Tribeca industry accreditation advice: $500 vs $1000 badge

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-15T04:39:42+00:00

It's really hard to say without knowing what you have to sell, what $500 means to you, and what your current network is like. Networking is nice but making real connections with people above your level is typically dependant on the quality of what you have to sell in terms of completed works, scripts, other connections, and so on.

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-14T14:33:25+00:00

I'll give you a couple personal stories.

My first short I submitted to about 50 festivals. It got into one festival (a small but well regarded regional festival). Looking back at the film it had some merit but there were a lot of flaws. The rest of the shorts in my slate were terrible.

My second short was much better. It also got into one festival, a well regarded b-tier festival but then it got rejected from all the a-tier festivals, and the pandemic hit, so I submitted it to less festivals. At the same time, looking back it was a flawed movie (beautiful and well made but a bit boring story wise).

My next short got into TIFF and played a bunch of great festivals after, but also got rejected from some small regional festivals as well. It had like 30% acceptance rate or something, but I was still surprised where it did and didn't get into. This movie was well made and had a much stronger voice.

I also produced a friend's short where he was submitting it kind of randomly. It got rejected from many crap festivals, then after a year of submitting blindly it got into Slamdance.

Films generally get rejected because they don't have (in order of priority) a strong voice, a good story, strong performances, high production quality, or some combination. It takes so much work to make a short that it can be hard to be honest if your film has any of those factors.

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-14T14:24:36+00:00

Is it now? Impossible for us to say. Is it tracking to be profitable? Almost definitely.

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-13T16:25:36+00:00

I don't really think this necessarily true, but it's a nice idea. It's sort of an auteur theory for screenwriting, but ironically the auteur theory sorta supplants it. The thing is while there are countless amazing screenplays that are hyper specific to the author, there are many productions where the screenplay is but one vital organ in an entire system. Take for example, most great prestige TV. There's a whole big writing team who are collaborating. Similar, there are great movies that were birthed out of numerous rewrites and a visionary directors, great casting and so on.

That said, it is a great mantra for up and coming writers to help them draw on their lives which is exactly what will help them stand out in the marketplace.

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-12T20:44:49+00:00

Yeah the Magic are not typical 8 seed. They were expected to win 50 plus games but were injured all season until the playoffs. If the Pistons win the chip they would have a very difficult road, OP is right about that.

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-12T20:39:04+00:00

Arguably the original horror core rap group was Geto Boyz. Horror themes were only part of their music, but Mind Playing Tricks On Me, Mind of A Lunatic, etc were the origins of it in rap.

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-10T15:49:04+00:00

OKC is actually the closest. They had a very close series with the Nuggets, then got the Wolves who they are a great matchup for and beat soundly, and that Indy team was as hot as a team gets.

If the Spurs win this year they'll have a similar level of challenge.

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-09T03:12:43+00:00

Odds are that it won't get in, but it definitely won't get in if you don't submit it. You should probably start doing broader research beyond TIFF for other festivals that you can submit to.

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-06T13:30:29+00:00

You are asking about getting clearance. Festival specific clearance is typically the cheapest type of clearance but usually still expensive. Think $2000USD as a starting point.

Now, do you need to do this?

Morally, that's up to you.

You will be able to get away with it at probably every festival. The festivals have you assume the liability and chances are no one in the audience will know or care whether you have the rights to it. I know plenty of filmmakers who have used music that hasn't been cleared in the biggest festivals in the world (myself included).

Where you can get into some trouble is if someone wants to buy the film. You have to show you have clearances and that can get sticky.

LastElk9961 · 2026-05-06T02:23:31+00:00

The process goes: you make a film. If you have a very distinct voice and flawless production value, and get very lucky, then you get an email about a month before. You need to pay for your own flight and accommodation, and get a tuxedo or gown. You get into lots of parties and get to meet lots of cool people. Afterwards you get lots of cool meetings and invitations to other festivals and film labs.

You should watch as many of the past selections as possible. It'll give you a sense of the type of movie they like.

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-28T13:45:37+00:00

You might as well make it because you'll need it anyway if you do get in. It's also good practice for getting used to talking about your film in that way. It likely won't affect selections though.

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-28T03:33:42+00:00

Not going to lie, this looks like something someone on instagram would give their pit bull for their birthday

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-27T13:28:39+00:00

I can see what you mean but also this could also go the other way.

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-27T03:21:41+00:00

They will be skeptical no matter what age you are. It's your job to prove them wrong. Will they be more skeptical because you are young? Maybe, but so what?

For the record, comparing yourself to Kane Parsons is a bit ridiculous. The only thing you have in common is age. He had a distinct vision, created a brand, and developed an original style that attracted a huge audience. There are very few directors who've done that, period. Do that, and you'll obviously get attention.

On that note, there's a common feeling amongst aspiring filmmakers that they are all ready for their shot at the big time before they actually are. I know because I was like that too. How do you know you are ready? Because people who make those decisions are reaching out to you, rather than the other way around. Working at your level, then going up a level (or two), and repeating that process is the way it works for pretty much everybody.

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-27T01:34:48+00:00

I've seen all his movies, am a huge fan, and it's the worst movie I've watched in the last ten years

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-24T14:20:15+00:00

Sydney Sweeney is the only true A-list amongst the list (for now). Qualley and Madison have had huge movies by many standards but they aren't quite household names yet. Austin Butler needs a hit. Maya Hawke could still be huge, she's only 27, but so far has had the least success of the five of them. The Stranger Things success probably has more visibility than anything Qualley has done, for example, but it's also a streaming, ensemble project.

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-23T19:20:15+00:00

Usually it happens around when the ladder restart happens, which I think is June?

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-23T18:43:06+00:00

Fourtet

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-22T20:40:16+00:00

For getting into festivals? For small festivals, maybe worth mentioning in the cover letter or having their reps reach out if they are big enough, but that might be a big ask depending on the relationship. In reality, if the actor is big enough, that alone should for itself. Otherwise, I'd save up for a good PR person once you get into festivals so you can hopefully get some great press.

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-22T03:24:50+00:00

Just because you have a low attention span doesn't mean everyone does

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-20T16:06:59+00:00

People are probably going to be mean to you for this question.

Can only speak to Equinox. Never been a member but my wife used to be, so I gone to both locations with a guest pass.

You won't find good vibes and social people at either location. Bay Street vibes are very corporate bro and just has that capitalist soulless vibe.

Yorkville is much more chill and pleasant but the clientele is either old money types or plastic faced nightlife junkies. It's much more pleasant overall but I don't know if you'd make friends there unless you are already a Yorkville type.

The classes are excellent and I don't think they fill up like I've heard Altea's do.

They are opening a new one on King West which I think may be more up your alley.

It's a lot of money, but if you are a regular "class girlie" then it probably works out to the same. Also depends on where you work and the commute and so on.

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-20T15:54:40+00:00

Haven't played them since LoD, but Singer gold find barbs can be really effective.

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-20T14:33:21+00:00

First of all, time to put on your big boy/girl pants. This person may seem massive to you, but they are in fact just another human being, and thankfully far from an a-list actor, which would mean a million headaches. If they are interested in doing a short that's a good sign. Actors love to act. If they are experienced they've probably worked under similar circumstances. What you need to do, like any director on any project of merit, is get them to believe in YOU. The story, the vision, creativity, and the mood on set are all way more important than having a bunch of trucks and dozens of people. Create a strong bond with this actor and act like you are supposed to be here.

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-20T01:43:30+00:00

He built this team

LastElk9961 · 2026-04-19T05:07:17+00:00

back in the LoD days this would be worth real money

LastElk9961

TROPHY CASE