OK. I've read Chris Gore's "Film Festival Survival Guide" and every article I can get my hands on about planning a festival strategy, so I know in theory how I should plan out a festival strategy.
My problem is that I don't see my film fitting into the standard film festival strategy. I am working on a feature length CG animated epic fantasy which I am producing in a serialized format. Chapter I is finished and I want to release it at festivals and/or online to get feedback, exposure and hopefully build an audience when all the chapters are finally released as a feature film.
I have several concerns about doing this. One is will most festivals accept a "short" which does not have a self-contained story? In general, do they care if the story does not have a conclusion but ends with a "TO BE CONTINUED..." Since this is the first chapter there will be no confusion about story or character, it will just end on a cliffhanger.
Another concern is that since parts of the film will have already screened at past festivals will this ruin my chances of getting a premier at a major festival when the feature is complete?
Animation takes a looong, loooong time to produce. I really need to get something screened to keep my passion up for such a long project. I don't care about festival awards. I just want to get a public audience reaction. Any thoughts?
My problem is that I don't see my film fitting into the standard film festival strategy. I am working on a feature length CG animated epic fantasy which I am producing in a serialized format. Chapter I is finished and I want to release it at festivals and/or online to get feedback, exposure and hopefully build an audience when all the chapters are finally released as a feature film.
I have several concerns about doing this. One is will most festivals accept a "short" which does not have a self-contained story? In general, do they care if the story does not have a conclusion but ends with a "TO BE CONTINUED..." Since this is the first chapter there will be no confusion about story or character, it will just end on a cliffhanger.
Another concern is that since parts of the film will have already screened at past festivals will this ruin my chances of getting a premier at a major festival when the feature is complete?
Animation takes a looong, loooong time to produce. I really need to get something screened to keep my passion up for such a long project. I don't care about festival awards. I just want to get a public audience reaction. Any thoughts?