User:Jonreiss/The Producer of Marketing and Distribution

The Producer of Marketing and Distribution

The Producer of Marketing and Distribution also known as "PMD" is an official crew position title created by director and producer, Jon Reiss which is featured in his recently published book, "Think Outside the Box Office". Within "Think Outside the Box Office" Mr. Reiss introduces the role and significance of the "PMD" through what he called "the new 50/50" which explains that while a filmmakers job is making the film, the other half of the work is then connecting the film to an audience. Upon securing a PMD as a member of ones crew, they would serve two important functions:

1. The PMD would be responsible for everything which falls under the films distribution and marketing needs; including, still photos to transmedia coordination and everything in between.
2. The PMD would also provide the necessary manpower to make all the above transpire. Pushing work aside, giving work to interns, or saying that "we will get to it later", nothing will be accomplished. The PMD is brought on so as to ensure that one person is responsible.Reiss, Jon (2010). Think Outside the Box Office. Los Angeles: Hybrid Cinema Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 9780982576205.

Creating the title of "PMD" ensures that people will begin to "seek jobs as a PMD, train to become a PMD, apprentice as a "PMD" just as people do this for any film crew position." With regard to the film-making process in general, just like filmmakers do not create a film on their own due to the amount of time and work that there is involved, filmmakers should not be distributing and marketing their films alone. Jon believes that, "all of today's most successful indie film distribution campaigns (like those using social media to build a core audience even before the filmmakers start production) require a specialist whose responsibilities start early and include juggling festivals, theaters, TV, VOD, DVD, foreign and the Internet. Accordingly, hiring a Producer of Marketing & Distribution, before production starts, is becoming a key decision for savvy indie filmmakers."

Responsibilities of the PMD include:

1. Identifying and engaging with the audience for a film.
2. Developing a distribution and marketing strategy and plan for the film in conjunction with the entire team.
3. Creating a budget for said plan.
4. Assembling and supervising the necessary team/crew elements so as to carry out the plan.
5. Conducting audience outreach through organizations, blogs, social networking, online radio etc.
6. Supervising the creation of promotional and (if necessary due to the lack of a separate transmedia coordinator) trans media elements: including the films website script and concept for transmedia, production stills, video assets – both behind the scenes and trans media, promotional copy and art.
7. Outreaching to potential distribution and marketing partners such as sponsors, promotional partners, various distribution entities, publicists.
8. When appropriate, engaging the distribution process as designed.
9. Supervising the creation of deliverables.

External links

• example.com