NOT Screening at the Kansas International Film Festival
Well, that image just about sums it up, huh? (We’ve also updated the trailer.) I’m gonna tell you the whole story, but first a couple of caveats:
1. If you live in Kansas City or Lawrence, KS, you should still see a film or two at the Kansas International Film Festival. You can buy tickets HERE.
2. Film festivals are in a tough spot, and need to evolve to survive. Their selection process is their most valuable asset, and they should absolutely stick to their guns when it comes to how they program their festivals.
Now, that said, let me tell you the sad and hilarious story of why you won’t be able to see 72 musicians at the Kansas International Film Festival. 
Here’s the short version: The film was never actually accepted. Turns out, it was rejected.
The long version begins in May, shortly after we finished the film. I was traveling for work, checked my voice mail, and heard a really cool and exciting message from Dr. Ben Meade, president of the festival. In the voicemail he said something to the effect of “Hey, I’m Ben Meade, I just watched your film and it knocked me off my couch and across my basement. We’re going to program it at the Kansas International Film Fest, and I want to talk to about some other festivals where I want to make sure you submit it, too.”
Needless to say, I was pretty stoked. We really wanted the film to play at KIFF, as it gave us the best chance to show the film to everyone in KC and Lawrence. Perfect. So I called Dr. Meade back, and we had a great conversation about where else I should submit the film, about KIFF, and about his own music doc called American Music: Off The Record. We also talked about my work at Topspin, building marketing and management software for artists. We left off that he’d contact me with more details closer to the festival.
I called Nick, the film’s editor, and we added the KIFF laurels to the film’s trailer. Sure, I probably should’ve waited for written confirmation of acceptance, but I *did* just hear directly from the president of the festival. And let’s be honest: KIFF isn’t a major festival. It’s a small festival that needs all the help it can get to put butts in seats. So knowing that I had powerful marketing tools and a pretty good size email list at my command, I set out to make sure I promoted KIFF whenever I talked about the film, and to make sure that we had a packed house come September. And it was working.
Whoops.
So fast forward to a week or so ago, when the emails from fans are rolling in and I’m getting ready to do some press but we still haven’t heard back from KIFF about screening dates, times, travel, etc… and then suddenly there was a list of films on the 2009 KIFF web site. And 72 musicians isn’t one of them.
I emailed Ben Meade, I called Ben Meade, I emailed the festival, and then I finally cold-called the Glenwood Arts Theatre and got Brian Mossman on the phone. Brian owns the Glenwood and is the vice president of KIFF festival operations. I felt kinda bad putting the question to him so bluntly, but I wasn’t sure what else to do.
“Hey Brian, thanks for taking my call. My name is Bob. I made a film called 72 musicians. I have kind of an awkward question. Ben Meade told me 72 musicians was playing your festival, and now I don’t see it listed as part of the program. Ummmm… is our film in the festival?”
Brian told me pretty clearly that the film wasn’t in the festival. Dr. Meade had really liked it, and pushed for it, but he was just one vote, and the rest of the board decided not to program the film.
Uh-oh.
“Ok, well… alright,” I stuttered. “So ummm… ok. This is even more awkward. Because I really don’t want to lobby you for inclusion. I don’t. I think you should program your festival your way. I do. But well… umm… What would you like me to tell the almost 2000 people on my email list? What should I do about all the people asking me where and when they can get tickets to your festival?”
“Let me talk to the board at tonight’s meeting and I’ll call you back.” said Brian.
Fair answer. We’ve got a mess on our hands, let’s take a day to sort it out. Cool by me. Then a funny thing happened. No one called me back. Or answered my emails.
So on Tuesday, on my way to work, I again cold-called the Glenwood and got Brian on the phone. Same story. Film still rejected.
“Maybe we can do some kind of joint fundraiser thing for the festival and the film after the festival is over,” Brian suggested. “But you should just tell people the film was rejected.”
Ok, well: there it is. The film was rejected. And I just sent an email to about 2000 people, saying the same thing, and telling them not to buy tickets to the KIFF if they’re hoping to see 72 musicians.
Bummer.
But, this gives us a great opportunity to revisit a question I was asked on KCUR Radio week before last. You can listen to the program here:
I was on The Walt Bodine Show, talking about the film and local music. Gina Kaufman asked me what could be better about the way KC and Lawrence music and arts function. I took the easy way out, calling out local media for not supporting local content. I stand by that point, but what I should’ve said is… BE PROFESSIONAL and BE SMART.
Yes, that means not calling filmmakers and telling them their film is in a festival when it’s not. For filmmakers, that means not assuming, and double-checking confirmations before starting the marketing process. But in general, it means understanding the modern media world and running your arts and culture programs appropriately. Answer emails. Return phone calls. Have a killer web presence. Understand that fan attention is scarce, and that you should never, ever take it for granted.
And it also means abandoning the process of waiting for approvals or acceptance from festivals, press, labels, etc. It means making your art your way, connecting with fans, and giving them a reason to support your work financially.
Moral of the story: Connect with fans directly.
I have people who want to see 72 musicians. Why was I letting the Kansas International Film Festival dictate whether or not they can see it?
Lesson learned.
Hey Kansas City… where are we screening the film? House? Bar? Theater?
My email is on the right rail.
Let’s do this.
-bob
ps — No, I haven’t given up on film festivals. We had a good experience and learned a lot at the Maine International Film Festival in July. But it’s time for better strategery and frank discussion on which events we allow to delay our own marketing and distribution plans.
It’s funny because I submitted my film to the rival KC FilmFest and had a very similar experience. I mean I had submitted to SxSW, Sundance, LA Film Fest and though my film was rejected I was treated with the utmost respect as an artist. But when it came to KC FilmFest they were over a month late in their response to filmmakers about what was in and what wasn’t, the main programmer sent one of the most heartless and thankless e-mails I got from ANY festival, etc. The bottom line is This… Sadly Kansas has one of the most uninclusive, elitest and pretentious film scenes in the country. Sadly it’s one of the reasons I moved from thwre to Los Angeles. You’d be surprised but it’s much more inclusive. Sorry for your experience.
Well said! A very professional and very smart response Bob.
Hey Bob. What a bummer of an overall situation. I’m sure you and the film team are bummed. And it’s sad to see the KC Film Festival acting this way in this new era of instant feedback and artist-to-fan dialogue. They not only disappointed you as a filmmaker; they disappointed you as a fan of the festival…and as a result…they’ve now disappointed all of your fans. 72 Musicians rocks; time to break out the full download purchase plan!
This just sucks…no other way to put it… Wonder if you could do a 72 Musicians t-shirt? Then I could buy one, and wear it to the KIFF — and make sure I find your friend Brian at the Glenwood. Those of us in KC could definitely show our support that way…plus, I’d just like to have a t-shirt anyway!
Looking forward to seeing the film any way I can…
Hey Bob,
That is a total bummer. No way around it.
But I think you calling out local media for not supporting local content–and sticking by it–is off the mark–and a well, very disappointing…and even a little maddening. You completely overlooked the media outlet that does support local content and has, in fact, supported YOU! (As you may recall, we wrote a preview promoting “72 Musicians” and, as you know, are writing another piece.)
PresentMagazine.com is locally owned. (Pitch and Star are not–but we are HUGE fans of Tim). PresentMagazine.com produces content throughout the week that features the best of Kansas City. Over 95 percent of our content is distinctly about Kansas City’s community and written by local contributors. The remaining is either tied in some way to supporting a local event or written by a local contributor. We focus on positive and evergreen content about the best of Kansas City. No snark and no smut.
Since 2005, we have regularly featured, sponsored, supported, or listed events for every single musician in your film. We have Robert Moore’s Sonic Spectrum on our site *every week*. Robert has the freedom to publish whatever he wants–he is not confined to a “special slot” or other limiting parameters.
Just ask Steve Tulipana and Shawn Sherrill of the recordBar, Crosstown Station, The Brick, Czar Bar, Riot Room, Davey’s, and dozens of other local establishments how we consistently, tirelessly, and positively support the local music/arts scene–and then ask if they feel like they have to advertise with us for that support. Then ask them what they think would happen to their coverage if they didn’t advertise in other publications.
We do ALL of this for very little local advertising support. It is a struggle to scramble to pay the bills. It’s hard when we approach local businesses (many of them who we have supported and featured) for advertising support and they can’t do it because they allot their advertising for publications not locally owned. It’s frustrating when we show them that our cost per impression is a fraction of what they are paying–and they still say no. Yet, we say thanks and support them anyway…hoping, someday soon, they will get it. Knowing, today, that we already get it. It’s about supporting the folks in your community.
That’s tough–wahwah–but doable…and we keep doing it.
BUT it totally sucks when someone we have supported talks about lack of local media support. (Maybe not as bad as this whole travesty with the film festival, though–still sorry about that.)
We already have that really great local site that you lament someone should finally make…and 50,000 KC folks visit us each month and *we* need support from those we support.
Thanks,
Pam Taylor
presentmagazine.com
Ruggles—
Sorry about your problem with the Kansas City Film Fest. I had a movie that played there recently and it was promptly accepted on the date that the festival was specified. Sometimes things slip through the cracks; its ran by humans after all. Just wait until the day you start getting NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER from festivals. Now THAT’S when things get fun.
Though I sympathize with Pam Taylor’s frustrations overall, I don’t think this was the time or place to vent them, especially in the form of an attack against Bob. He didn’t do anything to deserve that, not even by “calling out local media for not supporting local content” on the Walt Bodine Show. I am not privy to Bob’s list of local media outlets that he feels do not cover local events adequately, but I’m pretty sure Present Magazine is not on it.
Best wishes to Bob in finding a new — and better — location to screen 72 Musicians. I’m sure he’ll find no lack of local support for an alternate showing.
Damn, Pam.
You’re right. I totally missed an opportunity to give much deserved props to Present.
I blew it.
Mea culpa.
http://www.presentmagazine.com/ is a friend of mine, and to KC, for sure.
My comments were directed at mass media outlets, specifically radio and TV.
cheers,
-bob
Hey This is Ben Meade with KIFF. I loved the film, but it was NOT rejected because people did not like it. The policy is that IF a film has previously screened in Kansas City they do not play it. That’s the deal.
Here is the good news. I am board chair of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
in we ARE screening there…..probably twice. It is really cool fest and the director will be invited to attend.
Email me if have questions bmeade@cowtownmediagroup.com
Respecfully,
Ben Meade
Jason, you are familiar with the idea of critical thought and dialogue, right? And perhaps how blogs work? (Of course you are!) Your calling this an “attack” seems to be competitive and transparent spin.
Of course, my comment was not an attack on Bob. Rest assured, Bob graciously expresses in an email he sent me and in his own comments here that he took my comment as a valid criticism.
As for time and place… My comment was a timely response to specific ideas expressed in the corresponding blog entry in an open comments section. It was too long, but perfectly valid. Welcome to the Internet!
Regardless, as stated in my previous comment and still true now, the film not being shown at the Festival is deeply regrettable and I truly feel lousy for Bob.
Strange sentence… that should have read ” My comment, published through an open comments section, was a timely response to ideas expressed in the corresponding blog entry.
Ugh.
I can relate. Many artists’ entire careers (mine included) consist of testing how well they bounce back from kicks in the teeth and run-ins with brick walls.
DRAG! I have put together local film fests & series and screen docs all the time. i operate a fairly new black box theatre in downtown kck w/ hi def projector/large screen- holds 200 people if you still need a place to screen the flick.
screen it at the riot room on september 18th! word is it will be a fun night, a lot of out of towners will be coming in, 12 different states, a couple people flying from alaska even. it’s a beefest, with delicious craft beers and an audience i think would be very open to a screening.
I want to see this film!
Hey everyone… thanks a million for the kind words. Good things are in the works, and I will post about them as soon as I’m able. Stay tuned…
why was this NOT at beerfest?! woulda been to have on the screen during the tasting.
Hey DH… Your idea about Mac Lethal’s Beerfest was and is a good one. The reason that didn’t happen is two-fold: My wife and I are expecting our first baby any day now, and I’m about to announce some additional festival screenings and maybe even a theatrical opening. So Beerfest just came up on us too quickly. Stay tuned, though!
ummmmmm… why do you not screen the whole film right here on your website? Seriously… I’ve been watching this trailer for quite a few months, wanting to see the film. Just put the full film right here on your website and have an online screening with a messageboard people can post on while they watch. Sounds fun and gives you an opp to get the movie out to the whole world, not just KC peeps… which does KC music even more justice than preeching to the choir? Do it! You can do it! Online Screening, inovation… woohoo!!!
Hey ThinkTank…
You’re not wrong. The film will be available here on February 22nd — just after the screening in KC. The reason we work so hard for KC folks to see the film is that a lot of ‘em are in it. So seeing it on the big screen, in a gorgeous theatre, is the right experience, and worth working on.
But you’re 100 percent correct: filmmakers should use the web to find their audience, wherever it may be. See you back here on 2/22?
-bob
AWESOME BOB!!! I totally understand your reasoning for wanting the locals to see it the right way! I’ve got Feb 22nd marked and I’ll be sure to put out the good word!
So today is the day? I’m excited to see it today Bob, looking forward to seeing it on the website! Can’t wait!
Ummm. What happened to “The film will be available here on February 22nd — just after the screening in KC” ??? Where is it, am I missing the download location or something?
Hey ThinkTank… Sorry for the delay. The film is up. Have it. Post your review somewhere, too.