Reviewer & Author Interviewer, Norm Goldman. Norm is the Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com.
He has been reviewing books for the past twenty years after retiring from the legal profession.
To read more about Norm Follow Here
Bookpleasures.com
welcomes as our guest today Josh Mitchell. Josh is a director, writer
and an indie film maker and the owner of Wickid
Pissa Publicity, a full-service public
relations, marketing, branding, and events firm. He is also known for
his films, Helen Keller Had a Pitbull (2013), Vintage Vehicle (2014)
and Frank Flutie (2015)
Josh
has become one of the most in-demand indie publicists in the
entertainment industry because of his distinctive and pioneering
expertise in the film, fashion and lifestyle arenas, providing an
overall fresh approach to an otherwise predictable business.
Norm:
Good day Josh and thanks for participating in our interview.
Josh:
The pleasure is all mine, Norm.
How
did you get started as an indie film maker and what motivates you to
shoot films?
Josh: I've been
making films since I was a kid with my friends and I'm motivated by
eccentric stories and unique people. I like to lift up rocks and show
the world ideas that are arcane and off the beaten path.
Norm:
How do you recommend film makers break into the business?
Josh:
You have to knock down doors in this
industry instead of waiting for the knock on the door. The best way
to break through is to create your own content and announce yourself
to the masses. Do not wait and hope for some arbitrary opportunity -
create your own.
Norm: What is the
difference of the independent film market inside vs. outside of Los
Angeles?
Josh: There is a reason
why all of the film studios are located in LA. It is the belly of the
beast and where the bulk of production and TV shows take place. On
the flip side - technology has now allowed any talented and
resourceful individual to rent or borrow a digital camera, shoot your
film, upload it to the web, and market it to the world.
Norm:
How has the independent film market changed in the last five
years?
Josh: The biggest change
has been the technology and level-playing field of production. Anyone
can make a film now with the help of crowd funding and there are vast
options for distribution now that didn't exist a few years ago. I
bring my films to the marketplace through Vimeo Demand. They offer
creators 90 percent of the profit which is unheard of with
traditional mainstream distribution partners. You can watch my work HERE
Norm:
Should aspiring film makers work on creating award-winning short
films before jumping right into making features?
Josh:
Yes. Shorts are a great and economical way to find your creative
aesthetic. You learn how to tell a story, construct scenes, and bring
a piece from A to Z. They are also great calling cards to generate
excitement for your work which can leads to investors putting up the
money to finance your feature film.
Norm:
How does an indie film make a living and what sort of return can the
writer/director expect?
Josh:
Everything depends on your marketing. It comes down to who you have
in the film, how good is your trailer, and have you exhausted all of
the social media options. It is not easy to find an audience in
today's murky waters of perpetual content.
Norm:
Are you conscious of any particular influences on your film
making?
Josh: My biggest
influences are my life experiences. Where I travel, what I eat, who I
meet. My goals when making a movie are to ingest as much of myself
into the piece so it is a personal and authentic creation.
Norm:
What was the most challenging indie film you have made to date and
why?
Josh: They are all
difficult and challenging because of budgetary and time constraints
but my latest action film Hemorrhage
was specifically hard due to the physicality and the fact that I
played a hockey player and had to ice skate which I hadn't done in
over 25 years. Fortunately, I didn't fall once. It will be released
at the end of the summer on Vimeo Demand.
Norm:
What is an indie publicist and why would anyone hire one? What are
its benefits?
Josh: An indie
publicist is a publicist who works outside of an agency. They are an
economical options for indie artists who can not afford the $3,000
retainer of bigger companies. The benefits are grand. You get a PR
professional championing your allure to the masses, building our
branding, and adding credibility to your endeavors. I charge $500 for
a one-month aggressive campaign and my results are fast, furious, and
guaranteed.
Follow Here to find out more about my services.
Norm:
Can you talk about what artists in the entertainment business can do
for themselves to garner media attention and what must they look out
for when hiring a publicist?
Josh:
The best steps that artists can take are attending red carpet events,
maximizing social media, and networking with filmmakers and producers
to encourage working synergy. The smartest thing to do when looking
for a publicist is to see what they do for their other clients. If
you feel like it aligns with your mission - it is a good
match.
Norm: If people are going to
invest in publicity services, what’s the best thing for them to
invest in?
Josh: I think the
best first step is to invest in securing a host of interviews because
it adds credence to your brand. If someone Googles you and there are
a plethora of articles - it legitimizes you as an artist.
Norm:
Where can our readers find out more about you and your indie films
and publicity services?
Josh:
You can learn more about me and my clients on The Wickid Pissa Blog
Norm: What is
next for Josh Mitchell?
Josh: I
am gearing up to direct a feature film to submit to the Sundance Film
Festival in September and I am working hard to complete the final
installment of my gangster film The Convicted in
August.
Norm:
Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future
endeavors.
Josh: I appreciate it
all, Norm.