What is NonDē Filmmaking?
What is NonDē Filmmaking?
Producer/Mentor Ted Hope, has been developing a theory of filmmaking called NonDē and I am introducing you to some of its fundamental elements. NonDē means non-dependent: Not dependent on Hollywood. Not dependent on the Studio System. The principles of NonDē filmmaking are very much in line with what I have been teaching for nearly a decade now, particularly when it comes to fundraising.
The five realms of financing in NonDē are:
1. Financing The Project
2. Financing the Marketing & Distribution
3. Financing the Filmmakers’ careers
4. Financing a Collective Ecosystem Operational Improvement
5. Providing for the future & NonDē mission statement pledge (build back better and do no harm, transparency, & support)
Over the years, I have focused with my clients on #1 (financing the project), #2 (financing the Marketing and Distribution), and #3 (financing the filmmaker’s careers).
Also, by working very carefully with a small number of sales agents who are actively working on disrupting the distribution ecosystem, I have worked to help my clients get the best possible distribution deals for their films, and will continue to do that. I also vet other film companies, organizations, festivals and more to point my clients in the direction of the most likely to result in Ecosystem Operational Improvement. This is my approach to #4.
And finally, so far, I have not been actively involved in the NonDē mission statement - #5 - but I plan on becoming more so in the future.
1. Financing The Project
As I have been teaching for the past decade, we raise all the money we need to produce our films with full funding, everyone getting paid - especially the filmmaker - and delivering the film to a Sales Agent. When we deliver the film, we don’t owe anyone - including ourselves - any money. We do not go into debt to produce our films. We raise money.
2. Financing the Marketing & Distribution
For the past few years, I have been encouraging my clients to also raise money for their marketing. It is all too common for filmmakers to make a film for $200,000 to $2M, and believe that they don’t need to have a marketing budget. Wah waaaahhhhhh! They often believe that the distributor will take care of marketing. Wah waaaahhhhhh! And they also lack discipline to stick to keeping those marketing dollars set aside instead of spending those dollars on production. Wah waaaahhhhhh!
3. Financing the Filmmakers’ careers
Filmmakers are so enamoured with their film projects and they are happy to talk about them, but they fail to market themselves. I find with my clients that their personality, their brand absolutely shines, but they tend not to express those unique qualities about themselves. Moving forward, know that it’s up to you to create your brand and market yourself in addition to marketing your films.
4. Financing a Collective Ecosystem Operational Improvement
Personally, I am less motivated by the concept of improving the collective ecosystem that is the film industry. So the way I address this #4 is that I look for those individuals and companies that are improving the collective ecosystem and partner with them. You will see that I regularly promote what I see as the best of the best whether this is businesses, festivals, etc. And I am connected to many who are disrupting the industry as a whole.
5. Providing for the future & NonDē mission statement pledge (build back better and do no harm, transparency, & support)
Ted Hope’s ability to generate a theory of filmmaking is impressive. I have come to similar conclusions from a practical perspective through helping a lot of filmmakers raise money and get their films funded, produced and distributed globally. I thoroughly agree with his Artist Bill Of Rights. It is common for me to meet filmmakers who do not know the basics when it comes to what rights they have - and should keep - when it comes to a variety of factors in the filmmaking and - especially - the distribution process.
