Our Story

WHO AM I?

My name is Ross H. Martin. I'm the President of In Your Head Productions, LLC and the Founder of the Social Media Film Festival. Being an independent filmmaker myself, I understand the need for filmmakers to showcase their work and know how difficult it is to promote their film and gain distribution. I've produced, co-written and co-directed an independent feature film, "Rubbernecking." In addition, I co-founded Screamfest in 2001.

WHAT IS THE SOCIAL MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL?

The Social Media Film Festival is an international film festival. With your help, it will be a 'global event!' Films will be about Social Media, Social Change and Technology. Not every film will specifically be about these themes. These concepts are simply the overall themes of the film festival. The festival also encourages films with visual effects. Smaller budgeted films can produce amazing things with the advances in motion graphics and visual effects software programs.

The festival envisions thought-provoking films that touch on the human experience and how we use technology to advance human kind. We would like to showcase films that make us think about our futures not as one country, but as one planet. Films can be about any country of course. The idea is to make people from all over the world share the same consciousness.

June 30th, 2011, was officially declared 'Social Media Day' in Las Vegas, Nevada by ex-Mayor Oscar Goodman. It was a fun event and a part of my inspiration. Other cities are adding the proclamation. (There's also a Social Media Week that takes place all over the world in September.) Social media is everywhere!

WHEN & WHERE - VEGAS, BABY!

For Summer 2012, the Social Media Film Festival looks to bring films to LAS VEGAS, NEVADA from all over the world to celebrate the art of filmmaking. There will be feature films, shorts and film panels. For example, one film panel would be about how filmmakers can use social media to further their projects. The plan is to LIVESTREAM the panels as well. With a little Vegas luck, filmmakers could have their films exposed to the right audience, the right people at the right time. 

The festival would LOVE to take place at a MAJOR CASINO where all the action including the films and parties would be in one place. We are now able to use logos from BRENDEN THEATRES and THE PALMS CASINO & HOTEL.

The Impact

The Social Media Film Festival is a very unique idea. The opportunities are ENDLESS. This 'annual event' would change with the times. If there's a new way to showcase films a few years from now it will most likely be incorporated in the festival. One specific idea that the festival is working towards is to be able to screen or STREAM festival films online during the festival. If you like visual effects, another pursuit of the film festival is to have a second panel about visual effects with professional FX artists that work on the major studio motion pictures. 

Independent filmmakers in general are independent thinkers with fresh ideas and new ways of seeing the world. As technology is ever-changing, our needs as artists, filmmakers and human beings to connect with each other in business and our personal lives, is constantly growing and evolving. 

The Social Media Film Festival envisions a hip, flashy event where filmmakers and social media types merge into a magnificent synergy of visual entertainment. And "What happens in Vegas..." now goes global to film fans around the world simultaneously. Again, this special occasion would be a global event. This great visual DREAM won't take place without your contributions.

What We Need & What You Get

The festival is looking to raise $6,500. Most, if not all of this amount, would be for the venue specifically. It would pay for 2 theaters (screening rooms) for 2 days. This cost is the festival's major concern. If the festival doesn't reach its goal, but gets close to it, it will be enough for the festival to still take place, but perhaps not at a major casino. We are thinking BIG and reaching for the STARS! The Indie Go-Go campaign is not the only way the festival will be raising money. There will be submission fees from filmmakers entering their films. And as soon as we launch Indie Go-Go, the next phase will be the hunt for sponsorship. With a name like SOCIAL MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL, use your imagination for what companies may come into play. 

By chance, the festival reaches its goal BEFORE the time, there's plenty more where funds will be needed; marketing, printing, tee-shirts, festival programs, staffing, various vendors, etc.

If you look to the right, there are PERKS you get when you contribute a certain amount. Sara Gabriella and Demont Daniel of Finesse Enterprises sport the hip Social Media Film Festival shirts.

We're bringing the www (Whole Wide World) together. Being Social. Going Global!

Other Ways You Can Help

If you have an iPhone, 'there's an app for that!' It can be found on the Contact Page of the festival website.
Here's the website link:  http://socialmediafilmfestival.com/

SMFF on Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/SocialMedia_FF
SMFF on FaceBook - http://www.facebook.com/SocialMediaFilmFestival
SMFF on You Tube - http://www.youtube.com/user/SocialMediaFF

Thank you so much for visiting this page. Whatever you can give and/or whenever you can share the link is much appreciated. Every little bit helps. Sharing is a wonderful thing and it costs nothing. Simply sharing the Indie Go-Go link goes a long way to spreading the information about the SMFF campaign. This is an exciting festival and there are filmmakers and films out there awaiting your participation.

Ross H. Martin
Founder