Antihero got a limited theatrical engagement - IndieTalk

Cracker Funk · 08-06-2012, 10:06 PM

Antihero will be screening at the awesome reRun theater, in Brooklyn, NY, opening Sept. 21st! As with all reRun releases, this will be a one-week engagement.

I almost posted this in the Promo section, because of course I do hope that this thread will help get the word out, and that's fine if any mod wants to move it over there.

However, I placed it in the Distro/Sales/Marketing section because I'd really like any advice that anyone would like to give out. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a total newb, if you've got an idea for how I can get more butts in the seats, I'd love to hear it.

I don't have any money for marketing, so this will have to be more internet-type stuff. Of course I'll be soliciting people on FB and twitter to get the word out. Are there any other websites/networks I should be hitting up?

And reviews -- this is actually one of the main reasons I wanted to get into reRun, as it will likely mean that we get a review by the NY Times. But now I'm feeling stupid for having not contacted a bunch of indie review sites. I shall definitely commence contacting indie websites, immediately. And though they normally take a long time to get a review, maybe the pending limited theatrical release will motivate them to do it sooner?

Other than that, I'm not sure what else to do, other than to arrive in NYC a few days before the release, and pass out fliers. I guess I should definitely try to get something written up by any underground press. Any New Yorkers have any advice for online or offline local press that I should contact?

Lastly, I hope anyone in the NYC area can make it. I'll be in attendance for Q&A.

Cracker Funk · 08-06-2012, 10:14 PM

Oh, and I need to make a press-kit. What should I put in it? Obviously, I need bios and pics, awards won, etc. Anything else?

knightly · 08-07-2012, 12:21 AM

Yay you! 4-walling your work is a great feeling! Congrats

A history of the filmmaker's/actors' journey in this particular endeavor (along with each of the key figures involved) would also be in order.

Your logline (for use in newspapers and whatnot -- words cost money there). Your summary.

Links to previous work (that you want to have considered as part of your history).

Zensteve · 08-07-2012, 12:40 AM

1) What does theater itself do, for promotion?

There's gotta be all kinds of community papers down there to plop an ad into. Also, local craigslist. Maybe a small amount of $$ for localised ads/events on facebook. On top of the usual event thing. Maybe there are local area podcasters with current event shows, or local access shows to plug on/ be interviewed on.

With 6 weeks to showtime, you'd be wanting to focus specifically on the area it's showing; not so much promotion in general. For now, anyway.

Theater looks pretty cool. Why you do this, btw?

Cracker Funk · 08-07-2012, 03:50 AM

Thanks, guys.

Except for you, Theres, you can suck a bag of dicks.

This isn't a 4-wall screening. For many months, I gave serious thought to making a big 4-wall drive, but ultimately decided that my time is better spent on other things. This is an actual theatrical release, humble though it may be.

Zensteve -- why would I do this? Why on Earth wouldn't I?!

EDIT: Theres's comment has been removed -- he/she was spamming, and it looked like a virus.

mlesemann · 08-07-2012, 08:22 AM

Both Rogue Cinema ( www.roguecinema.com ) and The Independent Critic ( www.theindependentcritic.com ) are pretty quick with reviews. Rogue usually comes out the 1st of the month, so if you contact them now you may be able to hit their Sep 1 issue.

NickClapper · 08-07-2012, 08:26 AM

This is fantastic news, congratulations!

I think it's going to be a week or two too late for me to catch it in NYC but I'm sure there'll be plenty of people who do go for the experience.

bird · 08-07-2012, 11:22 AM

Congrats Funkermeister MeisterFunker!

bird · 08-07-2012, 11:23 AM

Who is Theres and why should he/she suck a bag od dicks? lol

directorik · 08-07-2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker Funk

you can suck a bag of dicks.

Ernest Worthing · 08-07-2012, 01:13 PM

Congrats, man! Im really happy for you. It's great to hear news like this, it keeps hope alive in the indie world.

Kosh · 08-07-2012, 01:27 PM

Congratulations are in order, sir! Fine news, very fin news, indeed, sir!

Cracker Funk · 08-07-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by directorik

Yep. That's exactly what I had in mind. bird, to answer your question, it looks like Theres' comment has been removed. He/she was spamming, and it might've included a link to a virus.

mlesseman, thanks for the heads up. I'll send both of them a screener.

punee · 08-07-2012, 02:10 PM

Congrats CF! Great news. Also, shouldn't the distributor's take care about the marketing?

Also, it would be great to hear from you on how did you manage to get a theatrical distribution? Your experience and suggestions in this aspect?

Cracker Funk · 08-07-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by punee

Congrats CF! Great news. Also, shouldn't the distributor's take care about the marketing?

Also, it would be great to hear from you on how did you manage to get a theatrical distribution? Your experience and suggestions in this aspect?

Yes, the theater does do their own advertising, but it's not much. So far as I can tell, their audience is largely made up of regulars who already know about the theater. And then of course on top of that almost built-in audience, it's up to me to bring in people who might be new to the theater but that I can attract with my movie.

I wouldn't call reRun a distributor. They're just a theater who has chosen to screen my movie, and of course I'm very happy for that.

I'm hoping that this might lead to distribution, though theatrical distribution is a bit of a pipe dream. I'd be happy with VOD.