In Her Image: Producing Womanhood in America

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You can always go back to larger organizations, huge film festivals, and such that are harder to crack later if that’s important to you. If you are worried that you are “preaching to the choir,” rest assured that reaching like-minded people is a great thing! It is much easier to do secondary outreach to people indifferent or opposed to your message with that “choir” behind you! (I’d also like to add here, as disenchanting as this may be, that some people who will not give your work a second thought when you first start out, might reconsider their opinion of your film when you re-approach them a few years and substantial screenings later.)

In my journey’s beginning stages, I discovered that in addition to individual teachers, film-screening organizers, and student club leaders, of all things I never would have guessed, conferences seemed to be the venues that were willing to show my film with a “Director Q&A” or accepted my proposals for media literacy workshops. Some colleges were also interested. Very slowly I began to build up a resume of screenings, presentations, and groups that had used the DVD and guide on their own. I learned to celebrate each outreach effort, no matter how seemingly small, whether the meeting ended in a secured future plan or not, because many successes or connections are not immediately apparent and many things learned do not become meaningful until later.

I also learned that if I stopped making approaches or did not follow up on dropped communications, the project would come to a halt. And that was okay! As any type of artist, it is hard to keep up with supporting oneself and keeping an outreach effort going single-handedly. The good news is that it’s no big disaster that things take time. People I had contacted and long given up on called me three years later, finally having gotten their plans together. An email I followed up on after nearly half a year received a positive response. A grant I forgot I had even applied to came through. People heard about my film from other’s recommendations and contacted me out of the blue. You are responsible for planting the seeds and checking back on them, but the project will grow.

It is difficult not to become disheartened and impatient when no path seems to be unfolding for your outreach work. But I find that the more I continue, the more I have learned, honed my understanding of who will be interested in my film, and had the opportunity to take part in more events and activities which bring in interest. I am certainly not famous or rich, but I do feel that my film is making a difference, and that is what matters to me.

By Julia Barry

Photo courtesy of Arts Engine