If you’ve just completed work on an
independent film, it’s only right that you want to show it to the world. What
better way to do so than at its very own red-carpet premiere event? It’s a
chance for everyone involved to see the finished product, as well as all of
your family and friends. It’s also a great opportunity to promote your work,
and you’ll never get another quite like it.
When to Have Your Premiere
You might be eager to have the premiere as
soon as possible. But it’s always better to wait a little bit longer. As events
like this need to be booked in advance, you might want to wait until the movie
is completely finished before organising the premiere for the following month.
While you can have the date set whilst you’re still filming, this doesn’t take
into account any unexpected delays during post production. If you have the premiere
as a deadline, you might run out of time to give your movie the final edit that
it really needs, putting pressure on you to complete it before the premiere
date. It’s much better to take your time, and let your opening event happen
later to save any stress.
Where to Have Your Premiere
A theatre is the obvious choice of venue
for a film premiere, and many are very accommodating to independent filmmakers who
want to hire out a screen for the night. They can even take care of ticket
sales for you and recommend good caterers for you to use. However, there are
many unique film premiere venues for hire in London. As it’s an independent
film, you can have a premiere that really shows off what you’re all about. A great way to do this is by choosing an
alternative venue to host your event in. Anywhere that can project your movie
will work. It can be quirky, atmospheric, or chic the style is completely down
to you.
Who to Invite to Your Premiere
The short answer is, everyone! While it’s
tradition to have a separate free screening for the crew, this doesn’t need to
happen with independent films. Everyone has worked so hard bringing your idea
to life, that they deserve the chance to celebrate with you. They won’t mind if
they need to buy a ticket for it, especially if you’re a hosting a proper red-carpet
event. You should invite as many people as possible. Try and fill your venue to
capacity and encourage everyone to post about it on social media. You should
also invite a few local celebrities and press to come along to give you evening
an added boost.
Things to Remember in a Film Premiere
There is a bit more to a film premiere than
just booking the venue and inviting people to attend. Like all events, you’ll
need to think carefully about what your guests are going to expect out of the
evening, and what it is that you want to gain from having a premiere in the
first place. Once you understand this, you’ll be able to plan it in a way that
ensures everyone will be pleased.
Organise a Red Carpet
To make your premiere really high-class,
you should rent a red carpet for your guests to walk down. This will make it
seem as if they’re in Hollywood and they’ll certainly appreciate the attention
to detail. Hiring a carpet isn’t expensive, but really adds a touch of glamour
to the night. Similarly, guests should be greeted with a glass of bubbly on
arrival. This will get the whole night off to a great start.
Have a Dress Code
If you are going for the red-carpet look,
then all of your guests need to be aware of this beforehand so that they dress
to impress. If you don’t let people know that it is a formal occasion, you’ll
have a very mismatched crowd, and half of your guests will feel out of place. Of
course, you don’t need to go for a formal event. Your premiere should be
whatever suits you best, and if that’s casual, then you should stick to it.
Introduce Your Film
One thing about premieres, independent or not,
is that people will expect to hear from its creator. It’s important that you
plan your speech in advance and deliver it to the audience before the film
screening. It doesn’t need to be very long but should explain a little about
your inspiration and add in some thanks to the important people who contributed
to it.
Make Sure You Have Food
A good premiere will keep people there long
after the screening is over and the best way to do this is to make sure that
there is food available for everyone to enjoy after the event. Hiring in some
caterers to have either a sit-down meal or a buffet will really bring the whole
evening together in the best way.
Promote Your Movie
You’re not going to sell many tickets to
your premiere unless you promote your movie early. Advertise the theme of the
night, whether it is red-carpet or not, and what your audience can expect. Do
interviews with local magazines and bloggers to get the word out and don’t
forget the power that social media has when it comes to creating a buzz. Having
a well edited film trailer is essential to promoting your movie well.
No matter what your film genre, having a
premiere can really get your name and your work out there, and might lead to
bigger and better things in the future! As a filmmaker, you want the public to
have the chance to enjoy your work on the big screen, which is why organising a
premiere is such an intrinsic part of the process. Plus, it’s an excellent
reward for a job well done.
Search
