Thank you so much for having a read of the article!

A brand is dependent on the merging of person and product with audience and loyalty. And how is that done?

An entertaining experience.

Entertain an audience, do it well, do it repeatedly, and you’re golden.

But most importantly – be yourself and true to your voice.

Thanks again for reading.
Tyler

Most of the filmmakers I have admired over the years, don’t always have big films out, or they have long gaps. Like Coppola’s recent “Tetro”.

I knew about it away back before anybody reported on it, because I am such a fan of him, so was always looking for news. And I do the same with many other filmmakers that are not in the mainstream as much.

We are in a world where people follow people, just as much as they follow their products. And lets face it, if filmmakers make a hit one day, people want to know about the story of how you did it, just as much as they do about the film itself.

I loved Rodriguez’s filmmaking book, before I even saw El Mariachi. It wasn’t a great film, but it was a great personal story of his journey. Ok that is no big deal today making a flick, but I think people still want to watch people that are reach for the stars. We all need to inspire each other.

Why is personal branding also so important for the web? I think we all know the key is to build mailing lists, fans for our films, so we can sell direct.

If some of them lose touch with us, change their emails, and a year down the line they want to find out what we are up to, whats the latest film, then they should be able to find us very easy.

If some of us eventually work in Hollywood too, then I am sure it makes sense to also use that marketing platform to bring them back to our own website, so support our smaller films too. (Why does Tarantino not have a dotcom? Ok he does not need it, but damm, he could have easily funded small personal flicks direct.) Anyway!

A friend I have not met for 20 years found me the other night. I asked them how they got me. They said, “you wanted to be an actor, filmmaker, so I typed filmmaker, david baker. And bang, I had your address in seconds!”

(That was good for my ego! haha Until they told me they were checking the Oscar list and I was not there!)

No seriously, if your name is easy to find in a search engine, then our websites, social networks will pop up instantly. IF, you also get your name out there on blogs, podcasts etc.

Its not about ego, as I hate the celebrity culture of just being there with nothing to offer, but if you do have some talent, you also need to be out there plugging yourself.Taking your “work” serious of course, not “yourself”

In terms of personality, style, character, I dont think theres a successsful filmmaker alive that really doesn’t have their own brand. David Lynch even has his own coffee, and a darn fine cup of coffee I am sure it is!

Ok off to get my personal website up and running. Whats my name again? I have no idea, my goddam brain is fried!

Great post from Tyler, and Maria. Love Maria’s site!

David Baker

“our greatest story is the real-life tale of our creative journey through the treacherous waters of our career; our successes, our failures”

Actually, no. Flaubert was right.

(Miles Maker is a story Author, content Producer and Auteur whose dynamic media ventures encompass three current web/tech sector megatrends: mobile, social, and real-time.)

Very few people in Hollywood do I view as a brand, for the most they all come across as generic brands easily swapping one out for the other. Perhaps this has been lost over time in the pursuit of greater profits or easier film making.

Regardless as the reason I think it is one of the biggest failings yet in storytelling, a personal stamp.

Hopefully we can be part of a bright future full of great brands.