André Hedetoft

Apart from directing movies I direct commercials and in the next couple of weeks I'll be creating a spot for Retail Awards 2010. It's going to be a wonderful combination of 3D (characters, shopping bags & shiny stepping stones), northern light particles, still images and live footage. Since I'll be directing more and more this year, rather then doing everything myself, I'll be collaborating with some brilliant artists, to be able to create a more fantastic whole, then what any of us could do alone.

I really look forward to present some of the brilliant artists I'll be collaborating with to bring this spot to life as well as what we were able to come up with.

This week will contain a little of everything from "finishing up" the 3D character to a live action shoot with 5D Mark II.

If you are also an artist remember to check out my "Connecting" blogpost and get in touch so that we can do some incredible commercials and short movie work together this year.

Who is my audience?

THAT is a question that has been occuping my mind lately.

I Read this GREAT article from David Branin at Film Courage this morning.

It's got loads of great advice (so jump over and read it) but two things really stood out as advice that you as an independent moviemaker simply can't afford to ignore.

Building Your Audience Before You Make Your Film.
&
Do Not Focus On Making Your First Feature Film, Focus On Making Your First 5 Feature Films.

The brilliant thing about that advice is this: Unless your stick is to whine about how nobody want's to fund your film and how hard life is as a struggling artist - this advice gives the power back to the YOU the independent moviemaker.

Start small with a brilliant idea you can make for cheap. Figure out who the audience is. CONNECT with them. Together you can get the film made. You need nobodys permission, except for an wildly excited audience. Repeat from the top. That's what I intend to do.

My five year plan roghly goes a little like this:

Under the next five years I'm going to direct shorts and commercials - all while going through what can only be described as an insane and wicked fun directors bootcamp. Learn the ropes. Share the journey. During the time I will also write two insanely kick-ass feature film scripts. One to debut with. One to follow up with.

Still getting great response on my "Connect" blog post. So awesome to hear from all you brilliant artists all over the world. Keep it coming... there are some exciting things in the works for 2010.

I have had the honor to be invited to the BUFF film festival to be part of a seminar on how to use new media to market and distribute your movies. The seminar will take place the 20th of March, in Malmö, Sweden. Besides me Hanna Sköld & RåFILM will be part of the panel. Read more info about BUFF film festival here and more info about the seminar here (Swedish only, sorry). If you happen to be in the neighborhood, I would love to meet up with you.