This document discusses Hunter Weeks' experience partnering brands with his films and online content. It provides tips for getting brands on board as sponsors or partners, including thinking about how the content can reach a brand's target audience, finding the right contact person, arranging in-person meetings, and emphasizing potential impressions over direct product placement. It also notes examples of brands that have successfully integrated documentary-style video content into their websites and marketing strategies.

3. Brands & Partnerships by @hunterweeks

5. IZZE First recognizable sponsor for 10 MPH. Dean Kamen event. Met Lance Gentry. Free product. Credibility. Relationship leads to cash opportunity – 10 Yards. IZZE now owned by Pepsi.

6. Quiznos

7. youtube 10 MPH trailer on YouTube in 2005 Created partnership account Teamed up with OurStage 10 MPH full version up January 2008 10 Yards on YouTube – last month

8. smartwool First partnered with us on 10 MPH; mostly product sponsorship. Distribution side. Followed progress of 10 MPH. Launching bike clothing line. Biggest cash sponsor on Ride the Divide.

9. How to get a brand on board. Think partnership. Which companies or organizations are trying to reach a similar audience? You need to be able to prove that your movie speaks to the same demographic that they are spending millions of dollars trying to reach.

10. How to get a brand on board. Find your person. Google search for the VP or Director of Marketing or a PR person. Often you can find a good person's contact info on a press release. PR people know how valuable it can be to hook up with a movie. Also, think about LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking tools.

11. How to get a brand on board. Meet in person. Try to arrange a meeting in person. Most major metropolitan cities have many major brands with corporate headquarters. I've had the most success with companies based in the Denver area where I live.

12. How to get a brand on board. Distribution vs. Product Placement. You'll have much better luck getting money if you convey how many impressions the brand or product will get through your distribution efforts. Think website, 'presented by' message, trailer, film festivals, screenings, theatrical tour, press releases, DVD extras, your interviews, social networking. Just like you are with your film. Get them eyeballs.

13. How to get a brand on board. Make pitch short, sweet, & simple. The first way to not get a deal is to burn yourself out on creating a pitch document. Keep it short (1-2 pages) and make it look great.

14. How to get a brand on board. Follow up...more than once. The people you are pitching are busy and unless you keep after them, you'll soon be forgotten. It's a sales process.

15. How to get a brand on board. Think about online video. Marketers are really struggling because conventional advertising is failing them. TV ads don't work, so everyone is looking online for ways to capture their audiences. Why not create exclusive content (a series or just a clip or two) that coincides with the release of your film?

16. Convergence of brands & film Brands love idea of transmedia storytelling. Things have gotten noisy (content explosion). Consumers consumption habits are evolving. Channels with lots of eye balls still exist. Revenue models are changing, along with value perception of content. Storytellers today are now also marketers.

18. - The video is also on YouTube.

19. - Great use of share, comments, subscribe.

20. - Lots of twittering on this campaign; definitely a viral story (with supporting ad buys most likely).

21. Controversial campaign. Documentary-style taste test in 3rd world countries.

24. - More and more brands are finding ways to integrate content onto their sites & some of these are partnering with documentary films & filmmakers (especially in extreme sports).

25. Specialized Bicycles just launched a video content site.

26. Hiring producers around the world to supply content.- Notice all the categories of content at top that tie into their various types of products.

30. Ride the Divide