue Entertainment Group, LLC which serves as the holding company and entertainment industry consulting arm of FilmSnobbery.