So go out and make your masterpiece.  And before you do, think about these suggestions.  If you have any questions, please let me know. Contact me at greg@greggreenfilms.com.

Once you have an idea with a 'hook' and an amazing script, build a FACEBOOK page right away.  Start creating awareness about your film.  Share every step in your filmmaking process; writing the script, casting, hunting for locations, actual production, post-production, test screenings, etc.  Set up a Twitter account and start tweeting, too.  Use social media.  If you've done your job correctly, people will be salivating by the time your film is ready for release. Production values should be at an expected quality level.  Good acting, sound, music, lighting, etc.  If you can't do this, make that work for your film.  For example, maybe your film is told completely from the point-of-view of a 1 year old (shaky camera movements, available lighting, real people, etc).  Convert your limitations to advantages.

Whatever it is, your approach needs to serve your film - not take it over.  In other words, your film must be sincere.  Your vision. Otherwise, what's the point? If your film is a narrative, make every effort to get at least one name actor in it.  You'd be surprised how doable that is.  Especially if you have an amazing script - BTW, you must have an amazing script no matter what.  If you can't get a name actor, what else will draw the audience to your film?  Think about it before going forward.

If your film is a documentary, perhaps you follow the researchers that are minutes away from the actual cure for cancer.  Do you see where I'm going with this? For example our narrative film, 3 OF A KIND, has a through-line of domestic violence.  Our goal is to educate people about this dreaded plight on our society and at the same time fulfill the dramatic expectation of an audience. We plan to take our film across the country and donate all ticket sales to the local domestic violence shelter and its national counterpart.

Your film could have the first 3-legged dog that has ever starred in a film!  Or maybe you get a media star that wants to explore something different.  For example, Justin Bieber as your film's super villain!  Or Bill Murray as an undertaker...oops...that's already been done.

Maybe.  Maybe not.  The point is that if you have a clear idea about how you will market your film, your road to getting it out there and financial success will be less bumpy. Let me say now that if your goal is to create a movie that you produced, directed, edited, etc. and you really don't care about anybody seeing it, then do it.  But if you want to find the largest audience you can for your film, read on. How do you 'market' your film before it is even produced?  Think about the genre of your proposed film first.  Is it horror, family, comedy, documentary?  What will it be?  Then think about a possible marketing 'hook.'   Something the media can grab hold of.

Don't get me wrong.  I think this is a great turn of events.  For so many years, in order to make a film you had to have lots of money to cover the costs of expensive film camera rentals, lighting equipment, film stock, lab costs and big crews to support this approach.  Now self-expression is much easier to accomplish in the world of digital cinema.

There are about 50,000 films made every year now.  And that number is growing.  Why are so many films being made these days?  Since the dawn of the digital revolution (say about 14 years ago) anyone with an idea and a HD camera can now make a film for about $1.25.  Did you know that 13,762 films were submitted to Sundance last year?  Yep.  That's not a typo.