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Monty Python is one of the entertainment industry’s iconic brands.
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin formed a comedy troupe branded Monty Python and launched Monty Python’s Flying Circus in September 1969 on the BBC.
The group’s influence on comedy has been compared to The Beatles’s or Elvis Presley’s influence on music.
They are now embarking on a fundraising effort for their first movie together since 1983′s The Meaning of Life. It’s called Absolutely Anything. The movie took two years to finance and started shooting on March 24th, 2014.
There are three important lessons Monty Python can teach independent filmmakers 43 years after their first show.
1. Python Understands New Media
Certain self-appointed gurus proclaim that ‘trans-media’ is the newest trend. These dilettantes were upstaged by Python.
If you really want to see the ultimate trans-media case study, look no further than Monty Python:
Their works spawned stage and caberet shows, music concerts, a musical (Spamalot) and movies – works with different entry points to the story, and works which crossed over every conceivable media.
And what of new media?
Three years ago Python launched its own Youtube channel where Python’s skits and sketchs have had millions of views. Have you seen their Youtube page? It’s a textbook example of how to build a successful Youtube channel.
Look at the Monty Python Youtube channel here.
The secret to Monty Python’s success too, rests in that they developed a successful personal brand.
2. Python Knows How To Use Independent Finance
Their new movie, Absolutely Anything, has all the elements of a true indie breakout hit: Terry Jone’s script, a stellar cast including all the original Pythons AND Robin Williams AND Simon Pegg, PLUS studios practically salivating over the project and offering the Pythons a bit more than their budget for the worldwide rights to the movie.
Some people would take the cash, get the movie made and be happy with their fees.
Not the Pythons. They know that with their brand recognition, and with their stellar cast, they will get more bucks AFTER the film is made. How many indies have fallen into the trap of taking a quick buck up front, only to gnash their teeth later when their films hit?
That’s why Monty Python put together a simple instructional PDF on how the money works, explaining the facts of life in the film industry in simple language that anyone with a few bucks to invest could understand.
3. Python Understands Publicity And Marketing
Using alternative finance is a gamble without the backstop of a sound publicity campaign.
Python has managed to effectively raise industry awareness of their film (articles in Variety and Total Film, as well as cleverly employing the likes of The Guardian and the notoriously edgy Perez Hilton (whose website gets nearly twice as many visitors as the BBC) to bring their work public attention.
Then their producers and financial advisors distributed a 13-page document outlining the proposition they show to potential private investors – like you.
By studying this document, independent filmmakers the world over can learn how to emulate the success of Python by using their simple-to-understand template.
You can read this document here.
Fade Out
Nothing is new. There are only Seven Stories.
What makes Python unique is how they take “the same old story” and retell it in such a bold, fresh and innovative way.
You do it too.
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