Oh my...don't get me started on IMDb.
Pulling teeth has a new meaning...
We've had to send and resend information so many times, it's become comical. Almost.
I work with a director that has over a dozen IMDB listings--pretty much all of the talent and crew already have legit listings. And yet IMDb still has us pulling our hair out. There really is no rhyme or reason...I have first-time director friends who somehow seem to get their pre-production films listed, yet we can't get our veteran-made released, distributed films up there.
One great story...I'll make it quick. We were on the 5th resending of the application, when they specified it had to have been shown at a festival (why, I don't know, since it had already been premiered, and shown at theaters multiple times), and we said OK...and we actually found the very festival we were in on their drop-down menu of festival choices...cool right? Nope...they sent us another email denying us, and stating 'How legit is this festival, who do they let in, how many films get in, what are their criteria?" And we were like, what the hell do you mean how legit are they? You have the festival on your own bleeding website as a choice.
No rhyme or reason. I'm telling you.
I could tell you benchmarks you need to get on IMDb...but they are always unique case by case.
* Have a website for your film.
* Be selling your film...on the website, as well as Amazon and the likes.
* Send ALL links your film has received in terms of 'press.'
* Get your film in festivals...hopefully the festival is 'legit' enough to satisfy their timeless hunger.
After all that, you MIGHT get lucky enough to be listed.
I may seem angry...I'm not. I'm over it. Just warning you all.