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This is for those who are interested in either making a movie or have made one and don't know what to do. There are tons of resources on the internet for either position. What paths you choose towards your end goal is up to you. There are some considerations in the paths you choose, but that's mostly when you are finished with your feature or short film.
Let's assume you are starting out and need information on filmmaking, whether it be finding resources on production or what's going on in filmmaking communities. If you are looking for equipment related information and practical use, user groups and message boards do great things for you. www.creativecow.com is one of the most extensive groupings of almost anything you want to know. Questions can be answered here, and generally already are. Finding specific manufacturer brand message boards are helpful to specific models and users, too! Websites like www.filmmakermagazine.com and www.postmagazine.com are perfectly fun resources of what's going on in film and post production. Ordering catalogs keeps you updated on items you may need for your filmmaking and sometimes they offer extensive resources and information to keep you coming back. For this aspect of filmmaking, websites like these have been indispensable!
For casting, look to all local casting message boards. It's helped out colleagues of mine for years now!
Now, let's assume you have a project ready for distributing. First, no matter what, I recommend getting the project listed for free by registering on www.withoutabox.com . They are owned by Amazon, who owns www.Imdb.com and www.createspace.com . Once your project(s) are listed on Withoutabox, you can submit to all types of festivals for prizes, recognition, potential distribution options, and especially a "free Imdb Title Page" with your project listed on the famous Internet Movie Data Base, trailer and all.....once you've submitted something to a qualifying festival. It speeds up and helps out the whole process. I know this from experience. My rep says Imdb helps distributors believe your project is real and by you, in so many words. It also helps link up information for your already Imdb listed cast/ crew members. It's just smart practice.
If you decide to self-distribute, beware that what I'm about to suggest may impact whether you get trusted for distribution or not by another company. Self-distribution is not recommended by sales reps, for obvious reasons, but there's plenty of truth to that. Let's say you don't care and feel you've either burnt out your options or just want to keep the rights to a film that cost you $1,000 to make. I'd recommend www.createspace.com , which is again Amazon. This is a DVD on demand service that makes professionalized DVD-R copies that have full cover art, disc printing, and shrinkwrap/ dropshipping. They act as your retail front and process payments. All you do is set up the DVD through them and bring them customers. It all gets put through the Amazon.com process too! This includes download movies, as well, if you like. They used to have a storefront that brought you customers via categories, but they make more money from Amazon search engine listings than through that shop and thus discontinued it, leaving you with your own webpage to bring customers directly to. This still isn't bad, but makes it your responsibility to bring the fans to make the most money off each sale through them. www.filmbaby.com may make more sense.
One last tip today is NOT to go through selling to Netflix. They will buy a few copies cheaply and rent them forever, without giving you any additional dime. There's more to that one, but it's a professional no no!
Best, Kenny
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