About the course
What is the difference between a distributor and a sales agent? How does a film earn money? Many producers in the film industry don’t understand what happens to their film after it has been made and leaves their hands. This course will demystify the work that goes into marketing, promoting, and getting your film seen.
Who should take this course?
This course was created for independent filmmakers and producers who are interested in learning how their films will be marketed and distributed so that they feel confident about which steps to take when the time comes for their film pitch to get picked up.
What you’ll learn
In this course, you will be guided through the essentials of creating a marketing and distribution plan for your film. Discover how films are sold to distributors, learn how to produce a strong press kit that will enhance the commercial potential of your film and how to approach an international sales company with your film pitch.
Topics to be covered:
- Creating production notes
- Film festivals explained
- Role of film markets
- Sales companies
- Distribution contract essentials
- Film sale profits
- Top film festivals for film shorts
- Distribution basics
About Deborah Sheppard
Deborah Sheppard is a highly experienced senior film and distribution marketing executive, who started her career in advertising.
Iheartcinema was set up in 2012, to consult on a bespoke basis for independent filmmakers and distributors in the UK and overseas advising on scripts, audiences, casting, distribution and marketing/awards campaigns. She has also been building a development arm, and has come on board as producer or EP for a number of varied projects, covering several genres, from period and contemporary adventure, animation and comedy, and thriller/dramas.
From 2007-2012, she was Marketing Director for the UK and Ireland for Paramount Pictures, and presided over a multitude of releases from festival films and local acquisitions, such as Babel, Into the Wild, Revolutionary Road, True Grit, Made In Dagenham, Killing Bono to animated favourites, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Madagascar, Rango, and Tintin, to major franchise blockbusters, including Transformers, Star Trek, Mission Impossible among others.
Prior to that, she was Marketing Director for 10 years at United International Pictures (international distribution network set up by Universal, Paramount and MGM) which included such diverse films as Tomorrow Never Dies, The Thomas Crown Affair, Inside Man, Shrek, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Love Actually, The Ring, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-rabbit, Jarhead, United 93, The Bourne Identity, Nanny McPhee,The Rugrats Movie and many more.
She has worked extensively with many UK production companies, including Working Title, Number 9 Films, and Aardman Animation.
In total, she has released more than 420 titles, achieving a box office of over $4bn. She presents Film Sales and Marketing at Raindance.
Additional resources for film sales and marketing
Did you know?
- Raindance members save 20% on this course? You can join online >HERE< and start saving immediately
- This course is FREE for our HND and postgraduate/MA/ students
- This is part of the Producers’ Foundation Certificate
- The Raindance Guarantee: If this course fails to meet your expectations, let us know at the break and we will make a full, 100% no-questions-asked refund
William Muller (verified owner) –
Really insightful, informative & practical course delivered by an authentic, sufficiently well experienced and generous presenter – Deborah Sheppard. My only criticism is that 2.5 hours is too short.
Emma Simms –
Really enjoyed the session and Deborah was fantastic at presenting. Although some of it I had knowledge of, there were many points I didn’t and it allowed me to view marketing and distribution from a sales agent and distributor point of view. Highly recommended!
Lisa Diveney –
Deborah was really informative and packed a lot into the time we had. I would highly recommend this class.
Queen Martins –
The class was very informative and thorough with details of how to prepare for film festivals and pitch effectively.
Queen Martins –
Deborah’s class was very enlightening and thorough with details of how to make the most of film festivals and how to pitch effectively.
Miguel Garrido –
Deborah Sheppard will effectively guide you step by step how to sell and market your film. She had produced more than 400 features films…are you kidding me? If you are planning to go to a film festival attending this course should be part of your strategy.
Nicoló Riboni –
Great class, very informative and covers extensively the topic. I loved it and mostly I needed it. Great infos on how to market and sell a film. Great also to have the slides to look back at when needed! Totally recommended.
Balbeer –
Very thorough and informative, with tonnes of direct, first-hand experience Deborah really knows what she’s talking about.
Richard Shaw –
Very useful course on the process of how producers link up with Sales Agents and Distributors and the marketing/selling processes and roadmap. Well presented by Deborah Shepherd.
Kellie –
The whole Producers suite of courses are the some of the best Raindance offers. Every filmmaker should take them. They’re detailed and incredibly informative and given by industry professionals with insider information.
Emily Stanley –
Honestly, I’m still thinking about it two days later. Deborah has such a vast knowledge of distribution and marketing and I was completely hooked y her presence. I feel like this is a really integral part of production that filmmakers and budding Producers, such as myself, should definitely learn about in depth. I couldn’t recommend this session enough – individually, or as part of the Producers Foundation Certificate. Thank you!
Elliot Grove –
Thnaks so much for your comment Emily. Best for your projects! And keep in touch.
Melanie E. Moore –
Thanks so much to Deborah Sheppard for an amazing Raindance session. She shared so much information and did it in such an approachable manner too which is no easy feat with so many moving parts to convey. She really shone a light on approach for me as I pitch my screenplay live now. Thanks so much for all! Highly recommend this course and like another reviewer on here too, I’m seriously still thinking and digesting all she shared two days later!
Rohan Quine –
A clear, thorough, practical presentation of how to give your film its best chance of being sold, which dispels a good amount of the fog of complexity that swirls around this process.
Maurizio Caldera –
Deborah Sheppard knows her stuff inside out and does an amazing job of sharing that knowledge in a couple of hours, covering the role of sales agents, distributors and the different, and fast moving revenue streams, amongst other things. I would highly recommend this course to any one at any stage of the filmmaking process, one of the key things I took from it was that you need to know this stuff much earlier than you think you do.
t.laguda (verified owner) –
It’s a really valuable course for budding filmmakers and even experienced ones too! It certainly helps put things in perspective and puts more structure into one’s plan to market their film and reduces the risk of making mistakes during this process. It helps that the course is provided by an industry professional. My only criticism is to sort out the technology part of it so that those who attend remotely can benefit as much as those who attend in person.
Doulla Panaretou –
A great session, consolidates the Producer’s Foundation Certificate very effectively, Deborah Sheppard teaches up to date, essential information regarding distribution
I would highly recommend this course
janetrsmith –
Last course of The Producers Foundation and full of great advice and information. Can’t wait to put Deborah’s advice to the test.
Gary Hudson –
Great to be there in person but also great that I can watch it again online as there is so much useful information, it’s hard to take it all in first time around. There are so many people around, charging money for advice that don’t have experience.
Francois Evans –
This lecture really clarifies the film selling, marketing and advertising landscape, which is changing all the time. With the invaluable experience of working with major distributors and indie filmmakers, Deborah Sheppard’s presentation primes you to make the most of the world of film.
Si Skinner –
The last class of the Producer’ foundation course and it certainly didn’t disappoint! Deborah delivered 2.5 hours straight thru, packed with all of the useful info and advice that you need to sell your film. She made what is I’m sure a long and winding road seem very achievable, her class was very well presented, she clearly is vastly experienced and loves the work too. Indeed this has been a very consistent course, presented by the very finest people in the industry. I’ve personally learnt a heck of a lot over the last 5 weeks. Thank you Elliot and Raindance. I can not recommend this establishment more highly.