The 7 Elements of a Professionally Designed EPK
A well-designed EPK will build both brand awareness and audience retention. If you’ve never created an EPK before navigating the list of deliverables can be daunting. That’s why working with a partner like Greenlit is vital to selling your project or building your brand.
1. Branded Image
Creating an EPK isn’t just about throwing together your best material and hoping that it speaks for itself. Using an overall brand image and pleasing aesthetics is more appealing and helps you stand out in a competitive market. When building an EPK, work with a professional that can help you develop the colors, graphics, and texts that will best represent your work and showcase your image.
2. Strategic Content Placement
Reaching out to potential investors, trying to book appearances, or getting your work highlighted by the press will all depend on the impression you make with your initial contact. Many times, emails or phone calls are unsolicited which means you have mere seconds to grab the attention of a potential connection before they get bored and move on. Catchy headers followed by your best content or material improve your chances of making lucrative connections.
3. Captivating Bio
When your EPK is viewed, it’s your chance to make your project stand out. Demonstrate exactly what makes you unique and highlight what makes your work special with captivating biographical content. One of the most important elements of a press kit is the bio. Include a bio that helps the reader really get to know your cast and crew. Adding humor, emotion, or any unique angle helps amplify your message. Oftentimes, a personal connection is what sets one project apart from the rest.
4. Relevant Images and Still Frames
Make your EPK interesting. Show snippets of your work, behind the scenes photos, and previews of video clips. Images, preferably taken by a professional photographer, make your EPK visually appealing and should match the tone and feel of your film. You only have a few seconds to make a lasting impression and to get someone to click through your press kit. Strategically placed images that feature your best moments will improve your chances of making a good impression.
5. Press Mentions and Features
Touting your past coverage will only improve your chances of being featured again. Mention any past press coverage in your EPK. Show snippets of videos, still frames of interviews, and include links to full-feature articles. Make sure you also include any announced partnerships or investments, festivals or appearances, and local news announcements on filming.
6. Important Dates
Whether you have premieres, tour dates, milestones, etc. there are always important dates to include in your press kit. Listing special dates gives people an opportunity to engage further by taking steps to attend viewings or keep an eye out for upcoming appearances.
7. Contact Information
When you’re sending out an EPK, your contact information is one of the most important elements. The purpose of sending out an EPK is to get a response, so be sure to include multiple ways of contacting you. Most contact sections will include at least a phone number and email address, but you should also add in a website, social media handles, agent or representative information, and any other viable way of contacting you. Don’t miss an opportunity by limiting contact methods, include at least three options.
Create Together
We believe in the collective experience of the moving image. From campfires and cinemas to the screens in our homes, moviegoers seek to become inhabitants of a shared imagination. At Greenlit, we create stories and marketing that are seamless extensions of those worlds producing engaged audiences that are ambassadors of the filmmaker’s dream.
