Dominic: Okay, first thing is to come clean: we don't exactly know "how to make and distribute our own ultra-low-budget film." But then nobody does. And everybody does. Peter Broderick, Jon Reiss, Scott Kirsner, etc. are essential reading, especially for the distribution end of things, and I've been benefiting from Peter's workshops for years, but one of the main things they teach is that each project offers unique possibilities for distribution.
it's not up to anyone but me whether or not my film gets made and distributed. Dominic and I are going to make this film one way or another whether or not anyone else gives us money to make it. And we're going to invite people to see it whether or not someone else pays to distribute it -- self-distribution of DVDs through the internet and screenings at non-traditional venues are part of the plan from the beginning.
D: So, as we make and distribute our film, Zola Jumped In, we want you to take the ride with us, learn with us, teach us, participate in Zola, and hopefully make and distribute your own film.
R: A bit about our project. Zola Jumped In is a contemplative, ritualistic experience of a 15-year-old girl's life as she turns to a gang, a neighborhood church, and pregnancy for a sense of belonging and purpose. Dominic has been working on the script for a couple years and recently decided that one way or the other, at one of three budget levels ($30,000, $100,000, or $400,000), the film is going to be shot next July.
D: Right, and the first thing I wanted to do before continuing to spin my wheels on my own was to find a producing partner. I know from previous experience (and some of you probably do as well) that finding a producing partner can be quite a challenge. I found the contact information for a few producers of similar films by subscribing for a month to IMDBpro. I actually got responses but no real leads. But a friend put me in touch with her nephew from Spain, Ruben. We actually were able to meet up in Seoul, Korea (at McDonald's -- his request), where he was finishing his MA in Audiovisual Communications and I was visiting my nephew. I was really impressed that Ruben had taken it upon himself to read my script twice and email me some great notes. Right away, he wasn't afraid to tell me his concerns about the script. But it all came with a "we can do this" attitude.
R: I really liked the project and thought it was a great opportunity to produce my first feature film as I pursue my MFA in Producing at American Film Institute in Los Angeles. And Dominic is an interesting person to collaborate with: he's not only an experienced filmmaker with his MFA from Chapman University, but also a Dominican friar and priest. Yet Zola is not exactly a religious film. It's got all this Catholic (and gang) ritual, but it's not a message film. It asks lots of questions. But even the questions are subsidiary to the artful, emotional experience of it all.
D: Now Ruben was clear with me from the beginning that he doesn't have experience getting financing for features. So we're still looking for a third producing partner to help with that. But Mud Puddle Films is a nonprofit after all, and if we can get sufficient grants and donations, it will mean more revenue for Mud Puddle Films (which can then be used for the next project) and much simpler accounting -- we don't have an accountant or any other staff. But the bottom line is we need money and aren't at all sure how we'll get it.
R: But we're gonna. And while we want to pay as many people as much money as possible to make and distribute Zola, we will constantly be inviting people to be a part of this adventure for little or no money if necessary.
D: Similarly, one of the most interesting and innovative ideas I've learned from Broderick is to involve affinity groups (groups that for one reason or other might have an interest in Zola) to be involved in the making and distribution.
R: In fact, we've just put out a posting for an intern for exactly this. The internship could develop into what Reiss calls a "producer for marketing and distribution." Commitment is for Fall 2010, but an intern who stays on through the July 2011 shoot, post-production, and initial release will receive producer credit. Please submit resume to dominic@mudpuddlefilms.com and ruhorrod@epsg.upv.es.
D: But even prior to this internship, we're starting this blog, our facebook page and our twitter acount reaching out to unknown friends as fellow students, teachers, and collaborators. So jump in with Zola and us and write those comments!
