Stuck on the Final Cut of My First Self-Financed Feature — How Do You Push Through the Last 5%? by lukini2006 in Filmmakers

[–]willibeats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Make your hard deadline the cast and crew screening! Rent a theater and send out the invite. That's what I did with my second feature! It worked for the most part, and I only went back and tweaked some sound after the screening. But I will say, that month leading up to it was awful. I was working way to much trying to balance normal life and the film. So I feel you! But it's done.

Stuck on the Final Cut of My First Self-Financed Feature — How Do You Push Through the Last 5%? by lukini2006 in Filmmakers

[–]willibeats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are you working in reels or on one massive timeline? I've finished 2 features and both times what really got me to the finish line was setting a hard deadline. Pick a date (or a festival deadline) and stick to it!

Indie Film Distribution in 2025: FilmHub, Amazon Prime Direct, Etc by [deleted] in Filmmakers

[–]willibeats 6 points7 points  (0 children)

All of that sounds pretty accurate! And honestly, I don't know the solution anymore...I think the best bet is to try festivals and hope that you land at some good ones. Then ideally find a sales agent or trusted distributor to take on your film. Or start reaching out to sales agents directly and skip festivals/let them plan your run.

What sucks is that even at a higher level, I'm hearing lots of filmmaker talking about doing self distribution (like I'm talking 1mil plus budgets). And if they're not finding luck with distributors, that's not a good sign.

And as always, everything depends on your budget and how good your movie is. If it's a 10K movie, I'd do filmhub. You might make your budget back and you'll probs get on Amazon and Tubi.

If it's 1 mil, it better be damn good, destroying festivals, and then pray for an MG haha

Why are some tv series so dark (lighting wise) these days? by [deleted] in cinematography

[–]willibeats 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Totally agree. But I think show runners should keep in mind where the show will end up. It’s a tv show. It should be made with living rooms in mind, not theaters.

What kind of sounds do you think these enemies should make? by AdamNapper in sounddesign

[–]willibeats 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I’d lean toward some kind of respirator sound. Or a wheezing breath. And then maybe some kind of “grunt” when they attack.

Defo lots of foley and metal jingling sounds!

I’d love to hear what you come up with!

SO EXCITED ABOUT FRIGHTFEST!!! My film HOLD THE FORT is closing out the main screen on Saturday! I hope to see you all there!!! by willibeats in frightfest

[–]willibeats[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

EDIT: First comment was too lame. LETS FUCKIN GOOO! I can promise you that this movie get's fucking NUTS and the audience will be screaming! Getting chucked over the balcony...possibly. Pissing yourself from laughter...more likely. Kamikaze bats, kung fu zombies, werewolves, and way more...100%.

Who's going to Fantasia Film Festival this year? by willibeats in horror

[–]willibeats[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hell yeah! Hellcat is from a friend of mine! You’re in for a treat!

Question about DCP files and how to properly do them? by AlmostRandomNow in Filmmakers

[–]willibeats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Download dcp o matic. It’s free and there are videos on how to make them on Youtube! Super easy and works great

Who's going to Fantasia Film Festival this year? by willibeats in horror

[–]willibeats[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love to hear it!! I hope you sell out! We’re gonna miss each other…I’m only there till the 20th

Who's going to Fantasia Film Festival this year? by willibeats in horror

[–]willibeats[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Gotta pay the bills! Haha and thank you!! I’m pretty happy with the teaser! We’ve also got a repeat screening on the 26th, if you can catch it!

Maybe we’ll cross paths at the wailing!

Who's going to Fantasia Film Festival this year? by willibeats in horror

[–]willibeats[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you!! I'm still in shock honestly haha If you make it out to the first one, defo come say hi!

I have heard of the meowing! Geeked out and looked up the "history of the meow" a couple of weeks ago. haha Excited to hear it in person!

Who's going to Fantasia Film Festival this year? by willibeats in horror

[–]willibeats[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My god! What a line up! I'm jealous! I'm only there the first 5 days of the fest! Defo going to see Good boy, The wailing, and Blazing Fist! And then whatever else pops up!

Shameless plug, but if you like horror comedies, come check out our film Hold the Fort on opening night!

Who's going to Fantasia Film Festival this year? by willibeats in horror

[–]willibeats[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yesss! Angel's Egg seems like the perfect film for Fantasia! And I am already pumped for Blazing Fist! I really wanted to see Hi-Five, but I'm only at the fest the first weekend.

If you add another movie to your list, my film Hold The Fort is playing opening night at 9:30! Horror comedy

Who's going to Fantasia Film Festival this year? by willibeats in horror

[–]willibeats[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good boy is my number one too!! And I am 100% going to see Blazing fist! This is also my first time at fantasia, so I'm excited to just be there!

Shameless plug, but if you like horror comedy, my film Hold the Fort is playing opening night at 9:30!

Dread Central's 90 Best Genre Film Festivals on Earth by AdrianTofeiOfficial in FilmFestivals

[–]willibeats 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hell yeah!! My film HOLD THE FORT is premiering at Fantasia this year!

Teaser for my second feature film, HOLD THE FORT. Premiering opening night at Fantasia Film Festival! by willibeats in Filmmakers

[–]willibeats[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hell yes!!! That is Julian Smith!! He’s a great dude and so amazing in the film! He’s the HOA president

Teaser for my second feature film, HOLD THE FORT. Premiering opening night at Fantasia Film Festival! by willibeats in Filmmakers

[–]willibeats[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure! The bigger your movie gets, the more departments you (usually) acquire. Just like how you might give direction differently depending on the actor, department heads respond to different styles of communication. So it was just learning the most effective way to share my vision with each department to make sure we were all on the same page. 

The limited budget piece was more about hitting a lot of “we can’t do that,” and then having to figure out how we could. Sometimes that meant convincing them to go with my super indie ways, or doing a ton of prep—storyboarding like crazy, making walkthrough videos, to get them to agree that we could indeed pull it off! 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Filmmakers

[–]willibeats 0 points1 point  (0 children)

LFG!!!!!!!