There are two primary areas where most filmmakers and authors into roadblocks. The first is marketing/PR and the second is distribution. That has pretty much always been the case with independent filmmakers but now, with the film industry in such flux and more competitive than ever, it’s becoming even more of a challenge. For writers, the publishing world has changed dramatically over the last decade. The mainstream houses are publishing fewer books, self-publishing has exploded. But few of the new self-published writers have a grasp on how to effectively distribute of market their books. Fewer still seem to understand the direct correlation between PR and distribution. Whether you’re a writer or a filmmaker, marketing, public relations and media exposure not only creates a buzz and helps establish your brand; for films it can also solidify distribution interest as well as film festival interest. Authors can reach their audience, establish their own independent distribution channels and in some cases have their works picked up by one of the major book publishers.

We’ve been promoting narrative feature films and documentaries as well as fiction and non-fiction books for years. Having worked as a novelist, playwright, screenwriter and indie film producer, I know the hazards and pitfalls of getting a film or book from concept to the market. With that in mind, we’ve developed a unique PR approach designed to publicize and market films and books as well as to help secure distribution.

Our firm specializes in working with writers and filmmakers, focusing on media placement, media training and image development. We have placed clients in a wide range of local, national and international media venues including: Time, Newsweek, The Today Show, 60 Minutes, CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News, People, US, Entertainment Tonight, Premiere, Fox News, USA Today, CNN, MSNBC, 20/20, Oprah, The London Times, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher’s Weekly, Variety, the Hollywood, Reporter and hundreds of other media outlets.

Creating a book or a film can be a magical experience, but many authors and filmmakers get so immersed in the making of their works that they forget about focusing on what they need to focus on once they complete their project. Too many forget to ask themselves what their next steps are. How are they going to secure that their book or film is promoted, marketed, and distributed? What is their game plan for building that bridge between the finished product and their audience?

Each project is unique and each PR campaign has to reflect that fact. There is no one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach that will work. Our mantra is that effective PR is effective storytelling. Our focus is not trying to “sell” the media with the best, newest, or brightest, but on offering the media effective, compelling stories that will interest their readers, listeners or viewers. Creating your book or film is step one, but without effective PR or marketing you’re not giving your project a chance to reach its audience. You’ve put your blood, sweat and tears into creating your book or film. Now take the next step and give it a chance to soar.