Cannes Recap

+ where do we go from here?

With Cannes in the rear view mirror I feel like it’s a time of reflection on the indie film business.

Many of you remember the days of my ‘from the trenches’ Cannes Dispatches…. there was so much happening back then and so much to report on!

These days however, I’m not even sure what to say that hasn’t already been reported on ad nauseam. The independent film business feels like it’s on life support.

But what can we do despite the facts we read about?

As for me, I continue to prioritize Packaging above all else as that is the single best lever we have to build value into a project and give it the best chance of attracting financing.

This week we wrapped up my course Packaging Playbook where I tackled all the tricks of the trade I’m currently employing for the projects on my slate whether it’s features, docs, or series.

If you’re in the same boat, don’t be disheartened by how long the process of packaging and financing is taking, everyone is going through it and at every level! What can you do in the mean time? One of my suggestions is to diversify your activities….

I have multiple clients who have shifted a big part of their businesses towards branded entertainment, podcasting, and even digital series for You Tube. Some are focused on making shorts and proofs of concepts for bigger features and series they want to make. All of these are great ideas and I’m also working in each of these areas and firing on all cylinders.

If you can develop the skills to produce entertainment for some of these digital platforms - and I include You Tube, Tik Tok and Connected TV in that - and fund it through alternative means, you are on the right track and future-proofing yourself for the current media environment!

I’m not saying to abandon independent film as a format because there’s still a business case for that too - for example, the $500K and below horror film is still in demand and doing well out there. It’s just that you have to be able to sustain yourself and your production company during the long timeframe of getting talent attached and funding secured.

I have a couple fully funded features on my slate that we are prepping to shoot in the fall. One thing that has become abundantly clear is that to make the economics work on these features, we have to shift production overseas. Learning the ropes of setting up international productions and finding and vetting trusted partners in faraway places is becoming a more valuable skill unto itself. I’ve been approached a handful of times recently as a Producer For Hire to run operations for overseas production. Luckily that’s one of my areas of expertise as I have shot both features and series in other countries and understand the particular care they require.

In conclusion, if you are reading the Cannes wrap up pieces in the trades don’t get too discouraged, I’m a firm believer in the cyclical nature of our business…. though admittedly many of the changes we’re experiencing now are structural rather than cyclical but I think towards the end of this year, we’ll have more clarity on what remains and where to put our attention and focus.

In the mean time, empower yourself with learning about new formats and platforms… I’ll be talking about a lot of that here and take you along for the ride as I diversify my own business and slate of projects.

What would you like to know more about?

Let me know in the comments below or share what you’re up to with me at stacey@filmspecific.com.

Stacey

PS: If you want to work together in workshopping your slate and business, consider applying for my FS Pro coaching group where I can advise you personally on your projects.