The Guerrilla Rep - Blog

What Film Distributors Mean by Genre

3/13/2019

So most filmmakers are at least passingly aware of the importance of genre in independent film distribution. (If you’re not, read this.) But even while most filmmakers have a cursory understanding of what defines a genre, the lines are often less bendable than many filmmakers think they are. So with that in mind, here’s what distributors mean when they say a certain genre.

Why you WON'T get Distribution from your Film Festival Run

3/6/2019

Part of what I do through the consulting arm of Guerrilla Rep Media is review peoples Decks and business plans. One thing that I keeps coming up in these documents is that entirely too many filmmakers list their distribution strategy as sole their festival run. There’s a lot of issues with this line of thinking, so as I do with any question that keeps coming up I thought I would write a blog about it. So without further adieu, here’s why you probably won’t get distribution from your festival run.

7 Things to Prep BEFORE STARTING your Festival Run

2/27/2019

Far too many people consider the festival circuit as the be all and end all of their marketing and distribution plans. While there are quite a few things wrong with that approach from a distribution standpoint. (See last week’s blog here for an outline of why) film festivals can be a great way to market your film. Although getting ready to attend a film festival is generally a bit hectic. There’s always a lot to do, and it’s easy to forget something. So with that in mind, I’ve prepared a prioritized list of the top 7 marketing assets you’ll need to prep before going to a film festival.

How to Get your Movie on Netflix

2/20/2019

Opinions expressed in this piece are not in any way endorsed by Netflix, Its parent company, or any subsidiaries. Opinions expressed within are solely those of Guerrilla Rep Media and its founder, Ben Yennie.

Many filmmaker and even more film consumers just want to know when work will be on Netflix. In recent years, this has become more difficult than it was previously. IT used to be that it was a relatively easy sale to get on Netflix, although the money wasn’t very good. More recently, the bar has been raised substantially, and the money you get for it hasn’t increased as much as we may have liked it to. What follows is an outline of how to get your film on Netflix, both as an original and as an acquisition.

The 4 REALISTIC Ways to Sell a TV Series

2/13/2019

Given that I work heavily in marketing and distribution, I get a lot of people submitting pilots to me. While I’m looking to move my business in more of an episodic direction, unfortunately a pilot doesn’t do me much good. Generally, when I tell this to filmmakers, they get surprised. So, like any question I get a lot I thought I’d write a blog about it. Here are the 4 ways to make a TV show.

5 Ideas For Email List Giveaways for Indie Filmmakers

2/6/2019

Traditional marketing wisdom states that you should offer something of value to your potential customer prior to trying to sell to them. However, this value proposition is different when you’re talking about making a film versus selling a software application. It has to be something of value to your customers, and since most of your customers are not going to be other filmmakers you’re going to need to think outside the box and offer something that people who only consume content are going to be interested in. Here’s a list of some ideas to get you started.

5 Steps to Grow Your Filmmaking Email List

1/30/2019

At least as of right now, if you’re going to sell anything on the internet, you need to build your email list. Since most filmmakers aren’t really marketers, here’s a basic guide to building your email list of potential customers so that you’ll have an easier time selling your film once it’s time to distribute it.

Everything you need in an Electronic Press Kit (EPK)

1/23/2019

Last week I shared a few different types of printed materials to use at film festivals. This week, I thought I’d follow up with a post on the essential components of Indiefilm Electronic Press Kit. I will say that this is one thing where reasonable people can disagree, so if you think there’s something I missed, comment it below and I might change the post to include it.

The Printed Materials you Need for Film Festivals and Markets

1/16/2019

Most filmmakers only think about festivals when they’re getting ready to market their film. There are lots of reasons that this line of thinking is flawed, however it would take far more than a 600-800 word blog to even begin to touch on them. However, if you’re going to have ANY level of success from your festival run, you’re going to need some bomb printed materials. This blog outlines a couple of examples I’ve used personally and had success with.

13 Things you NEED on your Production Company Website

1/9/2019

One of the things that most filmmakers tend to struggle with tends to be creating a website for their projects. Given that it’s nearly 2019, your business needs a website, and it needs to be good. However, many filmmakers websites tend to be hard to navigate, overly complicated, or focus more on the photos from the shoot than the subject of the project. So, I thought I would create a post outlining some of the best practices in creating a website that I’ve come across.