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Inside-Out, Outside-In

~ Every journey worth taking…starts on the inside.

Inside-Out, Outside-In

Monthly Archives: July 2012

Indie Filmmakers to Google Fiber: THANK YOU!

26 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by hunterlh in Uncategorized

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Google Fiber, Google Fiber TV, independent film, indie film, indie filmmakers, indie filmmakers with google fiber tv, niche enterta, niche marketing, online marketing, traditional hollywood, what does google fiber tv mean for filmmakers

Never have I been so jealous of Kansas City.  The genius geeks over at Google decided (presumably for a great reason) to choose Kansas City as the launching pad to test its new Google Fiber technology. According to their site, the technology will allow users to download content from Google Fiber TV channels, Netflix and other sources.  And Google claims that viewers will be able to see HDTV quality over the Internet seamlessly and at rates up to 100 times faster than normal broadband.  It will also include a 1 TB drive that allows you to record up to eight programs simultaneously, in addition to being able to choose from HD channels online like a DVR player.

It’s official. The difference between your computer and your television no longer exists.

Not only does Google Fiber TV sound amazing for the end users (enjoy your head start, Kansas City), it’s even more amazing for today’s crop of rising indie filmmakers. Why? Well, think about this. Traditional Hollywood’s biggest asset has been their huge financial and structural advantage when it comes to the distribution network of theaters, cable channels and sales outlets around the world. How could I – the little guy – get my product next to their product at a multiplex?  How could I – the little guy – negotiate for my project to be on a cable channel when big Hollywood has such a huge competitive advantage? How could I convince stores – and even Netflix – that carry dvd’s to choose my products over the dvd’s of traditional Hollywood?  The old answer was, “I couldn’t.”  The new answer is, “It doesn’t matter.” This huge structural advantage that traditional Hollywood built up? If Google Fiber TV lives up to its billing, that structural advantage of traditional Hollywood just collapsed.

Once Google Fiber takes over (and it will…or, at minimum, something like it), my web show “Dumbass Filmmakers!” will appear in its full HDTV glory at anyone’s fingertip. It will be as easy to find with a Google search as Tom Cruise’s latest film.  And when the audience plays it on their device, it will appear to them on their big screen tv at home, as programming.  Not Internet television programming.  But programming, period. Finally, consuming independent film product will be JUST AS EASY for the audience as consuming Studio-made fare.  So thank you, Google Fiber, for leveling the playing field.

That doesn’t mean that Google Fiber will suddenly introduce a whole new generation of indie filmmakers (although I think it’s possible).  Obviously, big traditional Hollywood still has its second biggest weapon – its ability to generate and use star talent – to draw bigger audiences and more interest to their products. The average consumer of entertainment will be much more drawn to click and watch something they know rather than something they don’t know. However, indie filmmakers have a golden opportunity to take advantage of social media and lower production costs to put themselves in contention. And as the porn industry has shown with its online juggernaut, niche content plays really well online and consumers don’t expect pristine production quality from every product they consume. Indie filmmakers have a much easier time serving niche audiences because they have more freedom to explore subject matter with their lower budgets and, let’s be frank, they are often more authentic as human beings. And that’s a weakness for traditional Hollywood going forward.  You see, they’re used to making “generalist” fare, stuff you can feel comfortable watching with your girlfriend, cousin Joe, grandma and your nephew. So the content has to be general and accessible enough for all to enjoy (or at least not go screaming out of the theater). But success online is much more likely to come from niche fare.  You search online to figure out how to fix a specific problem or join a group online of people with similar interests. You don’t need cousin Joe to like what you’re watching.  After all, you’re watching from the privacy of your own home.  So I predict that filmmakers with a unique appeal to a niche or niches will be very nicely served by Google Fiber and the collapse of computers vs. television into one big computer-television.

So as for Big Traditional Hollywood, this indie filmmakers says,”It’s On.”

Hunter Lee Hughes is a filmmaker and actor living and working in Los Angeles and the founder of Fatelink. His current feature film Guys Reading Poems is touring film festivals and this blog is dedicated to the process of making his second feature film, “Inside-Out, Outside-In.” If you enjoy the blog, please support our team by following us on Facebook, Twitter (@Fatelink) or Instagram (@Fatelink).

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Making Lists…and a timeline

23 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by hunterlh in Development

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casting, independent film, indie films, inside-out-outside-in, making lists of actors, pre-production, timeline for indie films

Today, I finally returned to tasks relating to Inside-Out, Outside-In after focusing most of my energy on the release of a web series (see below).  The two main tasks were to write down a timeline for the project and begin writing a list of potential talent for a key character.

The timeline existed before – just in my head.  But it did help to write down all the target dates as I go into high gear finding investors and collaborators.  People need to know how much of their time the project is likely to require and when milestones should occur.  I found too that whatever knowledge of film festivals that I retain is giving me a hint of how the film’s schedule might affect its initial release and which festivals may be appropriate to target.

Then, I started a list of actresses to consider for the role of Rose Meresh, a key supporting role in the film.  Making lists of actors – especially at this stage – is a whole lot of fun.  I don’t limit myself based on the actor’s status or how likely they are to do the project.  I just think in terms of the archetypal energy of the character and who might be right for it.  It also helps to crystallize the character in my mind because such a list inevitably brings up one of several ways to go with the character.  By the end of a brainstorming session, I had six or seven names on the list. One is a major movie star household name.  Another is a friend I worked with in a play a few years back. And of course, even this list can barely qualify as rough draft territory.  The casting of other roles could really impact who’s right for the role of Rose.  But she’s one of my favorites in the script, so it’s crucial I know who to approach.  Because I believe that it’s approaching the right people that matters most. If you confidently approach the right actress, you don’t just know who the character is in your GUT, you know how to articulate the essence of the character to other human beings.  And you better! Because you’ll be approaching agents, managers and actors and communicating with them about the character.  Once you’ve approached the right actor, it’s up to the “Casting Gods” whether or not your first choice comes through.  But the process teaches you so much about the character that you’ll be able to make maximum use of the actor who eventually plays the role.

Hunter Lee Hughes is a filmmaker and actor living and working in Los Angeles and the founder of Fatelink. His current feature film Guys Reading Poems is touring film festivals and this blog is dedicated to the process of making his second feature film, “Inside-Out, Outside-In.” If you enjoy the blog, please support our team by following us on Facebook, Twitter (@Fatelink) or Instagram (@Fatelink).

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Still on track….

01 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by hunterlh in Uncategorized

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So today I was officially asked, “Are you still writing the feature blog?”  The answer, “YES.”  

My other project – a webseries (which at 68 minutes may as well have been a feature) – premieres in just under two weeks.  So, I’m going a bit nuts finishing that project.  But everything I learned on the webseries will be rolled into the feature…and, soon enough, this blog again.  But in the meantime, I just can’t cheat my current project.  Please stay patient with me and I’ll be back soon! 🙂

In the meantime, here’s the trailer for the series…

 

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Video

Dumbass Filmmakers! – Official Trailer

01 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by hunterlh in Uncategorized

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