Independent film expo comes to Philly
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
By: Peter Crimmins
pcrimmins@whyy.org
New digital technology allows almost anybody to make a movie. But getting people to watch your movie is as tough as it ever was. The first Philadelphia Film Market is a trade expo bringing together independent filmmakers and potential distributors. People who have made their dream a reality are asking, now what?
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Many directors at the market have DVDs of their labor of love to hand out to anyone interested. They're also pitching scripts that need financing, showing off a new kind of dolly track, or a graphic design portfolio.
Tom Ashley, one of the producers of the film market, says all filmmakers dream of Hollywood but will some will be more successful in smaller markets.
Ashley: The big-caliber films that have big names on them already have distribution before they reach Sundance or Toronto. There are so many politics that go into the distribution process and getting into bigger festivals. There's really not a strong secondary market. That's what we're looking to create.
The trade show features daily screenings of featured work, many of which will be shown to the public this weekend at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival.