1. Mass mailings to big lists of distributors, sales agents, and film festivals instead of carefully calculating which ones are actually appropriate for your film.
If you need to mail these people, do the math. Don't send everyone your film. Send a query first.
2. Not doing your homework before signing a deal with a distributor or sales agent. (hint: check references!)
If you are offered a deal know this: You don't have to take it immediately. Consult a lawyer who specializes in entertainment law. As a rule, if you are feeling pressured into signing, its probably not worth it.
3. Not having an actual plan for distribution - just assuming it will all work out. All business ventures need a plan, and filmmaking is a business.
How many friends in the business do you know that always talk about making movies but never actually make them? Yes, it really is all of them. You have to be the one that actually does the work to get paid. It'll be your Oscar that does the talking for you.
4. Submitting rough cuts to distributors, sales agents and festivals instead of waiting to put your best foot forward. This is the worst thing. We all have a Facebook friend that is putting up videos that are "in progress". Please don't be this friend. Wait it out and trust that it'll be worth more when completely done and then showing it to the world.
5. Not treating filmmaking like a career and your own business. You have to invest in resources like seminars, workshops, industry events, and education to better your chances for success. Education doesn't have to be schooling. It can just be reading every screenplay you can, books on writing screenplays and filmmaking books, and then watch every movie you can.
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