WIFT Marketing Circle: Introductory Session with Christine Merser

Marketing often takes the backseat in the creative process, and we want to put it up front to support your stories and projects. Two of the top questions WIFVNE receives year-round are How to fundraise for films and passion projects, and How to market those projects once completed.

During the WIFT-US/WIFVNE event:  Fundraising Beyond the Crowdfunding in July, more than eighty people attended for a two hour session--and a large percentage requested more time and to work with panelist Christine Merser, Managing Partner of Blue Shoe Strategy. As a result, Blue Shoe Strategy and WIFVNE have come together to launch the WIFT Marketing Circle. This program will be led by Christine, whose unusual, action-driven suggestions blew up the discussion during the panel.

The WIFT Marketing Circle will provide information, expertise, and tools to market your projects from inception to post-completion. We are confident our members will gain insight, action elements, and specific support in marketing as a foundation for filmmaking. The WIFT Marketing Circle includes:

• Monthly Zoom meetings with Christine Merser of Blue Shoe Strategy.  These 90 minute sessions will have two parts:  a 60-minute component on a pre-released topic relevant to marketing and raising money for your film, followed by a Q&A session.  (Submit questions -- specific to your situation - for Christine to address.) Topics will include Applying to Festivals: research and standing out; Social Media: which platforms and how; Pitching to Funders: How to target and what to show them; Your Website Mothership: how to build it and what to include
• A full library of 'how to's', resources, and suggestions
• A private Facebook group for conversations and support for social media
• Podcasts with industry professionals who can share their suggestions and successes
• Access to the Blue Shoe Marketing team for line item assistance (more on that later)
  
• News from the industry, keeping you up to date on what is happening around filmmaking.

Christine Merser is the managing partner of Blue Shoe Strategy, a marketing company specializing in content creation for all media platforms. But more than marketing, she loves film and TV and all things on a screen, however small. Eight years ago, she partnered with Heidi Sullivan, whose film, Ash Bash, A Love Story, was an entry in the Wood's Hole Film Festival, to start Screen Thoughts, a podcast reviewing all things on the screen from within a female lens. More than 250 episodes later, Christine continues to podcast weekly around film, although Heidi passed away a few years ago. In addition, Christine has worked with filmmakers to ensure their films are seen. Blue Shoe did the strategy and public relations around the documentary, India's Daughter, in its bid for an Academy Award. Christine has roots on Cape Cod and enjoys time spent there every year.