Do I need a website…?

By Sandra Bertalanffy

Do I need a website for my feature, short, episodic and myself?

As you are preparing to hit the festivals you may be considering whether to print new cards or flyers, invest in a designer, print stickers, t-shirts, come up with a costume or just really any other way to stand out, bring awareness to your film or do anything else slightly resembling marketing activity. That’s all yay. Go for it and go for it good. BUT do consider step 2! 

What’s step 2?

Well, imagine this scenario: Someone compliments your film (or outfit) and you successfully hand over your printed marketing material (which btw also likes to get lost). Next, your Potentially Interested New Audience Member (“PINAM”) says: “Cool, do you have a website?” URGH. Punch in the lower region. Your body freezes, you mumble something embarrassing somewhat related to “short film,” “budget” or “first project” and PINAM smiles, nods, maybe gives you a another “Cool.” and then walks away. FOREVER! Noooooo!!!! And it could have been such an amazing mutual relationship!
That’s why you want to consider step 2. 

Step 2, also known as “make its easy for PINAM to find out more about you and give the option to stay connected easily.”

So back to “Cool, do you have a website?” YAAASSS. This time you say: “Yes, of course. It’s just the name of the film dot com or my name dot com.” (you are so smooth) “Great!” says PINAM and happily walks off into the sunset (hehe). Score! Because guess who PINAM may be? Your next collaborator, a journalist, your next investor, distributor or the person that knows just the right organization that would book a film screening with you in a heartbeat, fly you out and pay you to speak to the organization or just simply give you lots of money for no reason. You never know who crosses your path and you don’t want to let that opportunity slide. (And all this, btw, states true for features (narrative or doc), shorts, episodics, or your service as sound mixer.) 

So remember the simple recipe: Make it easy for PINAM to find whatever PINAM may be looking for.

AND WHAT MAY THAT BE? Generally speaking PINAM wants to find out what else you’ve done, what your achievements are, what you and your projects are about, what you stand for (do you have something in common?), what you’re looking to achieve with your film, what you’re currently working on, and where the two of you may come together. Also PINAM may want to watch your film, write a review on it, or recommend it to someone else. Fantastic, right?

So let’s review:

1. Meet PINAM
2. Offer PINAM easily accessible info (what are you about?/what is your film about?) + the option to connect (mailing list, social media) in one place.

Great.

Let’s take a look at what to include on different websites. Whether it’s your portfolio site, your awesome new production company site or your film website. There is some crossover and great ways to connect them all.

Make sure to include the following on your portfolio website:

• a collection of your best work (gather your Vimeo or Youtube links)
• reel (Vimeo or Youtube link)
• your bio/ statement/ what you’re about (write up some interesting stuff, you can do it!)
• press, testimonials or such (has anyone said anything nice about you? - get that in writing!)
• contact option (a contact form is a smooth solution without making your address public)
• social media follow buttons including IMDb (only professionally used accounts, and yes - update that IMDb)
• mailing list signup option (you don’t have one? Start one today, even if you’re not sending out anything right now. Do not let another PINAM get away!)

If you’re pushing your production company more than your individual self, you may adjust a tiny bit. Here is your checklist:

• work samples (best work only)
• reel (sweet and short - show off your uniqueness and show it quick)
• about (what you’re about, how you work, what you offer, pricing, approach)
• testimonials (do you have satisfied customers?)
• contact option (gather social media info right then and there in your contact form)
• follow option (make it easy to be found, followed and liked)
• signup option (for what hopefully is a valuable newsletter)

For your specific film website, consider including the following:

• title, tagline (I personally also love to see genre, runtime, related topics)
• trailer/teaser (must be found right away)
• synopsis, about (keep it short with the option to read more)
• filmmakers, cast (option to link to everyone’s further work)\
• watch (is your film available to stream? to buy? to book for a screening?…)
• social media follow buttons incl. IMDb (if you don’t have a film specific one, link to your portfolio site/your professional social media accounts)
• contact, representation, or distribution info (congrats on that!)
• call to action (what do you want the visitor to do? - more on this later.)
• laurels/achievements (whoop whoop!)
• festivals, screenings (keep this updated, it shows momentum!)
• press (reviews, quotes)
• press resources (electronic press kit, press pics, etc.)
• educational resources (study guide etc.)

All that being said, be sure to be clear about what stage your project is in and whether it’s available to watch at this point. And if it’s not available yet, offer a mailing list signup promising a notice about when it is (and then keep that promise!)