Pitching Lab
Do you have a script or a great idea for a film?
That’s fantastic – but what should you call it, and how can you get the green light to get it into production?
Choosing the right title for your film is not always as simple as it seems, but we can help! Learn the rules and when to break them, find out how to craft your words and avoid common pitfalls like direct translations, and explore all the mysterious elements that contribute to an effective, engaging and enticing title that is a perfect match for your film.
Once you have the title, it’s time to put together a pitch to convey your concept and your passion to the people who can help you make it – the busy producers, distributors and financiers. Daunting it may be, but with the right tips you can put together a pitch that concisely and precisely sells your idea and gets the right people excited about being involved. This is the session for filmmakers who need to know what to say and how to say it – and who yearn to learn the secrets to engaging with the audience and, more
importantly, making people want to invest their time and money in your project.
Focus on Short
We see shorts as a very good way to engage the international enterainment world market, both a school for humility and perfection.
We will learn from our panelist about the key role of the French Film Center (CNC) in the shorts industry. Morad Kertobi who runs the shorts department at CNC will cast a light on the key figures in the shorts industry, and put it in perspective.
Who show shorts films in theatres and festivals and how. Who buys them in France and abroad, which price, which monetization avenues and how to connect to them. We will share on the needs for platforms for co production.
We will also discuss the specific strategies filmmakers should follow when designing their festival circuit. Short film and big ambitions, think smart and network.
Morad Kertobi heads the Short Film Department at CNC (Direction de la Création, des Territoires et des Publics) his key missions : manage the various subsidies granted to short film producers and coordinate with the different players in the industry: authors, producers, syndicates, schools, broadcasters (theatres, festivals, networks distributors…)
The Art of Posters
A great poster captures the essence of the film using artistic expression to create something which is fun and colorful as life…but also a finely-tuned commercial vehicle. Getting the mix just right can, quite literally, make or break your film.
Promotional posters take many forms, shapes and sizes, with images and words blended in a variety of ways, but the principles for success remain remarkably simple. In this session, we will look at some classic poster examples, walk through a range of genres and explore different approaches to suit different actors or different target markets to see how good posters work.
You’ll learn how to select and brief an agency or graphic designer, how to choose elements like images, teasers, catch lines and quotes, and how to participate in the creative process to get the best results. You’ll even learn how to break the rules to create extra impact and visibility.
Promotional posters take many forms, shapes and sizes, with images and words blended in a variety of ways, but the principles for success remain remarkably simple. In this session, we will look at some classic poster examples, walk through a range of genres and explore different approaches to suit different actors or different target markets to see how good posters work.
You’ll learn how to select and brief an agency or graphic designer, how to choose elements like images, teasers, catch lines and quotes, and how to participate in the creative process to get the best results. You’ll even learn how to break the rules to create extra impact and visibility.
The Science Behind Trailers (and Teasers)
Making the trailer or ‘teaser’ is almost as complex as film making itself. Short – but not too short. Long enough to excite and entice – but not too long. Visual, yes – but should you take a graphic, subliminal, narrative, or perhaps a different approach? At this session, you’ll learn how and why you make trailers and teasers, who you make them for and which media is the best choice for their release.
We’ll unpick the science behind classic teasers like ‘Spinal Tap’ teaser by Rob Eriner and Oliver Stone’s The Doors, look at how ‘Detective’ by Godard used images that didn’t even belong to the music he used, and examine how to use music, like in the classic ‘Apocalypse Now’ trailer.
Importantly, we’ll also talk about your release strategy – where and when your trailer will be shown. Today’s teasers are not limited to the theatre, but can be launched across a range of channels including the exciting possibilities of social media, where you may just achieve the holy grail of going from trailer, to buzz, to a viral sensation screening to millions…at no charge. It’s all ahead of you in this session
We’ll unpick the science behind classic teasers like ‘Spinal Tap’ teaser by Rob Eriner and Oliver Stone’s The Doors, look at how ‘Detective’ by Godard used images that didn’t even belong to the music he used, and examine how to use music, like in the classic ‘Apocalypse Now’ trailer.
Importantly, we’ll also talk about your release strategy – where and when your trailer will be shown. Today’s teasers are not limited to the theatre, but can be launched across a range of channels including the exciting possibilities of social media, where you may just achieve the holy grail of going from trailer, to buzz, to a viral sensation screening to millions…at no charge. It’s all ahead of you in this session