Critiquing Critics' Week

Those film industry insiders who are in the know may have received news earlier that the amiable and good-humoured Christophe Leparc is leaving the Crtics' Week gang at Cannes where he was Programme Manager to get involved with the Directors' Fortnight folks instead. A big loss for the Critics' Week people...

It's a bit unfortunate, really: The Critics Week people are all a very lovely and incredibly hard-working bunch. The programming is interesting (to a certain point) but is a HUGE challenge to push at Cannes. Most key journos attending Cannes NEED to focus on Competition (and Out of Competition to a certain degree) films. Since the Critics' Week programme is made up of first- or second-time directors only, trying to get media attention is an incredible challenge. Not impossible, but definitely not a piece of cake ("pas du gâteau!", as one would say in France!)

Alas, the Critics' Week is riddled with further challenges, from a PR standpoint:

1. The theatre where all official screenings take place is the furthest away from the Palais -- the Critics' Week feels physically cut off from the rest of the Festival.

2. The theatre is old, small, and with no A/C! Not really the most comfortable of venues...

3. Film screenings have frequently not started on time; I recall one particular Italian journalist throwing a major fit because the late start time had affected her entire day schedule.

4. The first three official screenings are all crammed on the same day (morning, afternoon, evening); so, a particular journalist may have been keenly interested in a particular film but unable to attend it purely due to scheduling.

5. The repeat screening takes place the following day at 8:30 am -- in other words, head-to-head against the first official press screening of a Competition film where most journalists will be.

Based on these few points alone, any journalist would be hard-pressed to try and catch the work of a first- or second-time filmmaker...

Untitled Art

Great name, great guys. Georges and Paul are the two partners who've been running Untitled Art, a boutique design biz for more than a few years now... I wanted these two to be the ones to design and develop my site and a few days ago, they'd sent me a mockup of the homepage. Looked FAN-TAS-TICO! Up till now, I've been emailing my CV individually to potential clients in order for them to get some professional background on me. How very 1990s! Soon, I'll be able to re-direct potential clients to the site where they'll be able to get a fuller picture of what I can do, in a more user-friendly way.

The site will also be used by journalists heading to the same film fests where I'll be repping projects. They'll be able to obtain full info on my films -- again, in a more aesthetically pleasing manner.

Only regret: Why didn't I get this done sooner in the first place? I've been so focused on pushing other people's projects that I've completely brushed aside pushing my own biz!

July 2007 is sooooooo last year

Part of the challenge of being a freelancer is that one needs to always look ahead. Not only do I have to secure my lineup for TIFF for this coming September, but I'll have to look beyond that. I've been toying with the idea of heading to San Sebastian (mid-September) and Rome (mid-October). I've put the feelers out on some of my clients who are waiting for official invitations. Two films I've recently repped have a good chance of going to San Sebastian; so this may be a good opportunity to open business to other international film fests. And to travel, of course. Also thinking beyond 2007. Wondering whether I should skip Sundance and head to Rotterdam instead. Someone a bit psychic once told me that I live too much in the future and need to live more in the present. A bit of a tough call when your bread and butter (or architectural home renos) depends on living somewhat in the future.

More about just getting the goods

A common misunderstanding about publicists is that all they care about is to obtain coverage on whatever project they're working on. This may be true to a certain degree; after all, there is a certain expectation from our clients to "deliver the goods." That said and done, being a good publicist means developing an excellent rapport with members of the press. A good part of this week-end, for instance, was spent trying to help a Montreal-based journalist find a place to stay during the Toronto International Film Festival, and finding a good camera person for a Belgian TV producer who needs a local crew during TIFF. None of my clients expect me to help these journalists. But since these journalists are good colleagues (not to mention overall very decent people) who have demonstrated great support of my projects in the past and who will continue to do so, there's simply no reason why I shouldn't at the very least try to help them out. Just common sense and common professional courtesy.

Stephen Lan's first blog entry!

Well, I've finally made the jump: I'm now officially a blogger. All thanks (?) to my friend Michelle Tampoya who specializes in online marketing. A few weeks ago, Michelle has FINALLY convinced me that I should develop my own StephenLan.com web site (still in development; web launch aimed for mid-July!), and along with the site, a blog. "A blog?!" I exclaimed in horror. Pauvre moi: I barely have time as it is to do grocery shopping, read the papers (I subscribe to three dailies!), call my own parents to say hello for crying out loud!

But I guess Michelle is right (sometimes). My PR biz has been doing well over the past few years but the StephenLan.com web site will be an excellent way for me to attract new clients. And a blog may be a good way to share thoughts with other professionals. But be forwarned: I only intend to post thoughts related to the film industry, arts and culture, PR/publicity/marketing. There will be no such thing as what I had for breakfast that morning or the like.

I admit it: I'm still a bit skeptical about the whole blogging thing. But no harm giving this a shot now, is there? Methinks I'll just pinch my nose and take the plunge.

Here we go...