6 Things Not to Do When Making an Independent Film
DON’T FORGET TO SHOWCASE YOUR WORK
“Hit the film festival circuit,†LaMothe says flatly. A lot of filmmakers attract notoriety and investors by showcasing their projects at the various film fests that are held annually. You don’t have to attend them all but having a presence can be the springboard you need to get your work out there. “If you have something that resonates with people, and just stands out, it’ll get its attention,†he ads. “It’ll get its due, which of course will help you move forward with your next project.â€
In just 11 years, independent film director, producer, writer and actor Jerry LaMothe has acquired five film titles and at least 11 film festival invitations; but who’s counting? The Brooklyn-born, Haitian-American’s body of work has always reflected the Black experience—from his 2000 debut Amour Infinity about a single father trying to do right by his son to his helming of Nora’s Hair Salon, a spin-off of Ice Cube’s Barbershop series to his critically-acclaimed telling of New York’s 2003 power outage, Blackout. The Long Island University graduate’s latest is a short entitled The Tombs, which takes its name from the sobriquet for New York City’s central booking system. Executive produced by Basketball Wives star Tami Roman, the film premiered during this year's 15th annual Urban World Film Festival.
Despite his success, LaMothe makes it known that his journey has not been easy. BlackEnterprise.com chatted with the director for Black Movie Month about six things independent filmmakers trying to make a living (and a movie) in a troubled economy shouldn't do. —Amber McKynziemore
DON’T FORGET REAL FANS FUND FILMS
Getting support for a film is much easier in our digital world. LaMothe suggests aspiring filmmakers reach out for fan support through sites like Kickstarter. “It’s a Website designed for filmmakers who are seeking funding for films,†he says. “[It] seems to be filling out very well for a lot of independent filmmakers. Basically it allows your average filmgoer, contributing their 25 cents or whatever amount of money they want, to contribute by putting a budget in the timeline. With those budgets you can hopefully seek some form of funding for your film.â€
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DON’T BE AFRAID TO START SMALL
A lot of filmmakers have grandiose ideas that can make the realities of creating their project seem overwhelming and improbable. “Try to work within your resources,†says LaMothe. “There’s a lot a filmmakers who have their own cameras and their own equipment who basically just want to build their resume and just do solid work. Your first piece won’t necessarily be Armageddon, but start small and get some momentum, get some buzz.â€
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DON’T FORGET TO SHOWCASE YOUR WORK
“Hit the film festival circuit,†LaMothe says flatly. A lot of filmmakers attract notoriety and investors by showcasing their projects at the various film fests that are held annually. You don’t have to attend them all but having a presence can be the springboard you need to get your work out there. “If you have something that resonates with people, and just stands out, it’ll get its attention,†he ads. “It’ll get its due, which of course will help you move forward with your next project.â€
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DON’T WORRY ABOUT EXOTIC LOCATIONS
In the real estate business, the motto is often location, location, location. Well, for an independent filmmaker that’s a luxury most can’t afford. “Keep your locations limited, [and] keep them small,†says LaMothe. “A lot of great stories have been told in one setting. That will also help minimize your costs and budgets.â€
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DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR ART
“Nothing good or nothing worth having is easy to attain, and the filmmaking business is no exception to that rule—being a person of color doesn’t make it that much easier,†he says. “This is such a tough game to break into; even our White counterparts have to go through their hustle to break in. It’s not for the faint at heart. Unless you’re really passionate about this, and it’s something you want to do, you probably won’t sustain. Stay active and stay at it if you truly believe this is what you were meant to do here. You [have to] keep it going until that door opens.â€
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