With seven simple tips, Harvard psychology professor Stephen M. Kosslyn utilizes his latest research on cognition, memory and perception, to offer some pointers for filmmakers conquering the final frontier-marketing the product.
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- 1.) Use Words AND Pictures. The brain processes both in two different places; using both is twice as effective!
- 2.) ALWAYS tell a story. Whether it’s the story of the film, the story of the making of the film, or the story of you, our minds connect to narratives!
- 3.) SPECIFY and TAILOR: NEVER the Lowest Common Denominator. Soccer moms in Encino might have a different agenda than hipsters in Silverlake. Get creative in how you market and approach both!
- 4.) Speak TO people, not AT them. If you can establish that connection with your audience, they are going to like you and your film that much better.
- 5.) YOU are the key element to selling your film. The greater the range of communication tools in your arsenal (ie personal anecdotes, jokes, etc) the better. Think Barack, people.
- 6.) Take a Breather. A photo, blank slide, joke, cartoon. They give your audience a much needed break to absorb what they’ve already learned…pace the
gems! - 7.) Going Guerilla. Be prepared for questions, interaction, getting down and dirty with your audience! Interaction with your audience and your market is key to your success in doing this. So don’t be afraid to talk about it and sell it!!
This is getting a bit more sutcijbeve, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of neighbors will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune Social is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.