A 12-Step Plan to Produce Your Indie Film - Ep78

In this episode, Sue Collins takes you through a 12-step plan to produce an indie film. The inspiration for this episode came from a post on the @MoonshineCommunicationsAcademy Instagram page, which had a basic outline of the 12 steps. However, due to the limited space on Instagram, the post didn't expand on each step and so that's what Sue does in this episode.  Overall, the 12 steps discussed in this episode provide a roadmap for turning an idea into a cinematic reality.

The steps and relevant podcast episodes that dive deeper into each step are:
1. Develop a Clear Concept: 
- Ep42 Ingredients for a successful documentary film proposal Listen here
-Ep35 How to develop your documentary Part 1 Ideation Listen here 

2. Thorough Research:
- Ep 41 How to master pre-interviews Listen here 

3. Create a Detailed Plan: 
-Ep 44 How to effectively plan out your films pre-production phase.  Listen here
- Ep 36 How to develop your documentary part 2 is planning.  Listen here 

4. Build a Strong Team: 
- Ep 56 How to assemble the best crew to make your documentary film. Listen here 

5. Secure Funding: 
- Ep 43 How to pitch your film. Listen here
- Ep 34 How do you get your film funded? The three questions you must know who to answer. Listen here 

6. Production / Capture Footage:
- Ep 54 The 5 key types of shoots you’ll do during documentary film production. Listen here
- Ep 53 - Looking at the big picture. Listen here 

7. Embrace Flexibility:   
- Ep 67 Being adaptable is vital for indie filmmakers.  Listen here 

8. Focus on Storytelling: 

9. Post Production: 

10. Legal Considerations: 
- Ep57 The importance of getting consent from your film participants. Listen here

11. Marketing and PR Strategy:
- Ep 69 is all about how to define the ideal audience for your film.   Listen here
- Ep 68 ho two use publicity to promote your film.  Listen here

12. Distribution Strategy:
Ep 70 Is What is an impact film? And what's the difference between distribution and outreach?

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Transcript

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SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello and welcome back. Today I am going to take you through a 12-step plan to produce your indie film. And the inspiration for this podcast, I've got to say, it actually came from a post that I did on our Instagram page a few weeks ago, and it was basically just that a really basic outline of 12 steps in a plan to produce an indie film. But the thing with Instagram is you can't really go into very much detail. And because I talk about these things all the time, I thought perhaps what I'd do is expand on what those 12 steps are in this podcast and also point you towards the other episodes that I've previously done, which tell you in depth about each of these 12 subject topics. So that way, if you're wanting a deep dive into any one of these 12, you'll kind of know where to go and look for that additional information. And I should also mention that I am only talking about things that I have done myself. So when you're hearing me talk about these 12 steps, these are the steps that I take to produce many of the films that we do through Moonshine Agency, the production company I run in Melbourne. And we produce a number of films every year following this pretty simple 12-step plan. The thing I will say about it though is you've got to do the work. If you want to make a film of your own, you have to diversify your skill set. You have to learn all the different steps to filmmaking. And it can be a hugely rewarding thing, but it can also be really challenging. So if you're not sure where to start, you can really get stuck before you even begin to make your project. So these are the top 12 steps that will help you navigate the overall process, and they can be used as a map to map out how to get that really interesting idea in your head out and into finally a cinema. So stay with me as I work through these 12 steps today, and hopefully you'll find them really helpful. And you can go then and deep dive into any of the 12 areas that you need to because almost certainly I will have done a podcast and I'll point them to you as we go along. Welcome to the Moonshine Moonshot Podcast. I'm your host, Sue Collins, and if you've landed here, it means you're wanting to find out more about how to make filmmaking a sustainable career. And you're also curious about how to make meaningful work that fills your cup. You're ready to learn how to make movies that matter, build a sustainable career, and have a positive impact on your audiences. So you are in the right place. Filmmaking has so many parts, and I'm sharing what I've learned over the past 15 years producing impact films that reach their intended audience and support real-world change. So let's get started. Alright, so step number one, develop a clear concept. So starting with a compelling and focused concept for your documentary or film, you know, you've got to really clearly define your subject, your theme, and the story that you want to tell because a well-defined concept will guide your filmmaking decisions. It's going to create uh and and help you create and maintain a really cohesive narrative as you go along. And it's also extremely useful when you have to create the pitch or your proposal that you're going to need to raise your finance. On this, I spoke in great depth in episode 42. It's all about the ingredients for a successful documentary film proposal. So that's episode 42. And also episodes 35 and 36 are how to develop your documentary, and that is on ideation, and also gets into the planning. So if you're wanting to learn a bit more about how to get that very initial concept idea going, I recommend jumping back to those episodes. And I'll also put that in the show notes so you don't feel like you have to stop and write all this down now. You'll be able to find it all in the show notes. Or you can jump over to Instagram and you can, it's almost like a check sheet that I've already created. So I'm kind of just doing this in a little bit reverse today. So step one, develop a clear concept. Now the next bit, I love step two. This is probably my happy place. It's research, thorough research. A lot of people shy away from research, but I just find it fascinating. And I could spend my entire time in just development alone. But anyway, sidebar there. So research, what do you got to do? You've got to conduct in-depth research into your subject matter because this will not only help you understand the topic better, but it's also going to ensure that you approach the documentary with objectivity, credibility, and accuracy. And you can check out episode 41 on how to master pre-interviews with talent before you go into production, because that's a really helpful way to do research, is to go and talk to people in the field that your project's about and ask them. They are going to know the information. And you might get some fantastic interviews from your talent, you know, that you can even use in your final documentary. So pre-interviewing is really, really useful and it's a great way to conduct research. So that's step two, research. Which of course leads to step number three, which is create a detailed plan. Now, I also know that many of you are cringing at the idea of a plan because a lot of people really don't like planning things out, but it is so important if you're going to actually get your film into fruition. So develop a comprehensive production plan that outlines the shooting schedule, locations, equipment needs, budgets, personnel. Look, a well-thought-out plan will make the production process more organized, more efficient, and way less stressful for you. Now I did a huge amount of in-depth on this in episode 44, which is all about how to effectively plan out your film's pre-production phase. And then again, I spoke about it in episode 36 on how to develop your documentary. So check out either of those two episodes if you want more on how to actually build a plan for your documentary. Four, build a strong team. This is so important. Filmmaking is a team sport, and you have got to surround yourself with a dedicated and skilled team that share your passion for the project. You've got to collaborate with individuals who bring expertise in areas like cinematography, sound, editing, and producing because it will greatly enhance the quality of your film. And, you know, if you're making a documentary, it's quite possible that you will be the producer, the director, and the cinematographer. But if you can get somebody who's really skilled with sound and then with editing, it's going to greatly improve the outcome for your project. So anywhere you can work with really talented filmmakers, highly recommend doing that. Episode 56 is also on how to assemble the best crew to make your documentary film. Oh, I was just looking for a place where I could learn everything I need to know to make an amazing film that changes the world. It's such a shame that that place doesn't exist. Oh what? Hang on. It does. Oh, if you're looking for inspiration, ideas, tools, and ways to learn how to make movies that matter, head to Moonshine Communications Academy over at Instagram and all your problems will be solved.

SPEAKER_00 7:58

Warning, results may vary depending on the questions, and success is not guaranteed. Always read the label.

SPEAKER_01 8:04

Now, number five, secure funding. This is possibly where I would say the majority of time for producers goes in film producing. It's finding the money is if only it didn't suck up so much of your time. Because imagine what you could do if you weren't spending all your time just trying to get some money to make your film. Because unless you're independently wealthy or filmmaking is just a hobby, then indie documentaries require financial support. So you can explore various funding options like crowdfunding campaigns, grants, sponsorships, personal investment. So many ways to raise finance, and a well-prepared budget will help you allocate funds effectively and manage expenses. So you can check out EP 43 on how to pitch your film, and episode 34 is on how do you get your film funded. The three questions you must know. And you've got to know how to answer those three questions. So I really recommend listening to that one because that's going to give you a good inside running when you actually get a chance to pitch your film to a potential funder. You'll already know the three core key questions they're likely to ask, and then you'll know how to answer them before you even get there. Number six. Yay! You actually get to film your film. You're going to capture the footage. So pay attention to the visuals and the storytelling aspects of your documentary. Capture engaging interviews, authentic moments, b-roll footage that adds depth and context to your story. And I can't emphasize this enough is the more b-roll that you can get, the better. It is so often that you're so busy and so focused on capturing a really good interview that you forget you need those little moments, you know, them making a cup of tea, walking their dog outside, just anything that helps bring your story to life. Because talking heads, you know, they can be pretty awesome, but they do also need a bit more for your audience to bring it all together. So do not forget the B-roll. And you can check out episode 54, the five key types of shoots that you'll do during documentary film production, and episode 53 looking at the big picture. If you want a little bit more in-depth on the production process for your film. So you're halfway through already because we're up to step seven. Embrace flexibility. Documentary filmmaking can be really unpredictable. So be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities that arise during filming because flexibility and adaptability will allow you to capture really authentic and unexpected moments, but it will also help you stay sane. And episode 67 is all about being adaptable and why it's vital for indie filmmakers. Number eight is focus on storytelling because remember that a strong narrative is key to engaging your audience. So craft a compelling story arc that hooks viewers from the beginning and keeps them invested throughout the film. So make sure you share a point of view. Don't play it safe and try to please everyone. You I mean, it seems obvious you're making a film, you want to tell a good story. So really keep your eye on that prize. Keep focused on what is the story you're telling and what is the best way to tell that story. Nine, post-production. The post-production and editing process is where your footage comes together to create the final story. You're going to edit with intention, pacing, and a keen eye for what serves the narrative best. So don't be afraid to make tough editing decisions to streamline your film. It's going to make the film much more enjoyable for your viewers if you really think through all the different shots that you've got in there and do they progress the story. The next one, 10, is legal and ethical considerations, which, yeah, I know. It's as dull as it sounds. But make sure you have the necessary rights and permissions for any copyrighted material, music, or images that you use in your documentary. You've got to respect the privacy and wishes of your subject, you know, the people that you've interviewed, basically, and adhere to the ethical guidelines in your storytelling. So if you've told people the subject of your film and why you're interviewing them, you need to respect that that's what they're giving their time to give to you. So don't trick them into thinking you're telling a story about one thing and then make them look really bad on camera because no amount of legal documentation that they've signed is going to cover you for that kind of stuff. So make sure you've got all your, you know, your I's dotted and your T's crossed, as the lawyers like to say. Make sure that you have all the right permissions and I'm not sure really what else I can say about that, but I did do a whole episode number 57 on the importance of getting consent from your film's participants. So definitely have a listen to that one before you actually roll camera. Make sure you've got everything lined up to keep you safe legally. Number 11. This one I also really love. Marketing and PR. So you've got to develop a marketing plan as early as possible and begin to build your social media profile and attract an audience who are ready and keen to see your film when it's released. You should also consider hiring a publicist to help you promote your film, but there's a huge amount you can do yourself with publicity. And episode number 69 is all about how to define the ideal audience for your film, which is key to marketing to them. And episode 68 was how to use publicity to promote your film. And I can't emphasize enough how much you should listen to those two episodes, even if you don't listen to anything else, because if you don't know how to market your film and you don't start building your audience as early as possible, it it doesn't matter. Even if you're going to give your film to a distributor, you just cannot tell people often enough how important marketing and PR is for getting your film seen. So really do a deep dive into the strategies you can use there. And the last one, distribution. Plan how you're going to share your documentary with the world. There's so many options here as well in this day and age. You can do things like film festivals, which are very popular with early filmmakers, early career filmmakers. There is so many online platforms that you can explore with video on demand and you know, streamers and all the rest of it. You might want to do local screenings to reach your target audience. So we do this a lot with our films. We hire cinemas and we show it to local audiences. And a well-thought-out distribution strategy can really help your film reach a much wider audience. And I talked about that in depth in episode 70, which is what is an impact film and what's the difference between distribution and outreach? Because depending on the topic of your film, you may want to do outreach as well. So there you have it. There's the 12-step plan. I'll just quickly refresh for you. Step one, develop a clear concept. Step two, thoroughly research what your project is about. Step three, create a detailed plan of how you're going to actually roll out your production. Step four, build a really strong team around you. Five, secure finance, get funding. Step six, production. Go and capture your film. Seven, embrace flexibility. Be an adaptable filmmaker. It will just make your life easier. Step eight, focus on storytelling. Step nine, post-production. Ten legal and ethical considerations. Eleven, marketing and PR strategy. And twelve, distribution strategy. There you have it. 12-step plan. And if you want the check sheet for this, head over to Instagram and you can find it in the post there. Or you can look in the show notes where I'll list all the different episodes that I have suggested for you relating to all these different steps in the plan. And look, just remember, independent filmmaking requires dedication, persistence, and a willingness to learn. So stay passionate about your subject and maintain a strong commitment to your vision even when faced with challenges on the way. And if you want to go even more in depth on any of the above topics, then you can head on over to at Moonshine Communications Academy. In the bio you're going to find links to all kinds of resources to help you with your filmmaking. So good luck. Can't wait to hear what you think of this episode. And I will be back next week with more on independent filmmaking. Speak to you soon. Thank you for joining me today and every week here on the Moonshine Moonshot Podcast. If you're wanting a deeper dive into the topics being discussed on the show, then I would encourage you to head over to Moonshine CommunicationsAcademy.com and sign up for the weekly drop of moonshine via your email. Being on our newsletter community means we can support your filmmaking journey in a more tailored way as well as keeping you up to date with the resources we share on how to make movies that matter and so much more that we deliver inside your inbox every single week. So head over to moonshinecommunicationsacademy.com and at the bottom of the homepage you'll see a little box to add your email address and as a thank you for signing up, we'll also send you a bonus ebook to support your messaging. So voila, you'll be on the way to receive all the best content weekly.