How To Write A Press Release For A Film

Press releases are fundamental element of any public relations strategy. A big challenge that most of the filmmakers face today is promoting their independent films. Standing apart among your competitors is a tremendous test, notwithstanding for prepared outside the box movie producers. You could have an honor winning film, yet without a viewing crowd your film is useless. Along these lines, publicizing and advertising are critical components in promoting your independent film. Nonetheless, public relations is likewise a significant factor that shouldn't be neglected.

Press release is a tremendous marketing tool which if used correctly can help you in building up your audience. Acknowledging how to create recognition and excitement for your movie will unfathomably build your odds of achievement. It is a one to two page document that tells media outlets about something that’s newsworthy. This can be a screenings or festival wins , crowdfunding campaign, casting calls. This helps people discover your movie, which in turn drives them to your web site and buy link .

How to write a movie press release:

Following are the important points of a professionally written movie press release announcement.

- A Catchy headline

-Great lead paragraph giving details about the movie

· title

· distribution company

· main actors, actresses

· synopsis of the movie

· genre and more details about the plot

· filming location

· director

· release date

- Quote from someone attached to the movie – critic, actor/actress, director (recommended)

- Relevant image: movie poster, cast, director (recommended)

- More paragraphs expanding on the points raised in the lead

- Company website URL

-Release date

- Dateline

- Boilerplate – about the distribution or production company;

- At the end of the release, there’s usually a centered hash mark or the number 30, indicating the end of the story

- Always include contact information so a reporter can get in touch for more information (contact person, company address, phone).

Formatting of a movie press release

• Put all your idea and vitality into those first lines – including the email headline. Consider it composing a news story with a snatching feature and a sub-heading. If it’s great enough, it might catch the eye of journalist and the journalist may utilize it and this will expand your chances of getting through. Your headline should be engaging as well as accurate.

• Never forget to mention the release date. There are events where you want journalist to publish it immediately and there are times where you want to release the news at a specific time. Any news that you would like to have released to the public immediately should have a “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” else write To Be Released On and mention the date. Below is the format

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/To Be Released on XX/XX/XX

• When you’re planning your distribution, you should think carefully about timing. You need to get the release out early enough to make a difference (say people attending a screening or contributing to your fundraising campaign), but if you send it out too early it’ll be premature and not newsworthy. Also note holiday material – like Christmas or Halloween – may be scheduled months in advance.

• Answer to all the Wh questions Who, What, When, Where, Why and How? in the context of your movie. Never forget to follow the inverted pyramid format. This implies the story starts with the most newsworthy things, moving into less significant subtleties as the story advances. On the off chance that conceivable you offer brief responses in the principal section (known as the lead), developing them as you go.

• In the event that you read a couple of press releases you'll get the thought – the public statement begins with a passage that is packed with data, and develops it as the story advances. This is done so an editorial manager can cut from the finish of the story, potentially down to a one-passage ad spot, without losing the meatiest bits.

• Insert a paragraph blurb about the production company, producer, or company publishing the release with the details about the movie. Make sure to offer all necessary information – including important dates, names, and locations.

• Never forget to include a call to action and an URL address where the reader can find more information about the movie, the actors, the company, or where they can buy tickets.

• At the end you must always mention the name, address and telephone number of your organization. Then on the next line enter your contact information.

Banjara International Touring Film Festival (Company Logo)

Banjara cinema Pvt.Ltd. 12 Hiranandani Estate Mumbai

+91 (0)20354215151

For More Information

Tess Joseph PR Director +91 (0)12 398787679 (office) +91 (0) 09878768766 (cell) tessjoseph@banjaracinema.com

If you do not have a company name then use the below format

Tess Joseph (Personal Logo) Independent Filmmaker

+91 (0) 09878768766 (cell) tessjoseph@banjaracinema.com

Some Do’s and Dont’s:

Do's

• Test it, get input and edit

• Sharpen your title and first sentence

• Time it right

• Build connections

• Utilize demonstrated appropriation channels

• Syndicate post conveyance

• Make resources accessible (web/social)

• Include photograph credits and subtitles

• Make sure to offer all necessary information – including important dates, names, and locations.

Dont's

• Uninformative or misleading title

• Written in first person

• Too short or long

• Not newsworthy

• Sent too early or late

• Ending up in the spam folder

• Too many / large attachments

• Too promotional /“salesy”

• Difficult to share on social

• Text not copy-pasteable .

TEMPLATE :

• Now that you have identified the information that you want and need to include in your press release, you are ready to work on a press release that grabs the attention of your target audience. The following template will help you take your message and put it out into the world through an amazing content.

[Headline Of The Press Release]

[City] [State} Release Date: [“For Immediate Release” or a concrete date]

[Summary Section: Briefly describe your announcement]

[Insert a quote from the distribution/ production company representative, or a person related to the news]

[Write an additional paragraph to provide more details about the announcement: try to respond to all relevant W-questions (where, what, why, when, who)]

[Insert another quote or another section with details about the movie]

[Include a call to action and an URL address where the reader can find more information about the movie, the actors, the company, or where they can buy tickets]

[Boilerplate message about the distribution or production company: insert the following information

Contact info: Contact Person: Company: Address: Phone:]

Sample Example:

Romantic Comedy “Cutiepie” by Williamson & AG Group to be Released Nationwide in December

Birmingham,UK, Release: September 1, 2019. For Immediate Release

The premiere of the latest Peter Williamson’s film “Cutiepie”, which is co-produced by AG Group, will take over the cinemas in San Francisco on 23 December 2019. Actress and singer Johaana Watson, together with Ema Jordan are the leading actors of the movie.

Jessica David makes her debut with a role in the new Peter Williamson’s movie “Cutiepie”. John Hardy revealed the trailer of the movie last week in Grand Luxe Hotel. The movie “Cutiepie “is a romantic comedy that has a lot of humor and at the same time lots of passions, intrigue, ambition and power struggles.

The film stars popular actors such as Peter George, Martin Bonskey, Sonya Blur and Peter Clark. Producers are Andrew Blur and Samantha Calagan, while Louis Phillips is the director. The script is the work of Andrew Calagan, Angel Munch, and George Bungol.

“Cutiepie” is the sixth movie for 2019 which has been released with the support of AG Group. It will be broadcasted in the Arena theatres in late December.

Tickets are on sale today online and at theater box offices. For a list of theaters and to purchase tickets and a trailer of the movie, visit http://pressreleasezen.com/attraction. Moviegoers who purchase a ticket to see “Cutiepie” at a participating Arena theater can receive an additional ticket free. This limited time offer is only available at participating theater box offices.

Contact info: Name: Peter Williamson Organization: AG Group Address: Caza Vista & Hight Street, Birmingham , UK 84242 Phone: +1-885-2312-123