15. August 2013

'50 Kisses' UK Cinema release strategy and plan...

We now have a fine cut of the movie with around 26 films included. This is still in slight flux for a few reasons, but essentially we are there. The running time is around 90 minutes.

 

I can confirm that all filmmakers that responded to our request for credits have been credited and a short clip of their film is featured in the end titles.

So, now to the release. Here is what we need to do.

1. We will do a targeted release in London, opening on Valentines night 2014. The plan will be to fill key screenings on that night and over the following weekend. This should give us an exceptional screen average. This will make the release newsworthy in the film industry, platforming the project, writers and filmmakers.

2. The first screening will be the official premiere. I am fighting for a red carpet and black tie affair. We will see how the cinema reacts. We will announce the winners at the premiere too.

3. We have no money to release the film, so we will need to run a small crowd funding campaign. We will be releasing the budget soon. We will ask you to get behind the campaign when it launches later this year.

4. We will run the release completely transparently so you can see where the money goes. We are aiming to break even. If we make any profits, which is unlikely, we will use that to develop the website for the next Create 50 Project so the process can run much more smoothly next time. Again, all the numbers will be shared so you can see everything. We will announce the next Create 50 project at the premiere.

5. We will need you to support the film release and we will offer a press training event later this year. We will train you to become advocates and publicists for the film. These will be skills you can carry forward onto your films too. Everyone will be welcome to this initiative.

6. POINT WITHHELD AND ONLY SENT TO TEAMS

7. We will ask you to come to the screenings over the opening weekend, and bring as many friends as you can. You will need to buy tickets in advance for this. Please bring EVERYONE.  

8. Each screening will feature a Q and A with filmmakers and writers involved. We will spread these out so we get as many people to speak as we can. It also gives you incentive to get all of your friends and family to specific screenings.


9. Once the film has played in cinemas, we will release the entire movie online free. You can screen it anywhere you like. Living room, local church hall, cinema… go for it! We have not locked down logistics for this yet, but we would LOVE it if we could get screenings in as many countries as possible, with blogs and photos to accompany. Let’s make this a global release!

10. Remember, our real agenda is to get reviews and coverage in the press for the writers, filmmakers and the project as a whole. Support it vigorously and all that effort will pay off.

We have worked closely with our distributor, David Wilkinson, who we are delighted to have involved, as he is an expert in releasing challenging micro budget films.

On a personal note, there have been some comments that there have been very few updates lately. This is true, largely because my mum has cancer and I had to take time out to help her through chemotherapy. She is currently in radiotherapy. Thank you for all the kind messages on Facebook, and she is doing well - I am sure she will be at the premiere cheering!

Finally, I want to just state for the record, none of our team has been paid any money to run 50 Kisses. We have no funding and no resources other than what we can beg, borrow or steal. It has cost us all a lot of time, money and energy to make it happen. I include you in that statement too. We are indeed, all in it together.

We have collectively made 50 Kisses because we love the idea, and because we can.

It’s going to be awesome! I will be in touch.

CJ

PS – Many of you have submitted your films to festivals. If you have had success or learned anything, please write us a blog entry and share the experience.

Comments: 20 (Discussion closed)
  • #1

    Kristy (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:14)

    "This will get you your IMDB credit and you can go ahead and yourself and your team if you wish."

    Go ahead and what? What do we need to do?

    Thanks for all your hard work!!

  • #2

    50kisses (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:15)

    Add yourself to IMDB, we dont do that, you can do it yourself though.

  • #3

    Samuel (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:17)

    Hi, is there a list of the 26 films & filmmaker that made the fine cut?

    Cheers

  • #4

    50kisses (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:20)

    Hi Samuel, its still in slight flux, so no. Legal issues are abeing ironed out with two films.

  • #5

    Samuel (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:23)

    Is it safe to say that if a filmmaker hasn't been contacted by now their film will not be in the fine cut?

  • #6

    50kisses (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:29)

    No - it's still open. Sorry iot's taken so long, there have been lots of tech hurdles we frankly, could never have predicted. And lot's or team members getting real jobs and bowing out. We are getting there.

  • #7

    Samuel (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:31)

    So some/all of the teams who've made the final cut are unaware that they have at this point in time? Sorry just want to be clear!

  • #8

    Andy T-W (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:36)

    Thanks for the update Chris and all the best to your mum for a full recovery.

  • #9

    50kisses (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:40)

    Yes Samuel, no-one knows if they are in the edit or not for sure, aside form us and the editors.

  • #10

    Samuel (Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:49)

    Thanks for your help.

    All the best to Chris & his Mother - hope everything works out well.

  • #11

    Jeff (Thursday, 15 August 2013 02:23)

    First of all - all the best to Chris' mother.
    Good job guys. How do we add ourselves and our team to IMDB, on edit page? And do we add directors as directors, editors as editors etc. Or is only Chris credited as director and the guys who assembled the final cut as editors. Under which heading should we add ourselves?

  • #12

    Chris Jones (Thursday, 15 August 2013 09:13)

    Add everyone as the jobs they did - director, producer, cast etc. I don't recall how you add people to IMDB but its not hard. You may need a pro account though.

  • #13

    Tracey Flynn (Thursday, 15 August 2013 11:26)

    We will all give you at least 50 kisses when we see you Chris and the team!! We *so* appreciate the amount of time, commitment and flat out hard graft you've all done and will continue to do for this project. Amazing!! I, for one, commit 100% to the next stage.
    I am both excited and utterly terrified in equal measure. Go team!

  • #14

    Simon Foster (Thursday, 15 August 2013 17:41)

    Hi Chris - all the best for you and your mum!

    With regard to IMDB - can I suggest that credits be added in a similar way to 'The ABCs of Death' (2012) - which had 26 short films as part of the feature with 26 directors, editors etc so under each section the credit went: Name of person (Segment "Name of short film")?

  • #15

    Chris Jones (Thursday, 15 August 2013 21:49)

    I will see what IMDB say

  • #16

    Shaun Bond (Thursday, 15 August 2013 23:28)

    IMDbPRO has to be paid for, so hopefully there is an easier way around it.

  • #17

    George (Saturday, 17 August 2013 11:27)

    All the best to your Mum Chris.
    Can we have a deadline on when films will be told?
    Could you not tell the films that you know are definitely not in the final cut? Rather than still waiting. Also can we not release the awards nominations? Surely that wouldn't make a difference and give people something to get excited about!

  • #18

    Richard Green (Sunday, 18 August 2013 22:59)

    Hi Chris and the team,

    thanks for all the work you have done on this and Chris, all the best to your mum.
    I agree with George above - letting the films that are NOT going to be selected puts that to rest and people can move on. It seems unusually cruel to leave them hanging.

  • #19

    Kingsley (Tuesday, 20 August 2013 15:22)

    Hi 50 Kisses team,

    V exciting news! Looking forward to February and seeing the whole film. If we haven't been contacted recently about providing credits can we assume that that means that you got them all okay and in order in the first place?

    Thanks, and best wishes to your Mum Chris.

  • #20

    Rob Burke (Thursday, 22 August 2013 01:57)

    So is there a time frame in which you hope to announce which films have made it into the final cut?

    If "LOVE" was in, I know I would make the trip over the pond to the premiere.

    Thanks for all the hard work, Chris - and best wishes to you and your mom.

    Cheers,

    Rob