FEATURE: DEUCE OF SPADES - How I made a period full feature film all by myself on ZERO budget

djkarn105,

Indeed, for small films they don't buy a ton of copies which is why demand is so important. My first film that I directed and got distribution is in this boat. There can't be more than a few that they purchased from my distrubutor (and I don't know the amounts off the top, it wasn't large enough to make a big dent), but demand wasn't high so they've never needed any more.

I like the lead time of being listed in order to attempt to create demand as when my first film was released...I didn't know until about 1 week before it Hit Netflix which wasn't enough time to get folks to pre-demand it.

I understand Faith's concern in terms of sales, but in terms of access, I prefer it being available everywhere it can be.

-M
 
Martay said:
djkarn105,

Indeed, for small films they don't buy a ton of copies which is why demand is so important. My first film that I directed and got distribution is in this boat. There can't be more than a few that they purchased from my distrubutor (and I don't know the amounts off the top, it wasn't large enough to make a big dent), but demand wasn't high so they've never needed any more.

I like the lead time of being listed in order to attempt to create demand as when my first film was released...I didn't know until about 1 week before it Hit Netflix which wasn't enough time to get folks to pre-demand it.

I understand Faith's concern in terms of sales, but in terms of access, I prefer it being available everywhere it can be.

-M
Click to expand...

Well the thing that doesn't work for me with Netflix is that if you go to Netflix right now and, in the search box, type "Hot Rod Film" my film, which incidentally is the new cult hot rod film all the car people are talking about, and have tagged as the "Next America Graffiti" cannot be found. Neither can American Graffiti, for that matter.

Which means that if a Netflix member goes: "Hey I'd like to find out what hot rod films Netflix has available" (which by the way is a search I did myself when i first joined Netflix) then will NOT find DEUCE OF SPADES.

This seems pretty counterproductive to me.

Instead, at the bottom of my page, it reads: If you liked this film (DOS) you will also like: "Mulholland Drive" "Lone Star" and a couple more films that, to my knowledge, have nothing in common with DOS.


So as you see I cannot reach my audience on Netflix.

The people that already know about DOS will find it because they will do a search for the title "DEUCE OF SPADES".

And if they already know about DOS then they would have bought it from me.

To me, the interest of being on Netflix could have been to have my film connect with more of my audience, a larger number of car people, some of which may possibly not yet have heard of DOS.

But such is not the case.


So short of my sending MY customers to Netflix, I am not sure what Netflix is going to do to increase the visibility of my film.

Not finding DEUCE OF SPADES WHEN YOU DO A SEARCH UNDER "Hot Rod"
is ludacrice, especially since the plot first line reads: "When a HOTROD girl finds a letter blablabla"

So because of the limitation of they current system, Netflix is shooting both themselves, and the filmmaker, in the foot.

That's because their system only looks at TITLES. They shoud change that and have it look also by THEME, not just by title and genre.

Or maybe I just need to rename my flm "DEUCE OF HOTRODS" HAHAHAHAHA!

I still got time ;).
 
Right, Netflix's search engine is restricted to movie titles or people involved (actors, directors etc.), not genres or keywords. I agree that it would probably be a good idea for them to include that. On the other hand, a google search for "hot rod movie" will find your film, although it will do so much more readily if you include another key word like "deuce" or "granger".
 
Just came back from ELECTRIC ENTERTAINMENT 's sound stage. Finalized the mix on REEL 7 & 3. I had no idea that EE actually MAKES films and TV series. They made FLYBOYS, CELLULAR, THE PATRIOT, INDEPENDENCE DAY to name just a few of their past projects, and currently make the TV serie LEVERAGE.

Way cool.

Mix sounding good, especially after I had them crank up all the engine sounds.

"We're gonna hit the red" said Andrew to which I replied: " Let me know when we hit "PURPLE" HAHAHAHA!

OK so maybe I didn't exactely say that, but you get the idea LOL.

Tomorrow and Monday I finish the scoring (hopefully) or at least get it closed to final.
 
I NEED ADVICE GUYS!

I am having new tees printed and adding a sentence under the logo:

A PERIOD HOT ROD FILM


or should it be A HOT ROD PERIOD FILM?

I even had A HOT ROD PERIOD DRAMA, but my friend who is not in the industry was like: Could that mean a play? So I leaned towards replacing DRAMA with the key word FILM.

So which of the above two is the correct way to say this?
 
I dont like those choices, too "techy" besides most moviegoers do not know about "period", outside of sentences and menstrual cycles. Your audience should be anyone who like movies, in/out of the "film" industry. Also more people are searching more for "movie" than "film" online (3 to 1). gotta play to the audience.

I would say: "...A must see hot rod movie" ...also add some of call to action (something that would make them ask you/t-shirt wearer a question)...so...you can say on the shirt: ask how to get your free copy or preview today? etc Then on the back of the t-shirt list won awards (if applicable).

Then have some sort of promo online, that allows for free copy (they provide 20 emails of friends= free movie), now you have 20 potential viewers: 30 minute extended preview and then they have to buy movie :), coupon for viewer to get a discount price for movie, viewing party/additional screening, then at the party/screening sell your own DVDs, sign them/etc as incentive for people to pay.
 
or you can do something to have folks pose questions like.

A HOT ROD FILM PERIOD

Sort of conveying that it's a film about Hot Rods...that's all you need to know...but also softly implying the Period piece nature.

May not be great but it's an alternative.

I agree with Filmographer somewhat that either choice above isn't that catchy.

I like the term Movie as well for general use. It does feel like a word meant for more than just the cinefile set.

-M
 
I agree that the word period is too...something...as well. I'd leave it out. Just saying "A Hot Rod Movie" might suffice since (I'm guessing) there are few of those that *aren't* set in the 50s. If the shirt includes any period-specific images from the film it would also help make that clear.

My $.02.

And speaking of cash, we'll be able to buy them, right? I want one...
 
LOL... All i need to know if which is teh corrrect way to say it:

A PERIOD HOT ROD FILM

or


A HOT ROD PERIOD FILM

I only ask because I'm not from here and English is not my first language. Imitially I went for "A hot rod period film" but my assistant Jerry was like: No it should be a period hot rod film.

But for some reason "A period hot rod film" doens't sound right to me. Am I wrong?

I am asking you gus because you are filmmakers so you know how to properly say above.

So let me know of the two above which is the correct one.

Many thanks :))
 
Period just sounds wrong, depending which country you are from it has the wrong connotations. It does not sound exiting or intriguing or make you think " I must see that" sorry but it sounds a little boring.
 
I'm trying really hard to think about which one sounds better, but honestly, they both just sound odd. I don't know. Is there some other way you can give the impression that it's a period flick? First time I saw your original poster I figured it was set in the 50's or 60's, without reading anything.

If I absolutely had to choose one, I'd probably honestly go for the first one("A PERIOD HOT ROD FILM"), simply because the other one sounds like it's a movie by a guy named Hot Rod Period. :grin:
 
Amazing how you guys don't answer the question... there are always reasons why I do the things that I do. or pick the slogans that I pick. I guess I just need to know if either one are correct English or if only one is, and if so, which one.

Just the facts ma'am ;)

(DRAGNET)

LOL.
 
Neither of your options is grammatically incorrect, but you might want to take note of the nearly unanimous objections here to the use of the word period at all. As a non-native English speaker there may be some subtly awkward implications of the word to your audience members (like us) that are not apparent to you. My final advice to you again, as others largely agree, is leave it out.

Offered to you in the spirit of helpfulness...
 
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