Panel #5: Markets and Distribution from Indie Filmmakers’ expereriences

“33 and Me” producers Stephanie Gardner and Duprelon Tizdale will walk you through their experiences as first-time Executive Producers with a TV series to sell and distribute.  With loads of creative experiences yet new to the world of markets and distribution, how did we navigate the tricky world of entertainment sales?  What paths should independent filmmakers in today’s evolving movie landscape take?  Do we need a sales agent?  What’s the difference between an agent and a manager?  What materials do I need to walk into a pitch meeting?  How to develop a pitch deck and sizzle reel?  What do film markets offer for independents without representation and how to navigate this sometimes overwhelming experience?  Now that I’ve made my movie, how do I get a larger audience to see it?  We don’t have all the answers, but we can share some of what we learned, accomplished, and what we’d do differently.

Stephanie Gardner:  Multi-award winning writer and director for film and theater, Stephanie has written, directed and produced over 30 short films, including the multi-award winning "If I Had A Piano (I’d Play You The Blues)" and "Para Todo Mal…Para Todo Bien:  A Mezcal Trilogy.”  Her stage plays have been produced globally.  An MFA graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts,  Stephanie studied in Singapore under the tutelage of Oliver Stone, Todd Solondz, Richard Wesley and Sabrina Dhawan.  She has a B.A. from The George Washington University in Dramatic Writing and Music.  Originally from Emmaus, PA, she resides in the mountains outside of Taos, New Mexico.

Duprelon "tizzz" Tizdale:  Tizzz is a filmmaker who loves to reminisce about when he was 33.  He has worked in the entertainment industry his entire life, getting his first gig at 12-years-old running spotlight for Elvis Presley.  With 22+ years in the Hollywood film biz as an IATSE Union Professional, he has worked in just about every department, including art, locations, and camera.  Credits include: "3:10 to Yuma," "Hostiles," "The Magnificent Seven," "Manhattan," "Sunshine Cleaning," "True Grit," "The Host," "Thor," and "House of Cards." He was the program director and co-founder of the Taos Shortz Film Festival, which ran for 15 years. He resides in the mountains near Taos, New Mexico and loves to fly drones and watch hummingbirds.

Host or Publisher 33 and Me Filmmakers Festival