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Marlett & Me
Marlett & Me: Introducing a Better Way—Who's With Me?
What are we doing? You, me, all of us moviemakers? Digital or film, writer, director or producer, cast and crew? What are we doing? We must be crazy, each of us going our own way, forging our own trail, all advancing against nearly impossible odds. I am reminded of the scenes in the movie Gallipoli, where the Aussie soldiers climb out of the trenches to face the Turks across open ground, only to be mowed down under withering fire. The next row then climbs out and does the same, with very few making it to the trench beyond. Why? Because that was just how it was done. How stupid.
July 16th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
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' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . ''; } ?>Marlett & Me: Bringing Up the House Lights
Here we are in the mid-summer doldrums… the biz slows down, people are out, you are heading to the beach or game or out to mow the lawn. But take a second and shoot me an email and tell me the top two issues you’d like to see addressed in my column/blog over the next six months. Will ya? I want to keep it real and meaningful for you. So let me know. Tell me a little (a little) about your project, your journey and what you hope for in your life over the next six months. Cool?
July 1st, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: DIY Promotion—Amy Walker Style
If I get one comment more consistently than any other is that I just don’t give up. I wish I had a dollar for each time I’ve been referred to as a Weeble-Wobble. If I did, I’d have my film financed by now! I think it is meant as a compliment, but sometimes it’s said with an abrupt exhale that communicates perhaps something else. But I just press on. I really don’t care. I don’t. And neither should you. This is an exceedingly difficult profession—not only to succeed in, but to even get to the entrance door for the first knock.
June 24th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Get the Money Up Front
We (BlueRun Productions) are in the midst of receiving offers for one of our top projects. The offers have an array of approaches and terms. The key is to have 20/20 long-range vision. Gotta know what’s around the next 10 bends to best decide how to proceed, which offer to take, what terms are best. But eventually it comes down to gut, and how much you like the people with whom you are going to be working.
June 17th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
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' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . ''; } ?>Marlett & Me: Get Your Boots on the Ground in L.A.
Here’s a question a lot of people ask: Do I need to live in L.A. to be successful in the film business?
The simple answer is no. Or, maybe. Well, probably so. Like everything else in life, it just depends. On what? Lots of things. (Thanks, Dave-o. Can you be any more friggin’ vague?)
June 4th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Get All Deal Points in Writing!
Rule One: Get All Deal Points in Writing!
The film biz is awash in crooks and con artists. And in this "dream factory" business, too many good and talented artists get duped. I can’t believe I gotta say this to all you smart people, but wise da f up!
There are two key elements to avoiding being stung: Get to know who you are dealing with and get it in writing. In this blog I am gonna rant a little about the second element.
May 27th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Angels & Demons—Getting Repped in L.A.
It’s an odd state of affairs, the way Hollywood works. Agents and managers appear in control when they’re anything but. In truth, it’s the creators—the writers, actors, directors—who are the heart and soul of this town. They are the bosses, and I encourage those "bosses" to keep their reps in check, lest great projects never get to see the light of day.
May 18th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
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' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . ''; } ?>Marlett & Me: How NOT to Blow Up your Old Dog and New Truck!
Perhaps you’ve heard the "funny," awful story of the idiot who went ice fishing with dynamite, his new truck and old faithful dog? He parks on the ice, throws the lit dynamite, the dog retrieves the stick while the fuse is burning… then hides under the truck when the guy screams at the dog not to bring it back! You can imagine what follows.
May 13th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Lessons on Juggling Fire—Poise Counts!
If you’re like me, you’re certain you are not a one-trick pony. Heck, the four scripts and 11 treatments you’ve got shortcutted there on your desktop prove otherwise, right? Maybe. But maybe shuffling projects is your one trick. Juggling too many fire sticks can really burn you, permanently!
May 6th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Film Finance IV—Gin-n-Tonics and Songs Your Cousin Sings
Marlett & Me, this column/blog, is just getting started, so I am sure we’ll revisit film finance many times. But for now we’re wrapping up this fishing-analogized series on raising funds for your film. Over the past few weeks, we’ve lightly discussed a range of things on the subject: What kind of fish (investor) you should be looking for, where to find them and what type of lure (return on investment) you should consider using. Today we finish, still with the fishing, talking about how to use your rod, throw your line, make your presentation… you get the point. (Okay, stop giggling about me saying "use your rod.")
April 29th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
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' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . ''; } ?>Marlett & Me: Film Finance III—Offering a Good ROI with a J-Lo
Over the past several weeks, we’ve been doing a walk-through of film finance strategies, sorely wearing out the fishing analogy I introduced here and continued here. But, ah well… we press on.
April 16th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Film Finance II—Finding the Honey Holes
So, the next question in the film financing search (here being analogized as a fishing expedition) is: Where to find the lil’ buggers? What’s required is good street sense, extraordinary persistence and god-like patience. But you can do it.
April 1st, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Film Financing Foray = Fly Fishing Finesse
To raise funds for your film, you must first devoid yourself of the idea that you are seeking financing for a work of art. No. You are seeking money for a business. It is the film business (no matter how much the detractors want to call what you do a "hobby"). And to raise money for a business, you need a plan, a.k.a. a business plan.
March 18th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
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' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . ''; } ?>Marlett & Me: Whoa to Woe! Get off the Effect/Affect Merry-Go-Round
Okay, everyone is all aflutter about the economic situation and what its "effects" are on the film biz, especially the indie film biz. Like a damn bunch of swooning Scarletts. What most don’t realize is that they themselves, their very reactions, are a big part of the problem.
March 11th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Brother Film Financier, Where Art Thou?
The question I’m posing today is as simple as it is profoundly uncomfortable: Has traditional film financing gone the way of the 35mm SLR film camera? I am neck-deep in raising funds... correction, trying to raise funds (albeit with some success). And call me crazy but the traditional "film finance" models are suddenly seeming quaint and useless. Anyone else feeling the cold chill in the air?
February 25th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Kissing Dragons and Fighting Frogs
The more difficulties arise in financing my film, I try to remember to: Fight the dragons, kiss the frogs and be humble and wise enough to know the difference. It’s really helpful to ye ol’ psyche to come here and vent, especially after another week of funding struggles. Damn, is anyone else feeling the heat of the economic meltdown? Whew! But we keep standing up, yes? You are getting back on your feet each time you get whacked down, aren’t you? Hey if I can, so can you.
February 11th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
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' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . ''; } ?>Marlett & Me: Attack of the Awkward Algebra Analogy
One of the things we learn in seventh grade (besides how to hide that one sock…) is how to move linear algebra formula elements to the other side of the = symbol. The key to doing it most efficiently, if I remember correctly, is to first reduce both sides to their smallest common denominator. Remember? (Did I just make your stomach turn? Algebra! Run away!)
February 4th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: Tried, Trite & True
The road to financing your film is paved with heavy-assed stones laid by you. That may sound trite, and perhaps it is. Call it the tried, trite and true method if you must. All the same, applicable. This comes to mind due to a conversation I had over the weekend with a guy afflicted by the film-disease that we all share. He has multiple film concepts, two television/broadband pitches and a smattering of successes trailing over the past few years. But he is struggling for financing to keep the whole thing going. Sound familiar? He’s doing commercials and has a music video coming up, but that’s not his dream. He is a moviemaker.
January 28th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
Marlett & Me: 50-Foot Anamorphic Glory
Seeing how this is my first blog, here at MovieMaker, I gotta confession to kick this thing off: I know nothing more than you do.
January 20th, 2009 | Category: Marlett & Me | By David Marlett
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