I bought this movie the minute I finished watching the trailer. As an Indie FIlmmaker early in my career, looking to hit the festivals, I figured this movie would provide a lot of great info about the adventure, and it also looked great for some laughs. I was not disappointed!
The movie starts out addressing our usual expectations and dreams of how we will win over the festival circuit. Right away we are given an eye opener that "It's not that." At one time the large festivals were the place to break open onto the film scene and that is how the dreams are perpetuated. In "Official Rejection" the reality of the large festival scene is explained how it truely is today and several notions are explained as to how things got that way.
The movie starts out addressing our usual expectations and dreams of how we will win over the festival circuit. Right away we are given an eye opener that "It's not that." At one time the large festivals were the place to break open onto the film scene and that is how the dreams are perpetuated. In "Official Rejection" the reality of the large festival scene is explained how it truely is today and several notions are explained as to how things got that way.
We follow, among others, Scott Storm's efforts to get his film "Ten 'til Noon" into the smaller festivals that are offered around the world. Sometimes heart breaking, sometimes victorious, but most of the times pretty funny, if you are not Scott Storm. Luckily he is able to laugh at his own tribulations. It's better than crying.
With great insight from major players in the Indie Film industry, such as Kevin Smith and Chris Gore, we get a taste of how it used to be and how it is now. We get a behind the scenes flavor of what goes on within a festival among the judges and other officials while selecting entrants and winners.
This film is a "must see" for any independent filmmaker looking to hit the festival circuit. It dispells many of the myths, lays out what you need to be prepared for, and also provides many laughs to keep you locked in to the film, as if the wealth of information was not enough. If ever someone were to hold your hand through the process, this film is about as close as you will get. And if you notice those kinds of things, the editing is great as well. A big "thank you" to Paul Osborne for making this reality check, fun ride, and information available!
- Steve Olander
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The end result - for me - after viewing this film AND doing pretty much the same thing with my movie - I sincerely think the days of Indie Filmmakers entering/going to film festivals looking for distribution deals - are/is a thing of the past - I think what needs to happen is this: Indie Filmmakers need to look at film festivals as platforms for gaining an audience for their project - and that's it. The days of getting distribution deals - are pretty much over for true indie films via a film festival.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a shame? It's interesting how something can start out hitting the mark on the purpose for which it was created, and then morph into something completely different, leaving a void where it once fulfilled the exact goal. I guess that's what happens once money comes into the equation?
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