So many meetings! It's set up very similar to speed dating. You go into this pit, sit down to meet with your rep or exec, and do your pitch. Then you switch. Then you switch again. Our team was pretty good about doing the research before going into the meeting, past projects done by the people we have met with and what they are shopping around for. I was pretty beat after all of it. Selling sort of takes the toll out of me. So I took a long nap which Erik felt the need to record for posterity. O filmmakers! Always trying to encapsulate a moment.
Our team was invited to the premier party of the film West 32nd Street starring John Cho and Grace Park. It was a pretty fun party. Two beautiful words strung together in the English language, open and bar. Networked for a little bit and danced like crazy. Kase has some really awesome moves. Everyone team needs a guy who can "dance the night away" to quote Michael Jackson.
Featured in press!
Hey guys.. I'm at a party at the filmmakers lounge and people have been coming up to me telling me that we are featured in an article..
It's an update of what's going on at the festival... Our our Producer Kase Chong and me are quoted. What an honor..
Check it out.
CLICK HERE!CLICK HERE!CLICK HERE!This is cool!
Labels: beyond the mat, Henry k. Priest, independent film, Kase Chong, press, tribeca film festival, wrestling. film
Last night was a total blast. Never in my life did I think expect to be in a party spun by DJ Jazzy Jeff. The best part was the networking and meeting fellow filmmakers. To feel amongst your peers, and to all come together in celebration is a wonderful feeling.
As a team, I feel that we have our pitch honed pretty well. The key is to be flexible. Some execs don't want to hear everything, they just want to talk and get to know you. Everyday is a learning process. Erik and I were interviewed by Yahoo. I felt like a total dweeb talking on camera (must be because I'm used to be on the other side). Maybe I will practice with a publicist when I get back to LA, I felt unprepared for it. But that's ok. Everything gets easier with practice. GO TEAM!!!!!
hor'dourve overload and free drink frenzy
ok... we had a crazy busy day. met with a major studio. i want to tell you all about it but i'm drunk. we went to three celebrity fill receptions and one after party. all open bar with waiters in aprons carrying around trays of hors'dourves... it really is like i imagined. 4 parties and 9 drinks later, i'm in no condition to tell you about the day. plus, we have a 9:30am meeting with another major studio and a 10:00am with a major network. thank god i have my pitch down pact. ...plus i'm a nerd and i spent the night partying/dancing with the girl of my dreams. maybe the hottest actress on the best scifi show on tv!
Jazzy
ERIK MARTINEZ - SCREENWRITER
Today has been one hell of a day. My feet hurt, my body aches in some place I didn't know existed and I really couldn't be happier. I just got back from a party hosted by Apple that featured DJ Jazzy Jeff as the night's entertainment, I even got to talk up Grace Park and take a picture with her (geeking out!). Van, Kase, Teresa, Henry and I got meet and greet a slew of the other Tribeca participants including Emily Wang (Producer) and Rooth Tang (Writer/Director) of the narrative project The Vitruvian Man, both very wonderful and cordial individuals who are just in much in awe of the entire TAA experience as we are.
The day started out with a great meeting with a rep. from a major studio that was informative in many ways and brought us a wealth of affirmation for the project. To say the least, the rep. was extremely easy to talk to and offered some great input about the project.
Later, Teresa and I even gave an interview to Yahoo video news which will go live on Friday. To say that it's been a whirlwind would be an understatement for me. Words can't really express the level of enjoyment, bewilderment, excitement and the plethora of other emotions that seem to over take me, all of us at any given moment.
So far the entire process has been amazing and enlightening in ways I could never have imagined. It's only been the first official day of the program and, in all honesty, I can't wait for tomorrow.
About our project: Beyond the Mat
Penned by Chapman University graduate Erik Martinez, BEYOND THE MAT is a story of two high school wrestlers put their friendship on the line for the sport they love, setting one of them on a journey to self-discovery that brings him one step closer to manhood.
It posses the question..."What are you willing to sacrifice to win?"
The wrestling community in the US is 20 million strong but the sport of wrestling has been under represented in the media. We believe a film about the great sport is long overdue.
There is already a buzz about the project as it garnered much support from the wrestling community and is endorsed by the US Olympic Wrestling team, the National High School Coaches Association and many organizations.
BEYOND THE MAT will be directed by Van M. Pham, produced by Kase Chong, Teresa Hsu and Henry K. Priest.
Investment opportunities...
View the trailer online...
Learn more about the project...
http://www.BeyondtheMattheMovie.com
What is Tribeca All Access?
What is Tribeca All Access?For those of you guys out there who are not familiar with the Tribeca All Access
mark your calendar now and make sure you apply for this amazing program next year...
It's a very special program presented as part of the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival. It's the film festival in New York created by Robert DeNiro.
It is very competitive so have your ducks in a row... We are fortunate to participate this year... Our project is titled Beyond the Mat.
Here is some information...
For its fourth year, the program will showcase 32 projects by people of color. TAA matches African American, Latino, Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander filmmakers with potential investors in a series of one-on-one meetings and other events during the annual Tribeca Film Festival.
Over 300 projects were submitted but only a few qualified to participate in the forum where high-level film industry executives meet with a diverse and exceptionally talented group of U.S.-based filmmakers. Production teams make pitch presentations in pre-scheduled meetings with over 100 industry decision-makers, including private investors, production companies, development executives, agents, and managers.
"Tribeca All Access is now a recognized incubator for U.S.-based writing and directing talent," said Tribeca's Jane Rosenthal, in a statement. "We are very proud to present this platform to celebrate a multiplicity of filmmaking voices."
More: http://www.tribecafilminstitute.org
Labels: how to, independent, indie film, investment in film, pitch, pitching, robert deniro, success, tribeca all access, tribeca film festival
