Page 17 - Film Festival Journal + Review Spring/Summer 2020

FILM FESTIVAL JOURNAL + REVIEW

FILM FESTIVAL NETWORKING

I am approached quite often and asked for advice Whenever I meet someone, be it on an airplane,
on how to best open those Hollywood doors?" My at a restaurant, at a convention or some public gath-
"pat" answer is always the same: Networking, Reci- ering, I get a business card, or write down their
procity, Passion and Naïve Persistence. name, email, website and phone number. I make a
permanent record of where and when I met them. I

also make a copy of any key points discussed. I nev-
There has been no [industry] door I have opened
er know when they will serve me, or someone else
without many discouraging moments, and if you are in my networking circle.
a writer, producer, director, actor, or you work some-

where within the film or television industry, you must
be prepared for rejection. When the doors are closed, “Believe in the Law of Reciprocity…”
and this will happen on a regular basis, you must re-

member the number one rule in marketing: every
closed door puts you that much closer to an open one, Networking is a continual process of collecting
and the law of large numbers will always protect you. and trading names with others within your growing
In other words, knock on a lot of doors and never get circle. Though we may network with people who
discouraged. may not, or cannot help you directly at our time of
need, we in turn may be able to help them. It’s a

continual “giving to get,” and helping those without
“Networking will always be your greatest tool…” any regard to what you will receive in return. This
is how reciprocity works, and the returns will al-

ways be manifold down the line. “No one ever
I don’t know of any person who has had any de-
achieves ones’ goals alone…”
gree of success working in the film, video, commercial
I believe it was Henry Ford who said, “No man
or television industry without the use of networking.
I am a solicitous believer in networking. It is my firm (or woman’s) success comes as the result of a single
effort, but as result of the accumulation of many.”
conviction that every person I meet will someday play
a role (minor or major) in something I want to accom- Ford surrounded himself with talented and educat-
ed associates, each of whom contributed to his
plish. I have become a packrat when it comes to col-
lecting names and telephone numbers. dream.

ASPIRING WRITERS

Do You Need Your Book Published?
Or your book adapted into a Screenplay?

Email: indiefilmsww@gmail.com

17 FILM FESTIVAL JOURNAL SUMMER 2020