An Unconventional Approach To Packaging

+ How to protect your downside during chaotic times

In my Packaging series so far we’ve talked about A Holistic Approach to Packaging followed by how to proactively Package Up Opportunities, and I want to round it out today and talk about Protecting Your Downside with Packaging.

Simply put, the best insurance you can ‘buy’ that your project will have impact and ROI for your funders in today’s uber noisy market lies in Packaging.

Packaging stars, influencers, IP, current events, trends, organizations, and generally anything with a built in audience you can latch on to.

Because when trying to fundraise from anyone whether it’s private investors, friends and family, brands, foundations, you name it - being able to demonstrate how your project is going to gain traction in the market and attract attention is a big one. In fact, it’s everything.

For independent films, I’ll admit it’s tough these days to attract top tier talent without some kind of ‘it’ factor in your project be it popular IP, a big time director or producer, or brand affiliation.

If Docs or Digital series are your thing, what’s your IP if it’s not a star like in the narrative world? For me I’m leveraging brand affiliations, trend and news jacking, plus current affairs to latch on to which is essentially tapping into existing audiences. Try building an audience from scratch these days for a Doc or Digital Series…. too expensive and time consuming. Leverage OPA (other people’s audiences)!

While you can’t guarantee star power and IP will lead to ROI for your backers, you are at least protecting their downside, which is what everyone is looking for especially at the institutional level. For my brand funding partners, I like to show them how they can win even if we lose. Meaning, even if the content fails to hit the big time, they can still see ROI on small wins because I’ve protected their downside with Packaging.

---

Packaging Strategies Playbook

All this and more is what I’ll be unpacking in my next Substack mini-course Packaging Strategies Playbook.

If you’d like to join me end of this month for a four-part deep dive into Packaging and tap into my multi-decades of experience packaging films, documentaries, and series and come away with some tips and fresh perspectives on new things you can try?

Then head over to this link and Pre-Register at the Early Bird rate which ends on Monday April 15.

Click here to Pre-Register for Packaging Strategies Playbook

*I don’t have a full sale page up on the course yet but topics we’ll cover include but are not limited to include: Bringing on a Director and Producer, Building out a team, Actor attachments, Leveraging IP and Current Trends, Marketing Hooks and Brand Partnerships, and more… for features, docs, series, and digital ‘content’*

---

Want some quick Packaging wins?

There’s a few gems from the archives you can check out in the interim like Packaging Directors & Producers, A Primer On Packaging, and Attaching Actors To Your Film.

If you have any questions about an unconventional approach to packaging pop them in the comments below and let’s start a discussion or email me at stacey@filmspecific.com.

More soon everyone and have a wonderful day!

Stacey

+++++++++