Advice for local filmmakers
By James Smith
After months (sometimes years!) of production you finally premiere your film to the general public. There is no better feeling than being in a large theater with an audience who grants you a standing ovation. After the film has reached its end, the theater lights brighten and your audience leaves with a better appreciation for how much time and money you have mixed with your blood, sweat and tears.
So, what’s next? Well, distribution of course. You want to share your film with the as many people as you can. And, while your hometown is a good start, you begin thinking about the entire state, then all of America, and after that: the world.
Distribution is never easy, as most every company out there will refuse unsolicited material. Begin by sending out query letters to the different companies, starting with a brief synopsis of the film and why you think their company would be the right choice for you. If interested in knowing more, they will contact you and ask for more details. The rest is up to you.
Some independent companies will focus completely on distribution deals before ever stepping back behind the camera. Our production company, DBC Entertainment, is different. We don’t wait around. Not forty-eight hours after the premiere of our feature film Point Pleasant, we were already at it again with pre-production on our next full-length movie, Perfect Skin.
We held auditions for Perfect Skin a month prior to pre-production, soon after initial filming for Point Pleasant had wrapped. Within a couple of weeks, casting was complete. Film began rolling on November 20th in Booneville, Kentucky, and early production lasted for two days. In just a short period of time, we had knocked out quite a bit of dialogue.
That’s the key to filming. If you have more than one scene take place in the same location, shoot everything you can all at once to avoid having to return and ask permission again. Sometimes people have a change of heart and won’t allow you to return. So spend a full day, shoot all you can, and lock it away.
Perfect Skin promises to be different than anything DBC has filmed so far. It uses more special effects than we have ever used to date, and we brought in the “Make-Up Magician” himself, Cineline Productions’ Sven Granlund to help us achieve that.
DBC Entertainment co-owner Shauna Tackett is the creative force behind Perfect Skin. She wrote, produced, directed and stars in the film. Bringing back DBC Family cast, and adding some new faces to the mix, brought the script to life in a very profound way. Shauna’s hardcore writing style amazes me. A love for films is something we share full force, and it shows in the end. Her attention to detail, and knowing exactly what she wants from scene to scene, reminds me how lucky I am to work with her.
Financing for Perfect Skin came not only from family and friends, but also from people throughout the world who share a genuine love for the industry. Kickstarter.com proved to be an invaluable resource. It assists in funding for any project you may be doing. We provided incentives that ranged from an autographed photo to an opportunity to have a speaking role in the film, and the Kickstarter community provided the rest. Films, music, books, etc…this site will help you.
We have set aside a few months for the entire production of Perfect Skin based on the array of characters and the amount of special effects and make-up needed for the film. We are considering the possibility of a summer release. It takes time to make a film, and because of the style in which this differs from Point Pleasant, it will take seemingly countless hours, day in and day out, to complete.
DBC has teamed up once again with Gregory W. Brock (Silver Chain Films) and Stacey Gillespie (Eclipse Entertainment) for Perfect Skin. We are a family, and families who work together reliably bring their “A” games, giving the audience more than their money’s worth. Of course, we are always looking to expand our family, and everyone is welcome.
If you are interested in this film or other DBC Entertainent films, you can learn more by visiting http://www.myspace.com/dbc_entertainment. Keep in touch with the cast and crew, stay up to date on filming dates and locations, and talk to us about the opportunities to become an extra. If you e-mail us at dbcfilms@yahoo.com we will be happy to provide more information!
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