Streebo with actors Kathy and Jeremy!
This week I wanted to talk about something that I think some filmmakers miss out on. Networking! Unlike what some people think…it’s not synonymous with butt kissing. I think it is very important to get out and meet your peers. I spoke about this some in my last blog post about supporting other filmmakers. Meeting other filmmakers, supporting them, learning from each other can be very valuable. This is where helping others can also help you as well. If you volunteer on another set and see some equipment used you may not have used before or see a cool thing done behind the scenes or meet someone you become friends with or find new actors to work with, it’s worth it.
Networking has really helped us spread our circle of friends. We now know lots of actors, producers, directors, crew, editors, etc… Here are a few tips to assist you on your journey! After the tips I’ll discuss where to use them.
Check them out after the leap!
1. Be a Connector: One thing I learned at a workshop with Eben Pagan is to be a connector. Don’t just go out and meet people to help yourself, think how you can help that person meet people that will help them. If you meet a make up effects artist and you don’t need an effects artist, go ahead and get there information and see if you know another filmmaker that can use their help. To me this is just the good karma thing. It may never help you in any way at all, but helping connect people can help you as well.
2. Be Professional: One thing I don’t do is jump on the gossip bandwagon. If one person has a bad experience with someone, then I still create my own opinion. The same person may have been super cool (actual unit of measurement in some countries) to me and been taken out of context with someone else. Along the same lines, if you’re talking to 5 other producers and they say that one person (actor, crew member, caterer, etc…) is hard to deal with, you may want to take that into account.
3. Business Cards: This one ties in with the previous one. Part of being professional is looking professional. Personally I believe business cards are a big part of this. Currently I have full color front and back with a glossy front. I think they have some great deals on business cards at Vista Print. When you click on the previous link, it goes to a current special they’re having where you get 250 Free cards and a Free card harder! How low budget filmmaking is that?
4. Don’t Get Too Big for Your Britches: Don’t get a big head while in networking opportunities. You never know who you’re talking to. I’ve met all kinds of really cool people with vast amounts of experience and contacts that you’d never know because they’re so laid back and unassuming. You may meet someone that knows someone. Or you could be in a casino in Swingers and meet “the man behind the man.”
5. Value Size It: Along with being a connector, it’s important to offer value. How can you help them? Can you work with them? Can you use them on your next project? Can you do a Facebook/Twitter/Email blast or blog post about their project to get their name out there? Can you volunteer on their set to help them out? Do you know or have a location that they need for their next film? The more you ask them and listen to them, the more you’ll learn ways you can help them out.
Where do I network?
As promised here are a few places we’ve networked and met great people.
– Film Community Meetings: A lot of these are popping up. They’re called Meet Ups online a lot of times. We target these at certain times. When we were looking to meet more people in the community, find actors, meet other filmmakers, etc… If you’re low budget like us then most extra money goes towards movies.
– On set: After you go to some meet ups and know filmmakers better, volunteer. You’ll meet people and see how other people do things.
– Online: There are film communities online as well. You can find other filmmakers on Facebook too. You can Like them and follow them (for example, you can hit the “Like” button on the top left hand part of the page right under their menu panes. Hint. Hint.)
– Conventions: We’ve met quite a few filmmakers, podcasters, bloggers, actors, etc… at Horror Conventions like Fright Night Film Fest and Horror Hound.
This should be enough to get you started. Have fun getting out there and meeting people.
Once again, Click the link to get your 250 Free Business Cards and a Free carrying case!
