Money. As I shared a platform with other filmmakers, some of which with long track records in making non-fiction films and are greatly respected in the industry, you realise that essentially for them, for their projects, for me and for mine (Aazadi) it all comes down to that same thing. Money.
The Global Pitch event from Sunny Side of the Doc was this year on the theme of ‘Women’s Voices’. It was with great pride and excitement that Aazadi was chosen from a field of 180 applicants as one of 12 official selections to pitch to the great and good of the non-fiction world. It also provided the first laurels - displayed here - to attach to the project, hopefully the first of what will become many of the lifetime of the project.
To be one of 12 from 180 was already a good achievement which carries with it a kind of validation from the industry that you have a project that needs to be heard about. But within it, there are similar odds to award one of the 12 official selections a €3,000 prize for best pitch. Instantly, you start imagining what that extra €3,000 could do for your project, for Aazadi, that would help pay for the huge amount of translation and transcribing needed and put another little sum in the bank to help when going back to India to continue shooting now the first stage is ‘in the can’ (or in my case - the RAID). You also start to assume it will bring further validation of the project and attract more meetings with those all-important decision makers looking to fil their slates with new productions and to help finance, co-produce and help get new non-fiction projects made and importantly - seen.
This wasn’t the first time I had taken the project to this kind of event. As a film coming out of Germany, it was chosen by German Films to put in their showcase at the 2021 Sunny Side of the Doc which allowed me the chance to network a little (online only) and see the chosen projects present themselves. I was also invited to attend Sheffield DocFest as part of the Welsh delegation, I am a Welshman after all. This allowed me another look into what goes on and view some pitches and things, network a little (again just online) and prepare to do it myself for Aazadi.
So, what happens at these things? When you have a project accepted, you pitch. you stand up in front of everybody assembled (or pre-make a video in times of corona) present a trailer, talk about what the project is about and what you need and want from those assembled and then take questions. Then, you hope to take any interest in the project into further meetings which can turn into further meetings or some follow ups, some emails and, in all honesty, a bit of promise before hearing a great deal of nothing much, at least until the next time or the next event.
I don’t blame the delegates and decision makers for their ghosting after the initial meetings. They are bombarded. There are a lot of great projects out there. In many ways, you take a project in to these things like a model or actor will go to a casting. Those the other side are looking for something. Are we it? Possibly. So we show them what we’ve got, try and convince them a little and hope for the callback. Sometimes it comes, sometimes it doesn’t but, just like the actor or model that ended up with that one big job that started everything, it didn’t happen overnight, so you battle on.
I have however realised that there are a few important things going in to these things. I say important rather than these are the things that create success. After all, what is success? A bag full of cash to make the film you want? If that’s the case, only very few know what to write next and sadly, it is not me. However:
Have a project you truly believe in. Speaking of it with confidence and passion will help
Know your project. Saying ‘I don’t know’ to any question seems to disappoint everyone. I haven’t yet but I have seen it. Know at the drop of a hat, the what, where, who, how and why of the project.
Don’t make it about yourself. Unless, you are a filmmaker with worthy reputation, your perspective is integral to the project or even a part of it, you appear in the film or something really worth mentioning. Ultimately, the project matters most.
Have follow up material. It might be stuff you have used to get in to the event but have it on hand to send to people after the event, don’t assume all have seen it despite their presence.
Build a thick skin. People will ignore your emails or simply just not see them. They get a lot, they are humans with lives, it will happen, it will go dark, but hold on to those few great and little leads even if all they do is provide confidence in what you are doing. It will be needed!
Perhaps an unofficial 6th one is one I cannot yet confirm but it is something around being memorable. The first event I did with the project where I was able to pitch was one called Medimed (again just online). I took part with the project in a ‘speed dating’ event where you get 15 minutes or so to present a delegate/decision maker your pitches and take a few questions and then follow it up with a little Q&A and then hope. I thought at the time it was a washout for me but then, during Global Pitch, took a question from someone at a great company who I would love to work with who remembered me and the project. One of the comments was on how the project had developed (which it always is doing) as had the pitch (which it has to). At the time of writing this, it is very much a let’s see where that little lead goes.
Whatever happens. Keep going. Apply to the next one. Attend the next one. Speak to people who were nice to you before, complimentary to the project and remind them of what you have hopefully made somewhat memorable previously.
I realise as I get to the end of this little blog that it has gone from me writing about my experience pitching Aazadi to advising an imaginary reader on what to do. The realisation has just hit me that in all reality, I am giving myself a talking to, reassuring myself and telling myself to keep going and the project will come together, find the partners it needs and, most importantly, find it’s audience. It needs to and, it deserves to.
So, with that, back to work. See you at the next event where I hope to pitch Aazadi or whatever I might make next (got a couple up my sleeve already). So, see you there.