Right now (late October 2007 as I write this), we're in between two of the most important film markets for indie filmmakers: MIPCOM (mid-October in Cannes, France) and AFM (early November, Santa Monica).
These are basically film (and TV) industry conventions, where film distributors and sales agents sell distribution rights to various international distributors, TV channels and other outlets (such as the emerging online video-on-demand segment).
One industry vet came back from AFM saying that no filmmaker should ever go: it was too depressing. Basically, you see these indie films for sale like carcasses on hooks at a butcher. The art ain't here. Just the commerce.
In reality, that's the only way you'll get to be a working filmmaker: if you take the time to learn the industry and meet the players who buy "content".
They're at the markets. That's where they do business. You should try to be there too -- or at least read the news that comes out of the markets and pay attention to what's going on.
If you want to be a filmmaker, you must learn about the distribution side of the business -- the markets are great place to start.
Just hold your nose.
P.S. It's also a bad time to be trying to reach distributors at their offices, since most of the acquisitions execs are traveling to/from the markets.
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