The Self-Sustaining Filmmaker Creating Crowdsourced, Crowdfunded & Community-Supported Independent Film

Foreword by Mark Duplass, Emmy-winning actor/writer/director/producer and president of Duplass Brothers Productions

Acknowledgements

Ch. 1: A NEW PARADIGM

Ch. 2: FROM FILMMAKER TO ENTREPRENEUR

Creating An Entrepreneurial Mindset, Not a Business One

Answering the Business Questions

Translating the Mindset into Filmmaking

Your Film is a Startup … And It Isn’t

Business in the Real World

Interview: Founder/CEO of Seed&Spark Emily Best

Ch 3: DEVELOPMENT

What is Crowdsourcing?

Crowdsourcing Your Story

Who is Your Audience?

Publicity and Teambuilding Begins Now

The Importance of Scheduling

Development for DEADBRAINS

Interview: Screenwriter/Filmmaker Brandi Nicole

Ch. 4: SCREENWRITING

Shelving, Carding and The Well

Crowdsourcing Your Writing

Writing like a Production Manager

Screenwriting for DEADBRAINS

Interview: Writer/Director Craig Brewer

Ch. 5: THE CONTEXT OF CROWDFUNDING

Crowdfunding is Networking

The Two Stories of Every Film

Crowdfunding Holistically

Conflicting Emotions

Ch. 6: CROWDFUNDAMENTALS

Prepping Your Campaign

Leadup to Launch

Pushing the Button

What Happens Afterwards?

Crowdfunding DEADBRAINS

Interview: Crowdfunding Consultant Bri Castellini

Ch. 7: PRE-PRODUCTION

The Power of the Open Call

Thinking in Symbiotic Relationships

What You Can Offer Other than Money

Getting The Community Involved

Getting Your Government Involved

Know Your Tax Credits!

Planning Far Ahead

Pre-Production for DEADBRAINS

Interview: Actors/writers/directors of DROUGHT Hannah Black and Megan Peterson

Ch. 8: PRODUCTION AND POST-PRODUCTION

The BLRTS Process

The Story of Your Shoot

Transparency in Post

The Incredible Opportunities of Focus Groups

Creating Film-Adjacent Content

Production and Post for DEADBRAINS

Interview: Director/Cinematographer Noam Kroll

Ch. 9: MARKETING

Re-Engaging the Engaged

Expanding Your Digital Footprint

Always Be Tracking

Creating Relevant Content

Marketing for DEADBRAINS

Interview: FilmSnobbery CEO Nic LaRue

Ch. 10: DISTRIBUTION

The Dried Up Waterfall

Golden Elevators and Free-Range Films

Tay Leads The Way

Digital Distribution

Hire Your Crowd!

Distribution for DEADBRAINS

Interview: Director and Slamdance co-founder Dan Mirvish

Ch. 11: YOU’RE DONE. NOW WHAT?

The Loop of Kindness

Building Your Ecosystem

Bridging the Indie Gap

You Can Build Anywhere

Biography

Marty Lang is an Assistant Professor of Creative Media Production at Mississippi State University. He has written and directed two feature films, and his producing credits include Chompy & The Girls, featuring Udo Kier, Being Michael Madsen, starring Michael Madsen and Virginia Madsen, and the 2020 Sundance world premiere Web series The Ride. He holds MFA degrees in Film Production from Florida State University and Screenwriting from California State University, Northridge.

“This truly is film school, a masterclass in finance and a PhD in business all in one fantastic book!!! In clear and simple terms Marty explains how we, as indie film producers, can take charge, distribute our own films and make a profit. It will take an entrepreneurial mindset he says, and he makes it all sound so easy…. Get our audience involved at the script stage, build our data base along the way… get smart about crowdsourcing and crowdfunding at every stage… get our community involved and our local government onboard. Make filmmaking a win/win for everyone. Marty is a genius and this book is a goldmine…. an indispensable tool and blueprint for success!”

Suzanne Lyons, producer/author