There are many things to discuss here that would start a comment stream between us that scrolls off the bottom of the world, so instead I’ll leave it until next month in Berlin where we can sit and dig deep into these ideas and many more over good German beer.

See you soon

(2) refresh a good piece by creating new supporting data for it and sticking this finding in the lede. Use flash-polling services (such as mine, HonestlyNow.com) to quantify or pressure test, or myth-bust. Do a series of micro-polls and create a hot infographic of them. Publishers love infographics and they can be rich w links back to your site.

PS — no DISQUS?

Another idea is to time the release of a film to a particular date (such as the anniversary of something). Nothing new here – it has been done for years. If your film is about the Olympics, put it out when everyone is talking about the Olympics.

But the real-time newsjacking efforts of drafting off breaking news are the best (and least used).

“usually wait for grants/handouts/public money/grab-ass-ing from public funding bodies and organizations as a vote of approval or a proof of concept.” – mostly yes. We do not really have a lot of private funding here; if you want a film made: Most people go for grants etc. (Hobo! With a Shotgun, Rollertown etc.) Most of these films need to have a certain ‘cultural significance’ hence why a lot of the movies are crap and not seen. Rollertown, however, did it a little differently as, because of their online audience (It is made by the sketch troupe Picnicface), they got a distributor on board early who doubled their budget; and then a small crowd funding campaign giving rewards to those that donated.
Personally; Grants are nice. But I want to make films that are seen. I don’t understand the “Spend months and months and months making a shortfilm to screen at two festivals and then never seen again. (Pretty much: Submit to TIFF, and local festival. Done.)” Idea that we seem to have here.

“speak really slowly” – Yup. I spent a LOT of time in front of the computer as I grew up, and like to speak as fast as I think as a result; so I often need to repeat myself. The filmmakers here don’;t seem to be about constantly marketing themselves. It’s almost passive. “So, what do you do?” “Oh, you know. I do some PA work here and there.” Rather than striking up a conversation; and really informing the person about what you do, and what your specialties are.

“are not as willing as Americans to sample the latest online techniques at generating mass social media awareness for their projects.” – ohhh, yes. This is a biggie. Even here in Halifax; where we usually do things differently. So many people seem to think that just making a facebook page, posting boring things (Maybe a set photo or two etc.) about their film will garner interest. We had a producer some into our class asking us about how to improve online presence and garner interest in the film organically, and it seemed as though she had been asked by someone else; she hadnt the slightest interest in how an online presence could really help the film flourishand gain attention for her and the director.

“cannot really break out entrepreneurially in a domestic film market which is dominated in the main by public cultural gatekeepers” – I agree with this, there are SO many Canadian films out there that no one has seen, or won’t be made, because they either A: Follow the cultural guidelines to a ‘T’ and, simply, are not that good. or 2: Do not follow the cultural guidelines and does not contain enough ‘Canadian Content’ and, therefore, will not be made. There are some outliers (Telefilm recently introduced “Envelopes” which is essentially money for those that have proven themselves profitable producers; and allows them to go around a lot of regulations to get a film funded, which resulted in a few enjoyable films)

In short: a lot of this list I find is correct. More than a little belittling to Canadians but it is very true so I can’t say anything, ha ha. I feel as though a lot of the younger filmmakers, especially in places like here in Halifax, are breaking the mold a little (A few of our Film 5′s, which are films shot on film and about 5 minutes long, actually had Indie GoGo campaigns; A first for that type of thing)

I, for one, feel as though the way Candians make films make it easier to do it as a living; but harder to make films that people will enjoy going through the ‘standard’ routes. I am regretful that we do not have Kickstarter in Canada. Indie goGo is great but it is hard to get that final push without an “All or nothing” risk.

P.S: Also; Canadian’s almost never refer to them as ‘Movies’, especially if they make them for a living. It is still almost ALWAYS ‘Films’. I do not know how it is in the U.S.A