An Emerging Filmmakers Guide to Festival Networking
Networking at a film festival can be intimidating when you feel like you have nothing to offer. By nothing to offer; I mean, if you are in the film industry and perhaps haven’t made any of your own films yet... what exactly do you do at a festival networking event?
Hot Docs has several networking events, whether it be breakfast, cocktail hours, workshops etc. All designed around the idea of socializing and meeting new people that could potentially have something to offer you. After attending a few of those this week, here is my guide to your survival and success in networking at a film festival.
1. Bring something to the table.
That something doesn’t necessarily have to be a film. It could be an idea, a skill-set, heck-even a good conversation with someone can go a long way. A friend of mine told me at lunch the other day, that you should never assume you have nothing to bring to the table.
Many people don’t approach anyone at festivals because of this fear. They think they have nothing to discuss and no feasible product to offer anyone, but it’s about much more than selling a film or getting a job. These are regular people working in the same field as you. If you have nothing else to talk about, talk about film! Someone, somewhere will find what you have to say interesting. Who knows, maybe you meet the right person and they are interested in having you work on a project with them. This brings me to my next point.
2. Handshakes go a long way.
It amazed me how many people attended workshops and didn’t stay to meet the presenters until the end. I feel like one of the most important things at these workshops is to be more than a face in the crowd. For this reason, don’t just get their email off of a powerpoint and leave. Take 5 minutes to go up to the presenter, thank them for their time, shake their hand and introduce yourself.
Yes, they meet a ton of people and yes, they might not remember who you are in a few months. What are you risking by taking the time to try to make an impression? No harm no foul if you ask me. Plus, if they do remember you...congrats, you’ve made a contact.
This is one of the biggest pieces of advice Rosie Dransfeld has given me. Go up, meet them in person, ask for their card. For this reason, I came up with the hashtag #wwrd What would Rosie do? She finds it funny, but in all seriousness. It’s always interesting to put yourself in the position of someone who has a world of experience more than you do. If you think it’s something they’d do. You should do it too.
3. Never say that you aren’t working on anything or are taking a break.
This is tough one and it goes well with my first point. Just because you aren’t working doesn’t mean anyone else has to know that. There are so many people eager for work in this industry that saying you are taking a break can sometimes come off sounding like you aren’t motivated.
If you are looking for work, talk about the last project you were on. Discuss what you did for them and what you are aiming to do in the future. Just like a resume, it is all about how you sell yourself. If you have an idea for a film and haven’t been able to find work, try phrasing it like you are in a research and development stage of your own film but are also available for freelance work.
It’s the oldest trick in the book that isn’t actually a trick. Call it, the sleight of hand or misdirection. You are a talented individual and you don’t want them to be distracted by the fact that you are out of work. They won’t ask for your timeline, so bringing up your most recent work is a good way to highlight your skills and interests.
4. Learn to drink professionally.
Some people may disagree with me on this point, but haters gunna hate and this is just my opinion. Events like this are filled with cocktail parties, happy hours, dinners and outings. It is so, so important that you take advantage of these opportunities! Go meet people you may never have other chances to meet!
Some even have open bars, where the broke emerging filmmaker might be tempted to drink to their hearts content. I encourage you to have fun, having a drink can help with socializing in crowds of strangers. Just remember though, you aren’t at your average bar.
You are surrounded by key members of your industry and as we know... it is a small community. Now, we aren’t all loose lips Lucy after a rum and coke. Just keep in mind, you never know who you are sitting beside at the bar so, be cautious, be kind, and be professional. This isn’t a reason to sit in the corner and not partake in the partayyy, but it should give you reason to be aware of who you have surrounded yourself with.
When you are faced with an event opportunity goldmine, attending the films at the festivals might seem lower than usual on your list of priorities. It shouldn’t be!
Going to a film is just as a much an opportunity to meet people as the other events. It has the potential to be even better! Certain film festivals ( like Hot Docs) have the filmmakers attend the screenings and provide a Q&A afterwards. This is a good chance to meet them and ask them relatable questions that might have come up while you watched their documentary/product.
Filmmakers aside, you might meet someone at the event that you can discuss it with afterwards. As I said in my first blog post. Everywhere and everything is a networking opportunity.
Again, these are just some tips that came to mind after experiencing a few events myself. Entering a room of experienced filmmakers can be intimidating, but these are the people we need to learn from! They know their craft better than anyone, they can help you with anything you need. Just ask! All in all Hot Docs has thus far been an amazing opportunity to:
Check out a new addition to these tips here: http://hotdocsnewb.tumblr.com/private/143905554430/tumblr_o6pyzapV751vssrh1
