Chapter 10: It’s a Wrap! Now, the Next Steps

• Your entire team has dedicated considerable time and energy to your project. You can say thank you by throwing them a great wrap party

• Usually, it’s informal, and only the cast and crew are invited. It can be held at a restaurant, a bar, or on set; you can have it elegantly catered, or just serve beer and pizza

• When all the final bills have come in, you want to review each one for accuracy. Check your bills against your purchase orders. Compare your original estimated budget with what you actually have spent on the project

• This area often is underestimated, throwing your budget off target. If you’ve doled out $1,000 of petty cash, you want to have $1,000 worth of matching receipts

• A surprising number of professionals seldom see their finished work or their name in the credits. It shows your respect when you send copies of the final product to the cast and crew

• Unlike a wrap party, this event is more formal and carefully planned, essentially a premiere of your project for the press, clients, top talent, and potential investors, buyers, or distributors

• Generally, you rent a screening room or theater and distribute a press kit to attendees. The project may be introduced by you or another project representative and then screened. Usually, wine and cheese are served before or after. A screening party can be a great opportunity to mingle with the press and potential buyers

• Send notes or emails to the cast and crew, and the client or investors, as well as editing and audio facilities, locations, and others who helped you in the project

• In addition to making complimentary copies, make additional DVD dubs made of your project to send to clients, or to potential buyers, distributors, or investors. Dubs can be expensive because they require copying, labeling, packing, and shipping. Your editing facility can make dubs for you, or you can burn DVD copies on your computer. Keep a log of who has been sent a dub and the date it was shipped so that you can follow up later

• After the project has wrapped, all the elements need to be stored. Your original footage and masters, the graphics, music elements, dubs, and other material is organized and delivered to a storage area that is safe and dry. Your editing facility may have library space to rent or check into local storage warehouses

• As you are wrapping the project, go through your production book and update any notes, contact information, contracts, and budgets while they are fresh in your mind

• Use a simple 10- or 12-point font

• Allow for white space so the information isn’t crowded

• Print it with a good printer

• Use quality, noncolored 8½ × 11 paper

• Be brief

• Use action verbs for impact

• Limit any personal information

• Don’t include your salary history or requirements

• Mention that you have references available if needed

• Professional abilities

• Creativity

• Technical know-how

Graphics that include your name and contact information

Short clips and excerpts of one’s best work

• Put onto YouTube and your website

• Entered in festivals

• Shown to potential clients

• Broadcast on channels that showcase shorts in their programming

• In TV and new media industry organizations

• On websites and blogs

• In classes

• At internships

• At festivals

• Create a festival theme and focus

• Find a local movie theater or screening facility

• Get a couple of like-minded people to help you

• Study models of successful festivals

• Throw a fundraising event to get you started

• The workplace

• Television

• New media

• Film-oriented organizations

• The classroom

Invaluable learning experience, and great contacts

Intern or production assistants

• Energy

• Education

• Unique skills

• Experience

• Be punctual

• Keep your word

• Anticipate what needs to be done before you’re told

Entertainment and communications companies