Digital filmmaker, savvy musician help artists build careers

The ASU School of Theatre and Film p.a.v.e program in arts entrepreneurship in the Herberger Institute is hosting digital filmmaker Jon Reiss and musician David Cutler this spring to explore marketing and distribution in the arts.

Named one of the "10 Digital Directors to Watch" by Daily Variety, Reiss will give a talk, Feb. 21, titled “Thinking Outside the Box Office.” Reiss is director of the documentary feature film "Bomb It," which explores the world of graffiti art.

His experiences with marketing his film became the inspiration for his book, "Think Outside the Box Office: The Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution in the Digital Era." It's a step-by-step guide for filmmakers to distribute and market their own work.

Reiss also is co-author of "Selling Your Film Without Selling Your Soul" with The Film Collaborative and Sheri Chandler. His previous feature films include "Better Living Through Circuitry," a glimpse into the rave culture, and "Cleopatra’s Second Husband," a psychological drama.

Reiss has also directed videos for Nine Inch Nails, The Black Crowes, Danzig, Slayer and the Kottonmouth Kings. Reiss’s "Happiness in Slavery" video for Nine Inch Nails won awards at the Chicago and San Francisco film festivals and was voted Top Ten by the Village Voice Critics Poll for Best Music Video.

David Cutler, musician and leader in arts entrepreneurship training, will talk about "Managing the Savvy Artist's Career'' when he comes to the Tempe campus to speak March 26.

Cutler’s book, "The Savvy Musician," is designed to help musicians take control of their careers by providing guidance in “building a career, earning a living and making a difference.” It examines critical elements Cutler says are often overlooked or misunderstood by musicians such as entrepreneurship, product development, branding, marketing, networking, the new recording paradigm, personal finance, funding, relevance and legacy. The book was heralded by Jeffrey Zeigler of the Kronos Quartet as, "Hands down, the most valuable resource available for aspiring musicians."

For the ASU audience, Cutler expands his approach to include all of the arts disciplines. Cutler balances a varied career as a jazz and classical composer, pianist, arranger, educator, conductor, collaborator, concert producer, author, blogger, consultant, and speaker. He teaches at Duquesne University, where he also serves as the Coordinator of Music Entrepreneurship Studies.

Both talks are free and open to the public and each will take place at 4:30 p.m., at the Lyceum Theatre, located at 901 S. Forest Mall, on the ASU Tempe campus. Refreshments will be served at each talk.