Working AFM®: A Filmmaker's Guide to Maximizing the Market

Starting on November 2, distributors, sales agents, financiers, producers, and filmmakers from across the globe converge in Santa Monica for ten days for this major international film market. In this live, interactive virtual seminar (accessible to all via telephone conference), we're discussing AFM® from all sides and how independent filmmakers can maximize the market.

In this seminar we'll discuss:

• AFM for beginners: a primer
• Basics of the market: who's what, what's where
• A run down of the practicalities: getting the lay of the land
• How to best use the market once it starts
• The best time to try to get meetings with sales agents
• How to track down buyers
• The best places to take meetings
• The best places to network
• Navigating the conferences
• How to make use of the market is you don't have a badge
• How to take advantage if you do have a badge
• Registration options
• Materials to have on hand for meetings with buyers, sales agents, financiers
• How to analyze deals that are happening
• How to make use of the market even if you're not attending • And much, much more!

** This seminar is provided for educational purposes only and is intended to be a helpful guide for filmmakers who plan on attending the market. Film Specific is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the American Film Market or IFTA.

To learn more about AFM®, to purchase passes or to view the conference schedule visit: www.americanfilmmarket.com

To see more film market resources please visit our Film Market Resource Guide

PC Users:
If you're using a Windows PC, RIGHT CLICK on the "DOWNLOAD" links above, and from the pop up menu select "Save Target As" in Internet Explorer or "Save Link As" in Netscape. In the "Save As" dialog box, choose where you'd like to save the file on your hard drive, then click "Save." Once the download is complete, simply open the file. The MP3 file should open in whatever audio program you have on your computer.

Mac Users:
If you're using a Mac and Mozilla Firefox, move your cusor over the "DOWNLOAD" links above, click the CTRL key, then click on the link. (The key is to do this in order) From the pop up box, select "Save Link As". Another window opens allowing you to choose where you'd like to save the file on your hard drive, then click "Save". Once the download is complete, simply open the file. The MP3 file should open in whatever audio program you have on your computer.

If you're using a Mac and Safari, move your cusor over the "DOWNLOAD" links above, click the CTRL key, then click on the link. (The key is to do this in order) From the pop up box, select "Download Linked File As". Name the film and the file downloads immediately. Once the download is complete, simply open the file. The MP3 file should open in whatever audio program you have on your computer.

Our Founder

Stacey Parks has over 16 years experience in independent film as a sales agent, producer, and consultant for independent filmmakers. She is the author of "The Insider's Guide to Independent Film Distribution" (2007 Focal Press), considered to be an essential handbook for independent filmmakers seeking production and distribution insight for their films. Stacey has recently completed work on the 2nd edition to "The Insider's Guide to Independent Film Distribution," to be published by Focal Press in late winter/early spring of 2012.

Stacey is also the founder of FilmSpecific.com, a training and consultancy organization for independent filmmakers focused on exploring financing and distribution models to maximize opportunities for their films in the international marketplace. Additionally, she founded IndependentFilmBlog.com where she writes extensively on how to make movies that sell. Since it's launch in 2007, FilmSpecific.com has become a trusted resource amongst independent filmmakers with an active community of over 10,000, from all corners of the globe. FilmSpecific.com has been named by Moviemaker Magazine as "one of the 50 best websites for moviemakers", and, more recently, "one of the top 25 websites that filmmakers need to know about".

As a consultant, Stacey advises on all aspects of finance, distribution, and marketing for her clients' films including providing strategic guidance on finance and distribution plans, packaging for pre-sales, audience-engagement campaigns, and facilitating distribution for finished films. Her clients include Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, and Toronto award-winning filmmakers and producers who have successfully secured studio and mini-major distribution for their films.

Prior to founding Film Specific, Stacey was a foreign sales agent securing distribution for hundreds of independent features and programs worldwide. Before becoming a sales agent, she served as associate producer of the feature film "Shadow Magic" (1999), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically by Sony Pictures Classics. She was a pioneer in online video content in its earliest days, producing a London-based internet TV series called SEED TV about socially conscious entrepreneurs in 2001, which was executive produced by renowned British PR 'guru' Lynne Franks. Stacey began her career in 1995 at the William Morris Agency, working in the soundtrack and independent film packaging departments.

More recently in 2010 Stacey went back to her Producing roots and launched Media Sparks Entertainment which specializes in producing film and television projects with international appeal for all media platforms. Stacey also works on putting together international co-production and co-financing ventures for film and TV projects with international partners.

Stacey has conducted extensive lectures and workshops on film distribution, finance and marketing for the British Film Institute, the South Australia Film Corporation, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), FilmArc for FilmPool Nord, UCLA, Women In Film, Berlin Film Festival and the Raindance Film Festival. Stacey has also spoken on panels at the Cannes Film Festival, the American Film Market, and Slamdance, and for organizations including the Producers Guild of America, NALIP, Women in Film, and the Alliance of Women DIrectors, among others.

Stacey has been profiled or interviewed in MovieMaker Magazine, Student Filmmakers Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor and the Los Angeles Business Journal. She is a regular contributor to MovieMaker Magazine and has served as an instructor in UCLA Extension's Entertainment Studies Department.

Stacey is a graduate of the University of Florida and holds an International MBA from Pepperdine University. She travels extensively and, at last count, has visited over 40 countries. When not traveling, Stacey currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. She has previously lived in London, Paris, Florence, and the Netherlands.