This document provides marketing strategies for independent films. It recommends using social media like Facebook and YouTube for online advertising. It also suggests creating hashtags, film trailers, and a Wikipedia page to generate interest. Competitions and sweepstakes can encourage viewership if done before release. Low-cost options include street marketing through flyers, chalking, and costumes. Personal appearances on shows, podcasts, and vlogs can help build awareness over time. The goal is to gain an audience and reputation for the film leading up to its release.

1. MARKETING MATERIALS
FOR A INDEPENDENT FILM
By Daniel Crame

2. THE INTERNET
 The internet is a great place for independent films to gain a reputation and
audience before its upcoming release.
 Creators can use online advertising for a small cost which helps spread the
word about their movie. This could be on any social media site where the
film’s target audience situates e.g. Facebook or YouTube…
 Blogs are also a creative and innovative way for a film to gain a following
because this way, interaction with the audience is available. This helps the
reputation develop greater.
 Creating a following by using hashtags for the film on social media is also a
modern technique used in the industry.
 Creating a Wikipedia page about the film also adds to the build up and
allows the potential audience to gain knowledge into the plot, characters
and mise en scene.

3. COMPETITIONS, CONTESTS &
SWEEPSTAKES
 Independent film makers can also use competitions, contests
and sweepstakes to entice their audience to their film before its
release.
 However this MUST be done before the release date in order to
encourage the largest volume of viewers to go and see the film.
 These can also be carried out using social media which would
incorporate two marketing techniques at the same time.

4. TRAILERS
 Film trailers can be an expensive option for an independent film
maker however there are ways to create them without the cost
being too high.
 Using a YouTube channel to share either one long trailer and
sharing it over multiple social media channels would be effective
but on the other hand, the makers of the film could share short
snippets over several YouTube links to encourage people to carry
on watching to find out what happens. Either way, the audience
is enticed and the cost is kept at a minimum.

5. STREET MARKETING
 Street marketing is also a low-cost alternative for an independent
film maker. This would usually consist of handing out flyers or
leaflets to pedestrians in a busy location in an attempt to spread
the word of the upcoming film.
 Chalking on pavements, handing out leaflets, flyposting and
dressing up in costumes all work a treat and the costs can be at
the maximum £100 depending on the amount of leaflets!

6. PERSONAL APPEARANCES
 Making multiple personal appearances need not make you out
to be a desperate minor celebrity.
 Appearing on chat shows, radio, podcasts, YouTube vlogs, Q&A
Skype calls etc. will make people remember you and even get
you a gig with a chat show of a higher status e.g. Graham
Norton. Building this up gradually will entice the audience to find
out as much information about your film as possible.