An update on BREWCONOMY

by | Feb 16, 2015 | Documentary, Editing, Film, NC Film, Post-Production

Meredith Schmidt editing Brewconomy.

Meredith Schmidt editing Brewconomy.

We’ve been working hard on Brewconomy so that we can share it with you in 2015 as promised. There are a lot of things happening. Since so many people have requested an update, I figured a blog post was in order!

We’ve been working towards some self-imposed deadlines, and things are moving along nicely. So many people are giving up their nights and weekends to bring this film to life, and I know they’re excited about finishing it. When the film is ready, we’re going to celebrate together. I can’t wait!

This is a truly indie production, which means BIG accomplishments happen on a teeny tiny budget. Every day I am amazed with the talent, and what’s coming together on screen. It’s nothing short of incredible. (Plus, it’s so fun to be surrounded by people who are this passionate about great beer and film!)

So, what are we doing? We’ve been hustling to finish the edit. This is the big goal. It’s no small task, to be sure. (It took me about three years to edit Abandoned Allies, just to give you a comparison.) Our editor, Meredith Schmidt, is doing a fantastic job. She’s been working very hard.  

We’re doing what we can to get picture lock ASAP without going mad.

Picture lock means we’re no longer changing the storyline. No more moving clips / sequences, or tweaking transitions. The picture is locked in. That means we can then move on to other things like color correction and final sound.

We’re also working hard on placing music. This is a lot of work, too. You have to find the right sound to suit what’s happening on screen. I could write an entire book on the importance of music in film.

Sometimes it feels like a “chicken or the egg” scenario because you can totally edit the film to a piece of music. You can also create music to fit a sequence. So which do you do first? Well, the budget usually dictates the process, and so we’re doing a little bit of both.

Meanwhile, we’re compiling our list of end credits. It’s a long one. So we’re double-checking everyone’s names, including our Kickstarter backers. (I’m so lucky to have such a long list of end credits! I adore each person on that list!)

We’re also finalizing motion graphics. This includes the animations within the film, like a map that shows the growth of craft beer in North Carolina and the person’s name that comes on screen when they’re interviewed (aka: lower thirds). We have a few things to finish for motion graphics and I know you’re going to absolutely love what you see. Eeek! It’s awesome.

What else is happening? So many things…

While we work on the film itself, we’re simultaneously working out our marketing and distribution plans. A big part of making a film is making it available so you can watch it, right? We’re working hard on that, too.

There are a lot of moving parts here as well:

  • Cutting a trailer
  • Planning local theatrical screenings
  • Considering distribution offers
  • Creating marketing material: posters, merch, etc.
  • Finalizing PR materials: media kit, statements, photos, etc.

Timing is everything. It’s also a big challenge. While film festivals are a huge part of getting distribution deals, for example, we have to be very careful about our timing. We don’t want to miss the chance to share this film while it’s most relevant.

We’re very cognizant of what’s happening in our culture. When we started this film, craft beer was on the upswing. It was facing steady growth at the time.

Now craft beer is so popular that Budweiser took a multi-million dollar shot at it during the Super Bowl. I could write plenty about that ad. But there’s no need to dissect it again, especially when this article did such a great job.

The point is simple: craft beer is reaching the tipping point where it’s becoming very popular, very quickly. Breweries are doing their best to keep up with demand. We’re doing our best to get this film out as soon as we can.

We’re also working on some fun things for our Kickstarter backers. We have an August 2015 deadline to get things to them. They’ve been patiently waiting for some of their rewards, so we want to get those to them quickly. We’re so grateful for their support and can’t wait to share the film this year!

As we get closer and closer to completion, you’ll hear more about the film. How can you follow along without missing a thing? There are many ways, to make it easy for you.

1. Sign up for my free monthly email updates right now. I share all of the fun things I’m working on. Plus, that’s the one place online where I’m really honest about this work and how it affects you. So don’t miss out, sign up below.

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2. Follow along on social media:

NOTE: You should know that I’m not the one running the Brewconomy accounts. My team is there to help you when you reach out, though. They’re total pros.

We can’t wait to get this finished film to you in 2015. Thank you for asking about it and following along with our progress. You’re in for a treat! This is going to be such a great film!