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The Guerrilla Rep: A Book Review by Gib Papazian
A graduate of the Academy of Art, Ben Yennie is dedicated to bringing indies to market. photo: courtesy B. Yennie
MAKING FILMS IS AN ART BUT SELLING
films is a business—sometimes quite a ruthless one. Filmmakers, including this reviewer, tend to be insular and more concerned with vision than the practicalities of recouping a profit to, well, make another film.
But, barring a pure vanity project, isn't that the goal?
The indie film milieu is a social and economic construct apart from the over-hyped, bloated-budget, big-studio Hollywood production. We are playing a different game.
In "The Guerrilla Rep", Ben Yennie deftly peels back the onion of indie film distribution, one sometimes-smelly layer at a time.
As a director of photography for an independent production company, as well as an equity owner/producer, I found this book is an invaluable guide. Having skin in the game concentrates the mind on budgetary matters. It's a bit different when the end results will be measured in personal success or financial failure.
I found "The Guerrilla Rep" an invaluable guide, one which should be carefully perused before the first slate is clapped.
Yennie uses his experience dealing with distributors, particularly at the American Film Market, just held in Los Angeles in the beginning of November, to delve into the nitty-gritty of business networking and negotiation.
Let's face it, making an indie film requires an all-encompassing obsession to see the vision through to the end. Unfortunately, after sometimes years of exhausting work, we often leave the final distro deal to the whim of providence or vagaries of the market.
The abilities to make a quality film and pitch it effectively in 30 seconds are two vastly different skill sets.
Combining the art and the deal, Yennie has studied and provides excellent analysis of the indie market. photo: courtesy B. Yennie
In "The Guerrilla Rep", Yennie clearly lays out a roadmap to make the most of your time in the arena, while avoiding the many pitfalls and cul-de-sacs that can derail a film's chance to find its audience and appropriate market.
As the book delves deeper into the inner workings of film distribution, readers will find surprising and counter-intuitive dos and don'ts.
For example, why do American dramas have the highest chance of sinking like stones?
That's a no-brainer: The international market is responsible for garnering the majority of the bottom-line revenue and foreign audiences want to watch their own indies.
What is the fastest way to turn-on a potential buyer? Know what they are looking for and be ready to lay it on them at a moment's notice. The difference between fishing and catching is not only using the right bait, but knowing where and when to set the hook.
So, before you wade into the deep end of your next film, read "The Guerrilla Rep". And before you start your next project, read it again. Ben Yennie's book is an invaluable tool in helping navigate the confusing and often contradictory labyrinth of getting your film distributed.
Or maybe let Ben take it to market for you. We did.
Gilbert “Gib” Papazian II is an owner and Director of Photography at Once Upon A Thyme Productions and can be reached .