DIY filmmaker Mabel Valdiviezo uses web 2.0 tools to build an audience; Holds Screening in San Francisco

“Soledad Is Gone Forever” is a psychological drama that explores the chilling consequences of political persecution through the eyes of Soledad Gonzalez, a young Chilean photographer living in San Francisco.

San Francisco’s dry film production climate and the collapse of prominent distribution houses in Hollywood is not deterring Mabel Valdiviezo from finding innovative ways to distribute her film.

After her short-to-feature, “Soledad Is Gone Forever,” played at Cannes Film Market in 2007 she courted the UK-based Shorts International for distribution of her film, but to no avail.

Smaller distributors pursued the film but sought all available rights. Undeterred, Valdiviezo, a Peruvian born filmmaker decided to set out on her own to produce “Soledad” in its feature length entirety. The Do-it-yourself approach has brought myriad opportunities.

"Soon after I first became interested in using a DIY approach for distributing my short,” says the filmmaker, “I realized that it’s a powerful and connective way to build an audience while also securing micro financing for the feature.”

Part of the DIY approach includes showing the film to as many people as possible by holding screenings, selling DVD and downloadable versions online, and through partnerships with other DIY-friendly artists and companies.

Valdiviezo will be screening her short on Friday Aug. 15 at the traveling From Here To Awesome Film Festival, a festival that supports independent DIY filmmakers like Valdiviezo. The festival will be held in conjunction to DIY DAYS, an all day event for independent filmmakers being held on Sunday Aug. 17 at 111 Minna.

The indoor/outdoor film experience will be showcasing the newest possibilities in filmmaking, distribution and audience participation. The event will be held from 8 PM to 2 am on Mint Plaza and at the adjacent Mezzanine nightclub at Jessie and Mint Streets in San Francisco.

Film fans can get complimentary passes to the Friday night August 15 screening event through RSVP via www.cinegogo.com/fhta.

The DVD and downloadable version is now available for purchase through several online distribution outlets:

IndieFlix - http://www.indieflix.com/Films/SoledadIsGoneForever

Caachi - caachi.com/Members/FHTA/soledad_is_gone_forever

In addition to these DIY-friendly distributors is Ourstage, an online music hub where users can find new music by watching music videos simultaneously in order to vote on favorites.

“Ourstage, a partner with FHTA, is helping us raise money for our film by giving us $4 to the film project for every music lover and creative person who signs up with Ourstage. And this is just the beginning of what is possible using technology and social networking to find sustainability for our project,” said Valdiviezo.

The filmmaker who raises the most funds through Ourstage will be flown to London and receive an award at the London Film Festival.

To follow Valdiviezo’s journey in bringing “Soledad” from short-to-feature check out her blog at http://www.mabelvaldiviezo.com.

Contact the Filmmaker Mabel Validiviezo directly
haik...@yahoo.com
(Cell) 415-335-3143
Blog www.mabelvaldiviezo.com
Website www.soledadisgoneforever.com
-Or-
Contact Marketing Representative Michael Pistorio
m.pi...@gmail.com
(Cell) 847-636-9727

For more information on any of the events:

From Here to Awesome Film Screening
www.cinegogo.com/fhta
Friday Aug. 15 (8pm to 2am)
Mezzanine
444 Jessie St, San Francisco California 94103

DIY Days
www.diydays.com/sf
(Sunday, Aug.17) 9am to 6:30pm
111 Minna Street Gallery
San Francisco, CA, 94105