Documentary First

With Boston behind them, Hunter and Christian return home for a brief pit stop before heading out to Chagrin Falls, OH for the Chagrin Documentary Festival. We hear a report from Boston, learn more about sales agents, get a distribution update and learn what to expect from a Drive-In Festival!

TGWWF is on the road! Look behind the scenes of the journey to our U.S. premiere at the Boston Film Festival. This year, audiences have shrunk, but Christian still gets to experience the live event with her son, Hunter. Jason and Josh finish up the podcast without Christian, discussing upcoming film festivals and reveal a new addition to the team.

Today, we’re getting a huge update about the film and the film festival run! But before we get to the exciting stuff, we have to talk about the business stuff. Hunter has been at the helm of supporting Christian with managing workflows. Christian talks deliverables, the different pieces you have to deliver to a festival or distributor. It involves getting file types, posters, and Blu-ray discs made; Some fun coincidences happen along the way! Then, Christian walks us through the screening timeline, which you can check out on the website here: https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/festivals/

David Paterson joins the discussion of moments leading up to the much anticipated Official Selection screenings! The USA Premiere of TGWWF is quickly approaching as the Boston Film Festival will host the USA Premiere in less than a week on September 24! The Lady Filmmakers Festival in Los Angeles screens the day after on September 25 with a panel including editor Bill Ebel, and special guests all the way from France, Flo and Dany. Christian Taylor plans to attend the World Premiere at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival in Ohio on October 10, 2020. Christian explains what it takes to obtain a quick turnaround on deliverables film festivals may ask for. David Paterson presents the big picture of this year's circumstances causing many to adopt a mentality similar to a herd of cattle.

After an update on film festivals, we’re joined by Hunter, the new Head of Business Operations for The Girl Who Wore Freedom. Hunter joined the Army in 2012, serving 4 years in active duty, then transferred to the national guard and recently received a bachelor's degree in business. How did COVID-19 mess up his timelines and plans, and how did he end up working on Christian’s film? Hint: Hunter is the reason why Christian visited Normandy at the D-Day celebrations. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

We begin with exciting film updates, acceptance speeches, & new team members! Then, we’re joined by Nicole Bernardi-Reis: a producer & director known for The Unborn (2009), The Shopping Detective (2007), & Princess Cyd (2017). Nicole emphasizes the importance of setting goals for yourself, the film, & distribution. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

In this episode, we’re talking about the long-term relationship with a film/filmmaker. David Patterson is back to talk us through what that’s like, and answer some of our questions. But, before we get to all that, we get an update on the film, festival acceptances/rejections, and some unusual reviews! Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

Our film was accepted into two film festivals & we have another first-time filmmaker to interview! Elise Jaffe is making a feature documentary about using tattoos to reclaim your body after trauma or illness.  Elise takes us on her journey of pre-production & what she’s learned listening to this podcast. Learn more at her website: Big Teeth Productions. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

Our own first-time filmmaker Christian Taylor and Lead Composer Jeff Kurtenacker won awards in film festivals! They fill us in on what it feels like to be selected, nominated, and finally win! Jeff tells us about the emotional journey, particularly when the country hosting the festival is 7 hours ahead of you. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

Today we’re joined by Flo and Jenny all the way from France! We learn how Flo is uniquely gifted to ask Veterans questions because of his genuine care, interest, and respect for them... and his tips apply to any interview you need to do! We'll also hear about the COVID situation in France and Flo and Jenny's very unique love story. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

Today we get some updates about Film Festivals, talk distribution again, and a very specific film festival acceptance. COVID-19 feels like a huge opportunity to scam filmmakers out of money, time, and dreams. Christian brings up the reputability of film festivals, and David educates us on not being a sucker. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

Today we’re talking about distribution, what is it, how does it happen, and how should you approach a distribution deal. We talk about what to look out for, why ‘Hollywood math’ doesn’t mean what you think it means, and why distributors need to try to sell the FILMMAKER, not the other way around. Also, gameshows, dancing babies, robbing banks, and a little bit of everything. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

David Paterson is back with us again. We’re stuck in a weird gray area with film festivals, some canceling, some extending, some going online, so what do we do? When and why do you pull out of film festivals? How does the screener process work, why are some festivals making it impossible to pull your film? ALSO, the film won an award??? Apparently?? But it’s a little weird… let’s talk about it. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

In this episode, we meet The Girl Who Wore Freedom's Publicist, Morgan Harris. Listen in as he shares the importance of focusing on messaging and building relationships with reporters. What are some elements of a successful campaign and how does it work? What's different in the new normal of COVID-19? Learn more about Morgan's company: https://www.acaciaconsultinggroup.com. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

In this episode, we meet the New Content Creation Team for The Girl Who Wore Freedom: Kyler Redding & Sam King. Even though the film is "done" there's still a ton of content needed to promote it. Why did they volunteer & how are their videos making a difference for engaging the audience? Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

In this extra-long episode, we have a full house with guests Bill Ebel, Jeff Kurtenacker, and Jason Hoban to discuss the understated importance of great audio.  How did they all work together to maintain audio clarity and natural-sounding foley sound effects (on a budget)? Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? We're looking for volunteers and need donations. Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

Director Christian Taylor is about to complete her first documentary... for the eighth time! Because, as it turns out, finalizing a film with so many moving parts is very difficult. Hear how it's all come together and what you should look out for. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? We're looking for volunteers and need donations. Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

We're joined this week by some volunteers from The Girl Who Wore Freedom social media team: Rebekah Ueland, Bethany Villero, and David Needham. Listen in on how they first discovered the film, how they quickly became friends, and hear the results of their hard work! Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thegirlwhoworefreedom. Want to help us make the film? We're looking for volunteers and need donations. Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

Jeff Kurtenacker (our Lead Composer) and Bill Ebel (our Lead Editor) each have their own featured interviews on this podcast that left many lingering questions. Last week, Jeff was asking the questions, but this week it is Bill's turn. Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaLay3EM9WBy1kym8lpd-lw. Want to help us make the film? We're looking for volunteers and need donations. Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!

Bill Ebel (our Lead Editor) and Jeff Kurtenacker (our Lead Composer) each have their own featured interviews on this podcast. But after listening to each other's episodes they were left with many questions that had to be answered. Join us next week for part 2! Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaLay3EM9WBy1kym8lpd-lw. Want to help us make the film? We're looking for volunteers and need donations. Please visit thegirlwhoworefreedom.com/donate and help us tell the veteran's stories!