How to Tell Unique Stories by Producing and Directing Indie Films & Documentaries with 'American Meme' filmmaker Bert Marcus and host Giles Alderson

 

Our Sponsors this week THE TRACKING BOARD

 

Tickets for MAKE YOUR FILM

Shout out to producer/editor Robbie McKane (follow him here @RobbiemcKane)

 

On this WEEKS PODCAST Bert Marcus dropped in for a chat with Giles Alderson to discuss how he makes his Indie films and documentaries.

 

Bert Marcus’ production company BMP has been in the industry for over a decade and has released critically acclaimed documentaries such as Teenage Paparazzo (2010), How To Make Money Selling Drugs (2013), Champs (2015), What We Started (2018) and The American Meme (2018) that was most recently released on Netflix and has been trending for over a month since its release. He’s also worked with A-listers like Matt Damon, 50 Cent, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Susan Sarandon, Denzel Washington, Mike Tyson, Paris Hilton, Hailey Baldwin and more.

 

Giles and Bert talked about using the documentary form as an accessible, lower budget start for filmmakers including his produced features - Teenage Paparazzo, How to Make Money Selling Drugs.

 

How starting starting small, simple, basic and creating a track record of good work can take you a long way. The talk pitching unique views on each project, selling on concepts and selling on characters and having an open approach to storytelling, being flexible with the documentary form
They discuss Champs - his directorial debut, a boxing Doc starring Mike Tyson. How he acquired big names, reaching out to high grade talent on a personal level and he gets honest interviews in documentaries.
We talk Documentary work vs. Fiction, different approaches and his future ambitions
And we discuss The American Meme - his latest doc, which was selected at the Tribeca Film Festival 2018 and was acquired by Netflix, How it came about, observing the over saturation of social media with stars such as Paris Hilton and following key influencers, documenting a current trend, and sparking a dialogue.

 

BERT MARCUS WEBSITE https://www.bertmarcus.com/

 

AMERICAN MEME trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms8OdjWJRPY

 

LINKS

 

MAKE YOUR FILM returns with hosts Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir for a fourth installment after three incredible past events. Tickets http://bit.ly/2Zjma3s Bridging the gap between Independent and high budget films, with the most insightful panel talks and network around - we are delighted to announce.... OUR FIRST SPEAKER : Director & Producer James Kent James has Directed some of Hollywood’s greatest talents including Alicia Vikander, James Franco, Kiera Knightley, Taron Egerton, Kit Harington, Dominic West, Rebecca Ferguson and George MacKay on films such as ‘The Aftermath’ and ‘Testament of Youth’ and an expansive catalogue of high level Television projects. Moving from documentary, to tv drama to film in quick succession he has rapidly risen to be one of our top Directing talents. Join us from 6.45 at our brand new location at THEATRE DELI which has a full bar for a more relaxed networking time before the incredible guests arrive to talk. Tickets: https://apple.co/2Z9SWnB

 

Our Sponsors this week THE TRACKING BOARD

 

This episode is sponsored by The Tracking Board, featuring the Launch Pad screenwriting competitions. The Launch Pad competitions are the industry's most effective writing competitions. To date, over 400 writers have signed with managers and agents through Launch Pad's annual competitions. Over 100 screenplays have been optioned or purchased. And 6 Launch Pad-winning screenplays have stared bidding wars among the major studios. Learn more at TBLaunchPad.com - and consider joining The Tracking Board as a member to get real-time access to The Tracking Board's industry tracking. The Tracking Board covers spec screenplay sales for Hollywood, industry news and jobs. Learn more at Tracking-Board.com.

 

RAINDANCE 20% off FILM FESTIVAL PASS

 

Here's some exciting news from our friends at Raindance! Get unrivaled access to the UK’s largest independent film festival, showcasing the best in shorts, features, documentaries, music videos, web series and VR from around the world, by buying a Raindance Film Festival Pass with a 20% discount. Just enter PODCAST20 at checkout:  http://bit.ly/Raindance2019Passes

 

WATCH World of Darkness https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07BS35KQ2?pf_rd_p=855cdcfd-05d9-474f-b84d-8286a3530ba1&pf_rd_r=G5Q5NNQZR9PRZNQ4ME5D

 

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Follow US on Twitter @filmmakerspod  @Food4ThoughtDoc @gilesalderson  @35mmdop @Cjamesdirect @dan710ths @FangedUpFilm @thedaremovie @RobbiemcKane

 

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