ABSTRACT
Building on nearly two decades of experiences in ethnographic filmmaking and distribution, This chapter offers some guidance and advice to practicing ethnographic filmmakers for whom showing their films is equally important as making them. There are a handful of action-items that should be on every filmmaker’s “to-do” list that can have a tremendous impact on a film’s distribution potential, and these tasks should be planned for during pre-production, even if they are to be executed while the cameras are rolling, or while the film is in the edit room. In an ideal world, as ethnographers and researchers, we would provide all of our participants with “informed consent,” expect them to read and understand it fully, and sign it, leaving behind a copy for their records. In addition to publicity stills and synopsis, a publicity kit can also include a detailed synopsis, director bio and headshot, director’s statement, screening history, excerpts from notable reviews, links to online trailer, etc.
