Posts tagged "Oklahoma Ward"

The Indie Film Community Online

The indie film community online has been a tremendous source of information and support. Two years ago I wasn’t really involved with social networks until I joined Twitter. Now I can’t imagine not networking online with other filmmakers. I’ve been exposed to really interesting film projects and watched some cool trailers. The indie film community online is strong.

The open sharing of information on making movies is outstanding. The indie film community online have different experiences making movies; this keeps the information fresh for all kinds of different perspectives. I’ve fired off more than a few DMs and emails to other indie filmmakers asking questions if they solved a production problem I had as well. I also try to reply when I’m asked a question on an area of indie film production.

We’re all in the creative battle to make movies on limited budgets outside of the studio system. It’s nice to know you can get free practical filmmaking advice and words of encouragement when your movie making fire needs to be stoked a little. There’s no shame in asking another indie filmmaker a question if you don’t have the answer or information you need.

I’m also just a movie fan, so when I see an indie movie project that looks cool I try to follow it. The trailers for some of these movies really show what a motivated indie filmmaker can do on a limited budget outside of Hollywood. Two of the first creative people I started following on Twitter are filmmaker Oklahoma Ward and actor, singer, songwriter Nikki Alonso. I like their style. They’re working on the feature film CRAWL.

From that online filmmaking connection I saw they hooked up on a project with a filmmaker from Scotland named David Baker who is making a movie called SCREEN. I think the project and trailer look entertaining and it was cool that an indie filmmaker from Scotland could throw in with US filmmaker Oklahoma Ward and talented Nikki Alonso. I’m pulling for both of these indie driven films to be successful.

Through the power of Twitter Slice of Americana Films was able to connect with U.K. based indie filmmaker Wayne Daniells (LiarDice Films) and SFX artist Paul While (Graphic Delusions) to produce PSORO that is currently in post-production. You never know where creative opportunity will happen from connecting with the indie film community online.

I like learning new things about making movies. But I especially enjoy hearing other indie filmmakers share their uncensored experiences dealing with screenwriting, directing, producing, editing and eventually movie distribution.

One site I visit is ReelGrok.Com “Where Filmmakers Get It” started by seasoned producer Norman C. Berns. He has more experience and production success than I do, so I learn what I can from him on the business end of making movies. He’s got sage advice on taking a project from idea to being distributed.

I’m also trying to learn more about branding and product placement in indie produced movies. On Twitter I’ve made contact with Kristin R. Thomas aka @indiefilmgirl who specializes in product placement for indie films. PSORO budget was a little too tight to hire flat out, but hopefully on next project that will change. Indie filmmakers that try to do everything on their film usually screw up someplace.

Another big upside to being part of indie film community online is bloggers that support and give a platform for indie filmmakers. I’m not on Facebook, so here’s a Twitter list of bloggers and people I see supporting indie cinema big time:

@karenworden @filmcourage @CuttingRoomMRB @drunkonvhs @JerryD70 @VerbaVitae @ShadowDogProd @RexSikeMovieBT and Albanian George Loco aka @Gjergj_Cicani (associate producer on PSORO).

There are many other people part of the indie film community online that inspire and motivate me to push on, but I read somewhere that people don’t like to read posts that run too long. This is indie filmmaker Sid Kali typing FADE OUT